The wooden one
Built from scrap timber, with a real windshield, opening doors and hand-painted plates. It stood outside through a winter it wasn't designed for - and didn't survive it.
// Hello, I'm
George Sikalias
I build things. Enterprise platforms, data pipelines, and motorsport intelligence algorithms. In my spare time I wrench on my Toyotas and drive them on track.
About
I'm an engineer based in Athens, Greece, currently working as a Lead Data Engineer building pipelines and analytics infrastructure with Databricks, Spark, and PySpark. Over + years I've moved across enterprise banking systems, cloud-native architectures, and motorsport analytics - always gravitating toward hard engineering problems, from rewriting monolithic banking platforms into microservices, to designing algorithms that extract meaningful performance data from noisy telemetry signals.
In 2018, I co-founded Vehicle Performance Rating (VPRating), where I designed and built the core algorithm and platform. VPRating transforms raw GNSS and sensor data into precise vehicle dynamics metrics - lateral grip, acceleration, braking - and produces a per-lap Driving Score that lets drivers and teams benchmark performance objectively.
By day, I work as a Lead Data Engineer at Hellas Direct, building data pipelines with Databricks, Spark, and PySpark. Before that, I spent nearly a decade at Eurobank, rising from Senior Java Developer to Technical Architect for their entire digital channels platform.
I hold a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Piraeus. Outside of work, I'm a backyard engineer - I wrench on my Toyotas and build DIY motorsport electronics with Arduino and Raspberry Pi. My GitHub has projects ranging from suspension travel sensors and automatic heel-toe downshifting systems to Apexi PFC fuel map tools and VBO data mergers.
Experience
Jan 2026 - Present
Lead Data Engineer
Hellas Direct - Data Team
Building data pipelines and analytics infrastructure with Databricks, Apache Spark, and PySpark.
Sep 2018 - Present
Co-founder / Technical Lead
VPRating (Vehicle Performance Rating)
- Designed and built the core algorithm and platform
- Data pipelines for high-frequency telemetry (10Hz GNSS, accelerations, yaw rate)
- Algorithms for sustained vehicle dynamics and per-lap Driving Score
- SaaS microservices on Java Spring Boot, RabbitMQ, Google Cloud
- Powers the Rotax TRAX motorsport app via production API
Jan 2021 - Dec 2025
Technical Architect - Digital Channels
Eurobank
- End-to-end accountability for architecture, performance, and resilience of web & mobile
- Led migration from private cloud to Microsoft Azure
- Drove messaging platform transition from RabbitMQ to Apache Kafka
- Defined solution architecture for new initiatives across the digital platform
Nov 2016 - Dec 2020
Senior Java Developer / Team Leader
Eurobank - OMNI Channel Platform
- Complete rewrite from legacy JSF monolith to cloud-native microservices
- Java / Spring Boot microservices with RabbitMQ messaging
- React/Redux frontend, deployed on OpenShift Kubernetes
- Led cross-functional team through full delivery lifecycle
Jun 2012 - Nov 2016
Mid / Senior Java Developer
Trasys Greece · Groundzerolabs
- Eurobank DRIVE SBB - loan origination for Small Business Banking
- IUCLID6 - EU regulatory system for chemical substances (ECHA/Trasys)
Mar 2007 - Jun 2012
Java Developer
Accenture · On Telecoms
- Eurobank e-banking - migration from IBM Portal to JSF/Spring MVC
- On Telecoms - provisioning systems for telephony, internet, IPTV
- Eurobank Cards (EDDIE CLB) - replacing legacy PL/SQL systems
2001 - 2006
BSc Computer Science
University of Piraeus
Projects
Vehicle Performance Rating
Co-founder · Algorithm Designer · Lead Engineer
A deterministic telemetry analytics platform for motorsport that I've been designing and building since September 2018. VPRating transforms raw GNSS and sensor data into predictive vehicle performance metrics, providing drivers, teams, and tire manufacturers with objective, comparable data across different vehicles, tracks, and conditions.
The Algorithm
Designed algorithms to calculate sustained, true, and representative values for lateral and longitudinal acceleration, braking performance, and a per-lap Driving Score based on lap time simulation (perfect lap vs. logged lap). The system identifies multiple driving styles and provides accurate dynamics data regardless of driver behavior.
Data Pipeline
Built data pipelines for high-frequency telemetry ingestion - 10Hz GNSS, accelerations, yaw rate, and more. Processing raw, noisy sensor data into clean, meaningful performance metrics that enable cross-vehicle and cross-track comparison.
Platform Architecture
Delivered as a SaaS microservices platform, serving the motorsport community and powering integrations like the Rotax TRAX motorsport app through a production API. Handles event-driven processing with asynchronous messaging for resilient, scalable workloads.
Impact
VPRating creates a level playing field where vehicles of different types can be compared objectively. Used by track day enthusiasts, racing teams, and the karting community. Features include per-lap coaching, VPRating League rankings, and a vehicle capability index.
Origin Story
Long before the first line of code, I was already building things in the back yard. Two "cars" from my late primary and middle-school years - and the first hard lesson in choosing the right material for the job.
The steel one
Rebuilt from steel a few years later - proper frame, real panels, wheels and lights. Same kid, better material choice. The shape of every project since.
Contact