HeadFirst B.V.
Senior Growth Systems Engineer

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Build the activation layer behind our growth stack
Do you enjoy working where data, technology and growth come together? Do you like turning data into audiences, reliable activation flows and solutions that teams can actually use?
At HeadFirst x Impellam, we are building a new Growth Tech function within our Product organisation. We are looking for a Senior Growth Systems Engineer to take ownership of the activation layer behind our growth strategy across our marketplaces and 20+ brands.
This is a technical role with a strong connection to the business. You will work closely with Product, Data Engineering, Commercial and Marketing to turn data into action. As our first dedicated activation hire, you will also have plenty of room to shape how this capability develops.
What you will do
You will be responsible for the systems and processes that turn our data into usable audiences and reliable activation.
Your day-to-day work will include:
- Building and managing audience activation flows from Databricks into Hightouch and connected platforms.
- Translating business needs into audience logic, traits and sync structures.
- Using SQL to investigate data and solve issues with audiences and activation flows.
- Improving identity resolution and profile stitching across Striive, ProUnity and our wider brand portfolio.
- Helping shape event taxonomy and consent flows from CMP through the warehouse to activation.
- Reviewing AI-generated audiences, campaign inputs and reporting outputs before they reach production.
- Monitoring activation quality and solving issues when things do not work as expected.
- Working closely with Product, Data, Commercial and Marketing teams to turn ideas into practical solutions.
- Creating reusable standards and solutions that can be used across markets and brands.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
The technology
Our growth stack is built around a modern data and activation setup. Databricks is at the centre of our data platform, with Hightouch supporting warehouse-to-channel activation.
You will work with technologies and concepts including:
Databricks | Hightouch | SQL | Reverse ETL | CDP | Identity Resolution | Consent | Event Data | AI-assisted workflows
You do not need to be an expert in every tool. We are more interested in your ability to understand systems, solve problems and learn quickly.
A bit more about the role
This is not a campaign management or traditional marketing automation role. You will not be spending your days managing HubSpot or Marketo.
Your focus is the technical layer behind growth. You make sure our data can move from the warehouse into the right systems, audiences can be activated reliably and our teams can work faster.
You will also be joining at an interesting moment. Growth Tech is being built from the ground up, and you will be the first dedicated activation hire. That means you will have real ownership and a direct influence on how we build this capability across HeadFirst x Impellam.
What we offer
- €85,000 to €115,000 gross annual salary, depending on experience.
- 15% performance bonus.
- Full-time permanent contract.
- 27 vacation days, with the option to buy more.
- 8.33% holiday allowance and premium-free pension.
- Hybrid working and flexible hours.
- Modern office in Hoofddorp.
- Access to HeadFirst Academy and internal learning opportunities.
- The opportunity to build a new activation capability from the ground up.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Who you are
You are a technical problem solver who likes figuring things out. You can move between technical detail and business needs and are comfortable taking ownership when something needs to get done.
We are looking for someone who:
- Has hands-on experience in Growth Systems, MarTech, CDP, data activation or a similar technical environment.
- Has built or managed reverse ETL or warehouse-to-channel activation flows in production, for example with Hightouch, Census or a similar platform.
- Is comfortable with SQL and can investigate audience definitions, joins and activation logic independently.
- Understands audiences, traits, events and sync logic at a system level.
- Has experience with identity resolution, profile stitching or customer matching.
- Understands how consent and event data move from CMP to warehouse to activation.
- Is comfortable working with AI-assisted tools and knows when to question or improve AI-generated output.
- Enjoys working with different teams and can translate business questions into practical technical solutions.
- Takes ownership of what they build, from the first implementation through to production and improvement.
Experience with Databricks, dbt, OneTrust, headless CMS or multi-brand and multi-market activation is a plus. Dutch is helpful because much of the team operates in Dutch, but it is not a requirement.
- Brand: HeadFirst Group
- Mobility budget or Lease car: No
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills