Next batch January 2027Saturdays only
Two live, small-batch programs with guided project work, real engineering depth and direct feedback from the instructor.
Ingest
ADLS Gen2 · event-driven
Transform
Databricks · Delta Lake
Serve
Power BI · REST APIs
How you learn
No toy datasets, no multiple-choice quizzes. You build, submit and get reviewed the way a team does it.
Learn concepts
Live sessions on architecture and design decisions.
Build systems
Hands-on assignments in code and cloud infrastructure.
Get reviewed
Direct feedback on your pull requests from a senior architect.
Ship to portfolio
Deploy your capstone and prepare to explain it in interviews.
Instructor · review comment
An overwrite breaks reruns. Why not MERGE so the job is idempotent?
Student
Good catch. Switching to MERGE and adding a rerun test.
Programs
Both programs share the same three depths and the same teaching approach. They differ in what you build and the tools you master.
Program 1
Engineer production-grade data pipelines and platforms on Azure.
Program 2
Build RAG and agent-based AI systems with evaluation, tracing and production-grade design.
Three depths, the same in both programs
$12
3 hours · one live session
A practical live introduction with real architecture walkthroughs and Q&A. Free for colleges and student communities.
$60
15 hours · 6 live sessions
Core tools and architecture, an end-to-end project and hands-on assignments after every session.
$115
30 hours · 12 live sessions
Everything in the Crash Course, plus production patterns, two capstones, personal coaching and guest lectures.
Uma Kiran Ramadugu
Data & AI Architect · DataKern Founder
Why DataKern
DataKern is led by Uma Kiran Ramadugu, a Data & AI Architect at a bank in the Netherlands, with 15 years in IT and 12 in Data & AI. Classes stay small, because real feedback needs a real conversation, not a broadcast.
Free guides
A practical data engineer roadmap: the skills to learn, the order that works, and the projects that prove you can do the job.
Read the guide · 8 min read →AI EngineeringA practical AI engineer roadmap: the skills to learn, in order, from LLM basics and RAG to evaluation, agents and shipping a real application.
Read the guide · 8 min read →Data EngineeringA practical checklist for choosing a data engineering course: the syllabus, live versus recorded, projects, the instructor, and the red flags to avoid.
Read the guide · 6 min read →Not ready to apply?
Two PDFs, plus a monthly engineering newsletter.
Common questions
Not strictly. You should have basic programming logic and database understanding. We guide you through the specifics, cloud or AI, from the ground up.
You start with an Azure Free Account ($200 credit / 30 days). After that, exercises typically cost €5–€15 per month. We teach cost management on day one.
Sessions are recorded for review. But the real value is in live participation: asking questions and getting feedback. Small batches mean we can accommodate individual paces.
Engineering Thinking for the AI Era
Data Engineering and AI Engineering batches are in progress. Applications are open for the January 2027 batch.
Live on Saturdays only · Small batches · Next masterclass expected mid-December / mid-January
100% satisfaction guarantee: attend the first two sessions, and if you don't feel you're learning real engineering skills, we refund your course fee. Refund policy