Sanka Weerathunga

(778) 677-8608 · sdweerathunga5@gmail.com

Hi, I'm Sanka Weerathunga — a data engineer passionate about building real-time, scalable data systems that turn raw information into impactful insights. With AWS certifications and over five years of industry experience, I bring deep expertise in data pipelines, cloud platforms, and intelligent automation.

I specialize in data engineering and analytics with hands-on experience in cloud-based architectures, data lakes, streaming pipelines, and interactive dashboards. Currently, I lead the data architecture at Perpion, where I designed a real-time IoT data pipeline on AWS. I hold AWS Data Analytics and Solutions Architect certifications and love working at the intersection of data and impact.

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Portfolio

Experience

Lead Data Engineer

Perpion (pvt) Ltd

Sep 2024 – Present

Architected and implemented a scalable, secure, and fault-tolerant AWS-based data pipeline to ingest and process IoT devices performance data using AWS IoT core, MQTT broker, Kafka (MSK), S3, and time-series databases.
Developed real-time analytics and visualization dashboards using Grafana and Tableau to monitor energy efficiency and operational cost savings.
Collaborated with engineering teams to support application development for device and company registration, enabling seamless customer onboarding and tracking of usage and savings.
Sole data professional responsible for all data architecture decisions, ensuring the pipeline is cost-effective, production-ready, and adaptable for future growth.

Senior Data Engineer (remote)

Axiata Digital Labs

Jan 2019 - Dec 2022

Developed automated end-to-end data pipelines on Hadoop, leveraging real-time Kafka feeds and optimizing data extraction processes to enhance data ingestion and integration strategies.
Created real-time visualization dashboards using Tableau, significantly improving operational monitoring and decision-making efficiency.
Implemented a real-time monitoring system for sales operations, integrating data from multiple sources and providing a hierarchical view of sales data from retailers to CXOs.
Drove data quality initiatives, achieving up to 99% data pipeline accuracy through daily monitoring processes.
Sent automated alerts based on historical trends and current performance to the monitoring team and end-users, ensuring proactive issue resolution and performance optimization.

Data Engineer

Dialog Axiata PLC

Jul 2018 - Dec 2018

Developed analytical dashboards using Tableau to evaluate customer experience in service centers, enhancing service quality and customer satisfaction
Produced ad hoc analyses and deep dives on specific issues, identifying areas of opportunity for business improvements.
Performed data preprocessing for the data modeling team, creating datasets and database views for cross-functional teams to support diverse business functions.
Optimized queries to improve data retrieval performance and validated data with other sources to maintain pipeline reliability.
Utilized Agile methodologies, including JIRA, for effective project management and collaboration.

Software Engineer(Co-op)

Asoft (pvt) Ltd.

Jul 2016 - Dec 2017

Developed a full-stack web application for inventory management and finance system using MVC architecture, enhancing user interaction with a seamless frontend and robust backend.
Designed and optimized the database schema, implementing database tables to ensure data integrity and improve system reliability and efficiency.
Led the end-to-end development process, from application flow conceptualization to deployment, collaborating with team members to deliver a user-friendly and robust application.
Created Crystal Reports for dynamic data visualization and reporting within the application, providing users with insightful and actionable information

Education

Big Data Solution Architecture - Postgraduate Certificate

Conestoga College, ON, Canada

Sep 2023 - Aug 2024

Focus: Specialized postgraduate training in Big Data management, emphasizing development, design, and visualization of large-scale data solutions.
Learning Approach: Hands-on, problem-based learning for real-world data challenges.
Core Skills Acquired:
- Development of software solutions for data collection, manipulation, and mining.
- Analysis and selection of appropriate system architectures and data storage technologies.
- Designing data models and visualizations for business decision-making.
- Utilization of business analytics and intelligence tools.
- Commitment to data privacy, security, and sustainable practices.

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Information Technology

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Mar 2014 - Aug 2018

Core modules: Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition, Big Data Analytics, Data mining, Artificial Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Mathematics, Operational Research, Data Structures and Algorithms, Object-oriented Programming, Web Technologies, Enterprise Application Development, Advanced Database Management Systems, Project Management
Publications: Weerathunga HPSD, Silva AT. DRNN-ARIMA Approach to Short-term Trend Forecasting in Forex Market.18th International Conference on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions (ICTer)Sep. 2018 (pp. 287-293).

Skills

Data Engineering

ETL/ELT Development Advanced
Cloud Platforms (AWS/Azure) Advanced
Python/SQL Advanced
Data Warehousing Advanced

Big Data

Hadoop Ecosystem Advanced
Kafka/Streaming Intermediate
Spark/PySpark Intermediate
NoSQL Databases Intermediate

Data Visualization

Tableau Advanced
Power BI Intermediate
D3.js Intermediate
Plotly Intermediate

DevOps & Tools

Git/GitHub Advanced
Docker Intermediate
CI/CD Intermediate
Shell Scripting Intermediate

Interests

Apart from working with Data, I enjoy most of my time being outdoors Cycling, walking and travelling.

When forced indoors, I follow a number of sci-fi and fantasy genre movies and television shows, especially documentaries related to Science and Technology. Other than that, I love to cook various cuisines such as traditional Sri Lankan curries and fancy breakfast recipes. Furthermore, I always listen to songs and sing (karaoke) in my leisure time.