Zuhair Ikram
About Zuhair Ikram
Zuhair Ikram serves as the Director of Engineering for Data and Machine Learning at Joy, bringing extensive experience from various roles in data engineering and management across several companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Current Role at Joy
Zuhair Ikram serves as the Director of Engineering, Data & ML at Joy since 2022. In this role, he oversees engineering initiatives related to data and machine learning, contributing to the company's strategic objectives. His work involves implementing best practices in software engineering and fostering a high-functioning team environment. This position is remote, allowing him to collaborate effectively with team members across various locations.
Previous Experience in Data Engineering
Zuhair Ikram has extensive experience in data engineering, having held several key positions in the field. He worked as the Head of Data Engineering at Blippar from 2015 to 2016 and as a Senior Engineering Manager for the Data Platform at SocialCode from 2016 to 2018. He also served as Engineering Manager for Data at athenahealth from 2013 to 2015 and as Director of Data & ML at Nurx from 2020 to 2022. His roles have consistently involved leading teams and managing data initiatives.
Educational Background
Zuhair Ikram holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from San Jose State University. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Computer Science from California State University - East Bay. This academic foundation supports his expertise in engineering and data management.
Key Contributions to Data Management
Throughout his career, Zuhair Ikram has made significant contributions to data management practices. He implemented a marketing attribution model that improved the understanding of marketing initiatives' effectiveness. Additionally, he migrated to a modern data stack, consolidating various data sources to enable self-service analytics. His efforts have led to enhanced team velocity and reduced downtime through the application of software engineering best practices.
Team Leadership and Development
Zuhair Ikram has established processes that promote high-functioning teams. He has implemented stakeholder syncs, career ladders, and team-building ceremonies to foster collaboration and development within his teams. His leadership style emphasizes the importance of clear communication and strategic alignment in achieving organizational goals.