Behind the screens: A day with Cargill’s data engineers 

 

Every day, Cargill’s data engineers turn complexity into clarity, transforming information into actionable insights that drive our teams forward.

Whether solving technical challenges with data modeling, mentoring the next generation, or building resilient systems, they embody the collaboration, curiosity and innovation that define Cargill.

Meet William, Yuliia and Gaby — three colleagues on a shared journey of growth and impact.

 

6:47 a.m. – Chasing clarity: The data miner’s mindset

William Orgertrice, a new data engineer at Cargill. 

The sun is barely above the horizon and William Orgertrice is already putting in work. A brisk run gets his blood pumping. He’ll need this boost: sticky problems to solve are waiting at his desk in Cargill’s new office in Atlanta.

Thankfully, William loves a good challenge, whether a steep hill or a complex digital landscape housing millions of raw data records.

“As a data engineer, I encounter a plethora of different challenges that I’m happy to solve,” he says. “Where there is a challenge, there is an opportunity, and I’m a problem solver.”

 

8:03 a.m. – Learning the ropes to make an impact

For Yuliia Loew, every day brings a puzzle to solve. As a new data engineer, she’s developing skills to tackle tough challenges. This morning, Yuliia and her team are double-checking a pipeline that moves data. They want to make sure there are no bottlenecks that could cause delays.

Yuliia’s efforts help Cargill serve business intelligence to customers across food production and supply chains. It helps reduce waste, improve efficiency and keep operations running smoothly.

Her work may be technical, but for Yuliia, it’s deeply human.

“It’s exciting to know my work matters,” she adds. “I’m part of something much greater.”

 

9:16 a.m. – Finding harmonies

Gaby Vega and her colleagues, Hugo Araya and Lyanne Diaz, meet to strategize how to help customers thrive.

For Gaby Vega, mornings start with a rhythm. Her go-to playlist features classical gems like Manuel de Falla’s “El amor brujo” and Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” as well as modern favorites like Dua Lipa and Mabel. 

“Music keeps my energy up, especially when the work gets intense,” Gaby says.

As a data engineering lead for Latin and North America, she draws a connection between her passion for music and her profession. 

“Data is like a song beneath the noise,” she explains. “We data engineers are listening for the notes and harmonies that reveal what’s really going on.”

This morning, she’s helping her team create a dashboard for the protein sales team. The goal? Combine sales trends, animal health data and customer needs into one easy-to-use tool.

“It’s all about helping our sales teams bring fresh, creative ideas to their customers,” she says.

 

10:13 a.m. – Connecting the dots to find the plot

William’s days start with a morning standup meeting with his teammates.  

Late morning, William checks in with who he regards as “brilliant minds from across the globe.” A morning standup meeting is the next opportunity to discuss priority projects and any issues his cross-functional team may be having. 

“The most important part of the job is communication,” he says. “We can solve many issues through communication before any code needs to get involved.”

 

11:15 a.m. – Collaborating for success

Yuliia Loew and her team of data engineers at Cargill.

Data engineering is never a solo effort, and Yuliia thrives alongside her supportive team. Her fresh perspective has quickly proven to be an asset.

As they tackle a complex challenge together, Yuliia’s curiosity and determination to dive into the details stand out. 

“I’m the new kid on the block, but my coworkers always have my back,” Yuliia shares. “I am grateful for a supportive workplace that values my contributions and insights.” 

 

1:02 p.m. – Finetuning growth and guidance

Gaby Vega and the leaders of Cargill’s Women’s Network meet.

In the afternoon, Gaby shifts from coding to molding the next generation of women in tech. As a leader in Cargill’s Women’s Network, she’s passionate about helping others grow in their careers.

Gaby’s own journey into tech was unconventional, so she understands the value of encouragement and support. 

“I didn’t start out in tech, but I had support that guided me here,” Gaby says. “Now, I want to do the same for others, especially women.”

She calls mentoring one of the most rewarding parts of her job. 

“Helping others grow and succeed is just as fulfilling as solving technical challenges,” she says.

 

2:13 p.m. – Finding the right script

William poses in front of a Cargill sign at the new office in Atlanta.

Just eight months into his job at Cargill, William sees how much his work matters. It helps both his team and those who depend on Cargill to move food. He figured out an efficient way to update a foundational database and millions of records. The script he wrote saves Cargill days of work and frustration. 

“The most rewarding part of my role is I feel that I am making a difference, not only for Cargill but for the world,” he says. “It’s a great feeling to work on a project that positively impacts millions of people daily.”

 

3:57 p.m. – Quality checks and balances

Yuliia Loew loves to travel on her off time.

As the afternoon winds down, Yuliia carefully reviews her team’s work. Accuracy is her top priority.

“If the foundation isn’t solid, the whole project falls apart,” she explains. 

Each quality check sharpens her skills and builds her confidence, whether it's working across data storage, data processing or data tooling.

“Every day, I get a little better at it. There’s always something new to figure out,” she says, proud of the progress she’s made and the impact her work has on the team.

 

 

4:25 p.m. – Hitting the high notes for customers

Gaby Vega (middle) loves to spend time with her sister, mom and dog during her off time.

With a clear plan for the protein dashboard, Gaby and her team map out a data stream. 

They want to overdeliver. Building data pipelines with streams of external data like market trends, competitor analysis and real time market sources would really make this project sing, they think. 

“We want to make sure our colleagues and customers can use our deep knowledge to make smarter and quicker choices,” Gaby says.

 

5:30 p.m. — Engineering purpose after hours

During his off time, William is an avid volunteer in his community, including collecting holiday gifts for a local nonprofit.

The day might be over at the office, but William’s work is far from done. At a local community center, he’s surrounded by eager faces — teenagers learning to code through a mentorship program he volunteers for.

On other nights, you might find William delivering a keynote at a local tech meetup, sharing insights about careers in data engineering and the future of AI. Or he’s at a food drive, helping collect donations for local families in need.

“I believe in giving back,” he says. “Whether it’s knowledge, time, or resources, we all have something to contribute.”

For William, these moments of connection are as impactful as any code he’s ever written.

 

Turn your data expertise into tomorrow’s impact

Our data engineers bring more than technical skills — they’re problem solvers who:

• Strengthen food security by optimizing supply chains.
• Lower carbon footprints by driving sustainable farming.
• Shape the future of food by spotting key global trends.

Ready to use your data expertise for a more sustainable, impactful future? Explore digital technology and data careers at Cargill today.
 

 

 

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