Senior Data Engineer

Location: Johannesburg | Hybrid

Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent

Industry: SaaS | AI | Cybersecurity | Governance, Risk & Compliance Technology

WatersEdge Solutions is partnering with a global, AI-powered technology business to recruit an experienced Senior Data Engineer. This is an opportunity to join a growing engineering team working at the intersection of data, software engineering, AI, and cybersecurity compliance.

The role is ideal for a technically strong engineer who enjoys owning complex data problems end-to-end, building scalable infrastructure, and working collaboratively with engineers, data scientists, and business stakeholders.

About the Role

As Senior Data Engineer, you’ll take ownership of designing, building, and improving the data infrastructure that supports a rapidly evolving technology platform.

You’ll develop reliable ETL pipelines, API-driven integrations, automation, and internal data tools while ensuring production systems remain scalable, observable, and resilient. Importantly, this isn't purely a data role - strong software engineering fundamentals are central to the position.

You’ll also have the opportunity to mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical decisions and engineering best practices across the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain scalable data pipelines and ETL processes using Python and SQL

• Build API-based data ingestion workflows and real-time integrations

• Design and optimise data workflows for performance, reliability, and scalability

• Apply strong software engineering principles, including modular design, testing, documentation, and clean code

• Build and support internal data-driven tools

• Implement automated monitoring, alerting, and incident response for production data pipelines

• Improve data reliability, observability, and error handling

• Work with relational databases, including data querying and modelling

• Apply DataOps/DevOps principles to data engineering workflows

• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for data workflows

• Work with containerised ETL deployments

• Contribute to infrastructure-as-code practices

• Collaborate with senior engineers, data scientists, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions

• Take ownership of technical projects from design through to production

• Mentor and support junior engineers

• Continuously identify opportunities to improve engineering standards, automation, and scalability

What You'll Bring

• 7+ years' professional experience as a Data Engineer or in a similar role developing ETL/data pipelines

• Advanced Python skills for backend development and scripting

• Strong SQL skills with hands-on relational database querying and modelling experience

• Experience designing and maintaining scalable ETL/data pipelines

• Experience with at least one major cloud platform: AWS, GCP, or Azure

• Hands-on experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes

• Strong understanding of RESTful APIs and API-based data integrations

• Experience with version control platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket

• Practical experience implementing or working within CI/CD workflows

• Strong understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)

• Commitment to clean, modular, maintainable, and well-tested code

• Experience taking technical projects from concept through to production

• Ability to work independently and take ownership

• Previous experience mentoring or supporting junior engineers

Nice to Have

• Experience with data security, privacy compliance, and access controls

• Knowledge of infrastructure-as-code technologies such as Terraform or Helm

• Experience with event-driven architecture

• Stream-processing experience

• Familiarity with AI concepts

• Prompt engineering experience

• Exposure to cybersecurity, compliance, or GRC technology

What's On Offer

• Hybrid working model

• Opportunity to work on an innovative AI-enabled technology product

• Exposure to modern data engineering, cloud, and automation technologies

• Learning and development through courses, conferences, and mentorship

• Opportunity to influence engineering practices within a growing technical team

• Collaborative and supportive working environment

• Team events and company celebrations

• A people-focused environment that recognises the importance of personal and family priorities

Company Culture

This is an innovative, collaborative environment where engineers are encouraged to take ownership, solve meaningful technical problems, and continuously develop their skills. The business combines the pace and creativity of a technology company with a strong focus on engineering quality, reliability, and customer impact.

Please Note: If you have not been contacted within 10 working days, consider your application unsuccessful.