In this episode of the Data Engineering Central Podcast, I sit down with Andy Leonard — someone who’s been building systems long before “data engineering” was even a job title.

Andy’s career didn’t start in software at all. It started with physical circuits, literally wiring systems as an electrician, before moving into programming, databases, and eventually decades of hands-on data engineering work.

This conversation isn’t about trends or hype cycles. It’s about how the fundamentals of data work have evolved, what hasn’t changed, and what you only learn after years of building, breaking, fixing, and rebuilding real systems.

We talk about how the industry got here, how tools have changed, where they haven’t helped as much as advertised, and what newer data engineers can learn from a long, practical career spent close to the metal.

If you’re interested in perspective, experience, and lessons earned the hard way — this one’s for you.

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