A Data Platform Engineer is an expert who builds and manages integrated data platforms that provide a cohesive system for delivering reliably every time, enabling organizations to proactively harness their data for strategic advantage. These platforms are different from ad hoc ETL setups in that they offer a holistic approach, scalability, decentralization, and data democratization, allowing domain-specific teams to manage their data independently. The role requires expertise in architecture, infrastructure as code, software development best practices, and understanding of the systems they impact, complementing traditional Data Engineers who focus on operational aspects of data management. Data Platform Engineers are senior strategists who navigate team psychology, ensuring everyone is aligned and motivated to make data usage ready for production, and are the unsung heroes shaping the future of their companies by building modern, scalable, and governed data platforms.