Databricks Community Champion - March 2025 - Takuya Omi

[Sujitha]

Meet Takuya Omi (尾美拓哉), a passionate Data Engineer at NS Solutions and a valuable member of the Databricks Community. Takuya's career journey began in the marketing division of a financial institution, where his early work with SQL and machine learning sparked a deeper interest in data engineering. Today, he plays a key role in helping clients build impactful Lakehouse platforms, turning data into business value.

Featured Member Introduction

• Name: Takuya Omi(尾美拓哉)
• Community nickname:Takuya-Omi
• Pronouns:He/Him
• Company:NS Solutions 
• Job Title:Data Engineer
  

We presented him with a range of questions, and below, you will find his responses, expressed in his own words:

Can you provide a brief overview of your career journey leading up to your current role?
I began my career in the marketing division of a financial institution, working as a data analyst. Initially, I performed basic analytical tasks using SQL, but I soon started developing machine learning models to gain deeper business insights. However, our analytics infrastructure was still quite immature, and I often struggled with data quality issues. This experience sparked my interest in data engineering, and about three years ago, I transitioned into a career as a data engineer.

What do you enjoy most about your current job or role?
I currently serve as a consulting partner for Databricks, supporting clients across a wide range of industries in building Lakehouse platforms. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how data on those platforms is then leveraged to create genuine business value, as it reaffirms that I’m making a meaningful contribution to their success.

If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be? How do you think your coworkers would describe you?
This was a difficult question for me, so I decided to consult my boss. She described me as “curious”, ”dedicated” , and “polite”.

Have you had any mentors or significant influences in your professional life? If so, could you tell us about them?
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many professionals whom I deeply respect. One of my first managers introduced me to a fantastic tool called Terraform, which we now use for nearly all of our Databricks environment setups. Another manager taught me the principles of system troubleshooting. Both individuals have had a profound influence on my career.

When and why did you first start using Databricks?
I first came across Databricks when I was working as a data analyst and constantly battling out-of-memory issues while handling Pandas dataframes in a Jupyter　notebook. Today, I use Databricks on a daily basis in my work.

Are there any Databricks features that you particularly enjoy or find indispensable in your work?
Databricks Assistant is fantastic—it’s an indispensable companion in my day-to-day development.

Is there a Databricks feature you wish existed or would like to see in future updates?
As a data engineer, I’m eagerly awaiting the GA release of Databricks Lakeflow because I’ve spent a great deal of time and effort moving data from various sources into object storage, and I believe Lakeflow Connect will be a game-changer for tackling those challenges.
Additionally, I’m keeping a close eye on developments in Delta Live Tables, which currently has a few shortcomings—though I won’t go into the fine details here. However, I’m confident these will be resolved once Delta Live Tables evolves into LakeFlow Pipelines.

When did you join the Databricks Community, and what motivated you to do so?
I joined in October 2023. At first, I simply browsed the posts and discussions from other community members. However, as my knowledge of Databricks grew, I felt a strong desire to contribute myself. Recently, I’ve been challenging myself to tackle more difficult questions by researching thoroughly and then providing answers.

What aspects of the Databricks Community do you find most valuable or enjoyable?
I find it remarkable that, no matter the question, knowledgeable community members quickly notice and offer their insights. I hope to see the community become even more active, allowing valuable knowledge to accumulate in a virtuous cycle—and I’m eager to play a part in making that happen.

Outside of work, what is your favourite hobby or pastime?
On weekends, I enjoy programming while sipping my favorite wine. I do occasionally wake up the next morning to discover I’ve produced some rather questionable code under the influence!

Where do you envision yourself professionally in the next three years?
I’d like to step into a role often referred to as a technical evangelist or advocate, promoting the value of Databricks’ Lakehouse platform. Achieving this will require me to stay up to date on Databricks’ rapidly evolving technology and gain even more hands-on success stories with Lakehouse implementations.

Social Media Handles
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/takuya-omi/

Takuya’s dedication to growing the Databricks Community and his goal of becoming a technical evangelist reflect his drive to make a lasting impact. We are excited to see how his expertise and passion will shape the future of data engineering! 🚀

Make sure to connect with him to learn more about his experience and insights.