In our latest Meet the A-Team article, we speak with Yirga Hagos, Full Stack Engineer & ETL Engineer at AVOW, whose work powers the data pipelines and dashboards behind our campaign performance. From his first spark of curiosity in computer engineering to optimizing systems that run three times faster, Yirga shares how curiosity, problem-solving, and teamwork drive his day-to-day – along with plenty of good coffee.
Career Journey as a Full Stack Engineer & Software Engineer
Q1. What first sparked your interest in technology and engineering, and how did that lead you to join AVOW?
When I first came across computers, I remember feeling like they were pure magic, how a few clicks could make something come alive on the screen. That early curiosity grew stronger when I joined the university to study Computer Engineering. Writing my first lines of code was empowering; I started building small projects just for fun or trying to recreate existing apps to understand how they were made. What began as curiosity soon turned into passion, and that passion eventually became my profession.
What led me to AVOW is the conversation I had with the Team before joining. I felt like AVOW is a fun and inspiring place to work during my interview. I’m not just saying that in hindsight, at the time, I actually had another offer on the table, but the conversations I had during the interview made AVOW stand out. I chose AVOW, and that first impression has proven absolutely right.
The Excitement of Full-Stack Engineering
Q2. As a Full Stack & ETL Engineer, you work across different layers of technology. What do you find most exciting about your role?
As a full-stack developer, I enjoy working across different layers of technology, but what excites me the most is building end-to-end data pipelines. From data ingestion to transformation and finally seeing the results visualized in dashboards that help optimize campaigns. It is rewarding to see how each step connects and directly supports decision-making. Turning raw data into something meaningful always feels like building a complete story.
Projects That Make an Impact
Q3. Tech and product work often happen behind the scenes. Can you share a project you’re especially proud of that made a big impact at AVOW?
One project I’m especially proud of is the data pipeline refactoring we did as a team. Our goal was to make the entire process faster and more efficient, and through careful redesign and optimization, we managed to boost performance by almost three times. Seeing that improvement in action, and knowing it helped pipelines run smoother and reach teams faster, was incredibly rewarding.
Challenges That Drive Growth
Q4. Problem-solving is at the core of engineering. What’s been the most fun or memorable challenge you’ve tackled here?
When I first joined AVOW, the timing couldn’t have been more interesting. Almost everyone in the team was on vacation. So there I was, in my first week, trying to figure out how everything worked while also handling support tickets on my own. It felt a bit like being dropped into a movie halfway through and trying to catch up with the plot.
It was challenging off course, but also surprisingly fun! It pushed me to learn fast, explore things on my own, and by the time everyone was back, I already felt like part of the team.
Collaboration Across Teams
Q5. Collaboration between tech and other teams is key. How do you make complex technical concepts easy for non-technical colleagues to understand?
Working across teams always comes with a few challenges, especially when technical and non-technical worlds meet. I’ve learned that the key is not just explaining what we’re doing, but why it matters. I try to keep communication simple and consistent, whether that’s through quick chats, examples, or showing how data connects to campaign results. In mobile marketing, things move fast and change often, so staying aligned and keeping the conversation open makes everything flow smoothly.
Inside Yirga’s Daily Routine
Q6. Walk us through a typical day in your role. What does your “tech routine” look like?
My day usually starts with checking if the data pipelines ran smoothly and if there are any high-priority tickets that need attention. Then I have my coffee and start working on new features or debugging tasks.
Around lunchtime, I take a short break, grab something to eat, and of course have another coffee. The afternoon usually goes into coding, quick syncs, or solving whatever new challenges come up. Then it’s time to rest, sleep, and do it all again the next day.
Continuous Learning and Curiosity
Q7. The tech world evolves quickly. How do you stay curious and keep your skills sharp?
It’s a mix of different things. I like learning new concepts and trying them out through small side projects. I’m always on the lookout for good tutorials on Udemy or YouTube, especially about new cloud services, frameworks, or anything that helps me improve how I build and deliver software. Staying curious keeps the work exciting and helps me grow a little every day.
Life Beyond the Code
Q8. Beyond code and data pipelines, what are your passions or hobbies that inspire your creativity?
Outside of work, I enjoy having good coffee and spending time at the gym. Coffee helps me relax and clear my mind, and working out is a great way to stay active.
Professional and Personal Growth at AVOW
Q9. How has being part of the Tech & Product team at AVOW shaped your growth, both professionally and personally?
When I joined AVOW, the whole idea of mobile OEM advertising was new to me. As I started working on different projects, I began to understand how it actually works and how big the potential is outside the traditional app stores. Seeing how AVOW connects with OEM partners and helps advertisers reach users in this space has been really interesting.
Working in a fast-paced environment with bigger systems has also helped me grow professionally. I’ve learned how to adapt quickly, stay organized, and find solutions even under pressure. On top of that, collaborating with people from different parts of the world has been a great experience. It has made the work more dynamic and taught me a lot about teamwork and communication.
Explore Careers at AVOW
Yirga’s journey shows how curiosity, problem-solving, and innovation come together in the world of engineering at AVOW. His story highlights the technology powering our success as a leading mobile OEM advertising agency – and the collaborative, people-first culture that makes it all possible.
If you’re inspired by Yirga’s story and want to join a team shaping the future of mobile OEM advertising through data, development, and engineering excellence, explore exciting opportunities with AVOW on our careers page.
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