Data Engineer

NOV; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A global energy company seeks a talented Data Engineer to design and develop data architectures that enhance operational efficiency and predictive maintenance in the drilling sector. The ideal candidate has over 4 years of experience in Python and ETL processes, and holds a relevant degree. This role collaborates closely with drilling engineers and data scientists to optimize drilling operations and ensure data integrity.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on development experience in Python or similar.
• Advanced knowledge of data modeling techniques.
• Expertise in managing data pipelines across cloud ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize data pipelines for analytics.
• Build reliable ETL processes from drilling rigs and sensors.
• Implement and monitor data quality checks.

Skills

Python

PySpark

Data modeling techniques

ETL pipelines

CI/CD tools

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering or related field

Certification in Databricks or cloud data engineering

Tools

Databricks

SQL Server

Data Lakes

Job description

Job Description

Are you passionate about leveraging data and analytics to drive operational impact in the energy sector? At NOV, we lead technological innovation to deliver exceptional value to our customers in drilling and rig equipment solutions. We are seeking a talented Data Engineer who not only excels at building scalable data architectures but also understands the unique challenges and opportunities within oilfield equipment and drilling operations.

In this role, you will design, develop, and support a robust data ecosystem that powers real-time insights for condition‑based maintenance, drilling optimization, and operational efficiency. You will work closely with engineers, data scientists, and operational experts to translate business needs into technical solutions that enhance reliability and performance across NOV’s global operations.

Key Responsibilities

Data Ecosystem Development & Operations

• Design, develop, and optimize scalable, high‑performance data pipelines to support analytics, condition‑based maintenance, and drilling optimization KPIs.
• Build reliable ETL/ELT processes for structured and unstructured data from drilling rigs, rig sensors, and enterprise systems.
• Implement and monitor data quality checks to ensure integrity and reliability of equipment and operational data.
• Develop both streaming and batch ingestion pipelines for high‑frequency sensor data and historical operational data.
• Enforce architecture, coding, and documentation standards for all supported platforms.
• Apply DevOps best practices to enable automated CI/CD, testing, and deployment for data engineering workflows.

Collaboration & Domain Integration

• Partner with drilling engineers, reliability experts, and data scientists to integrate rig equipment data into predictive maintenance and optimization models.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to translate operational requirements into scalable data solutions.
• Proactively identify technology risks and propose solutions to ensure data availability and reliability in mission‑critical systems.

Basic Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or related technical field.
• Certification in Databricks, cloud data engineering, or equivalent is preferred.

Technical Skills

• 4+ years of hands‑on development experience in Python, PySpark, or another modern programming language.
• Advanced knowledge of data modeling techniques (normalization, dimensional modeling, entity‑relationship).
• Expertise in designing and managing data pipelines across cloud and hybrid ecosystems (e.g., Databricks, SQL Server, Data Lakes, distributed systems, SQL/NoSQL databases).
• Proven experience with batch and real‑time ETL pipelines for high‑frequency telemetry or sensor data.
• Familiarity with CI/CD and DevOps tools (Git, JIRA, Confluence).

Domain Knowledge (Preferred But Highly Valued)

• Experience with drilling and rig equipment data, including telemetry, SCADA, WITSML, or condition‑based monitoring systems.
• Understanding of drilling optimization KPIs, rig operations, and equipment reliability concepts.
• Ability to bridge technical solutions with operational realities in oilfield environments.

Why NOV?

By joining our team, you’ll help transform how drilling and rig equipment data drives operational excellence. Your work will directly support predictive maintenance, drilling optimization, and operational safety, ensuring our customers can achieve maximum efficiency and uptime.

About Us

Every day, the oil and gas industry’s best minds put more than 150 years of experience to work to help our customers achieve lasting success.

We Power the Industry that Powers the World

Throughout every region in the world and across every area of drilling and production, our family of companies has provided the technical expertise, advanced equipment, and operational support necessary for success—now and in the future.

Global Family

We are a global family of thousands of individuals, working as one team to create a lasting impact for ourselves, our customers, and the communities where we live and work.

Purposeful Innovation

Through purposeful business innovation, product creation, and service delivery, we are driven to power the industry that powers the world better.

Service Above All

This drives us to anticipate our customers’ needs and work with them to deliver the finest products and services on time and on budget.

About The Team

Corporate

Our family of companies is supported by our global Corporate teams, providing expert knowledge from functions including Human Resources, Information Technology, Compliance, Finance, QHSE, Marketing and Legal centers of expertise. We are structured to provide guidance and service above all to all our business operations.