Data Engineer

Vitality; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus schemes

Retirement support

Health & wellbeing

Financial protection

Job summary

Vitality is seeking a Data Engineer to design, build and maintain robust data pipelines that support analytics, ML and BI initiatives. You will collaborate with Data Science, Data Architecture and technology teams while evolving cloud and big data environments.

The role focuses on scalable data platforms, trusted datasets and production-grade data solutions, with hybrid work in the Sandton office and flexible arrangements. A strong SQL/Python skill set is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Systems, Science, Mathematics or Engineering.
• Experience in business intelligence, data warehousing, data management and data delivery environments.
• Strong SQL development skills.
• Commercial experience with Python and/or Apache Spark.
• Experience designing and delivering data solutions across data warehouses and big data platforms.
• Hands-on experience with large-scale data technologies and toolsets.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across multiple technical teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with root cause analysis.
• Experience using GitHub, GitLab or similar repositories.
• Knowledge of cloud-based data engineering technologies and modern data architectures.
• Desirable: SSIS, Data Factory, AWS Glue, Dataflow or Dataproc.
• DBT knowledge and Agile delivery experience are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain robust data pipelines across source systems.
• Support Kafka streaming solutions and data products for analytics and ML.
• Deploy and maintain ML models via API-based production deployments.
• Develop datasets, processes and data structures to support modelling and analytics.
• Collaborate with Data Science and Architecture teams to implement scalable data solutions.
• Ensure data quality, integrity and reliability; identify and improve processes.
• Perform root cause analysis on data issues and implement durable fixes.
• Contribute to data engineering design principles and forums within the team.
• Use source control and modern deployment practices for controlled software delivery.
• Support both cloud and on-prem environments delivering data engineering at scale.

Skills

Data engineering

SQL

Python

Data warehousing

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Math/Engineering

Tools

Kafka

Apache Spark

GitHub

GitLab

SSIS

Data Factory

AWS Glue

Dataflow

Dataproc

DBT

Job description

Team - V1 Group Operations - Data Management

Working Pattern - Hybrid - 2 days per week in the Vitality Sandton Office. Full time, 37.5 hours per week.

We are happy to discuss flexible working!

Top 3 skills needed for this role:

• Proven Data Engineering Expertise
• Strong SQL & Python Capability
• Demonstrated Data Warehousing Experience

What this role is all about:

At Vitality, the Data Engineer plays a key role in designing, building and maintaining robust data solutions that enable advanced analytics, machine learning and business intelligence capabilities. Working within the Data Engineering team, this role supports the delivery of scalable data pipelines, trusted datasets and high-performance data platforms, helping to drive data-led decision making across the business. The position offers the opportunity to collaborate with Data Science, Data Architecture and wider technology teams while contributing to the evolution of modern cloud and big data environments.

Key Actions

• Designing, developing and maintaining robust and reliable data pipelines that connect and transform data from multiple source systems
• Supporting high-performance Kafka streaming solutions and data products that enable advanced analytics and predictive modelling
• Deploying and maintaining machine learning models through API-based solutions within live production environments
• Developing datasets, processes and data structures that support data modelling, mining and analytical requirements
• Working closely with Data Science, Data Architecture and technology delivery teams to design and implement scalable data management solutions
• Ensuring data quality, integrity and reliability by identifying opportunities to improve existing processes and controls
• Performing root cause analysis on data issues and implementing sustainable resolutions to minimise operational impact
• Contributing to data engineering design principles, technical discussions and engineering forums across the team
• Utilising source control technologies and modern deployment practices to support efficient and controlled software delivery
• Supporting both cloud and on-premise data environments while helping to deliver innovative data engineering solutions at scale

What do you need to thrive?

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Systems, Science, Mathematics or Engineering
• Experience in business intelligence, data warehousing, data management and data delivery environments
• Strong SQL development skills
• Commercial experience with Python and/or Apache Spark
• Experience designing and delivering data solutions across data warehouses and big data platforms
• Hands-on experience working with large-scale data technologies and toolsets
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across multiple technical teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience performing root cause analysis
• Experience using source control platforms such as GitHub, GitLab or similar repositories
• Knowledge of cloud-based data engineering technologies and modern data architectures
• Desirable experience with integration tooling such as SSIS, Data Factory, AWS Glue, Dataflow or Dataproc
• Knowledge of DBT, Agile delivery methodologies and insurance or financial services environments would be advantageous

So, what’s in it for you?

• Bonus Schemes - A bonus that regularly rewards you for your performance
• Retirement support - We will match your contributions up to 5% of your salary
• Health & wellbeing - Discovery Medical Health Scheme
• Financial protection - Life assurance, income protection and short and long-term disability insurance

These are just some of the many perks that we offer! To view the extensive range of benefits we offer, please visit our careers page.

Fantastic Benefits. Exciting rewards. Great career opportunities!

If you are successful in your application and join us at Vitality, this is our promise to you, we will:

• Help you to be the healthiest you’ve ever been.
• Create an environment that embraces you as you are and enables you to be your best self.
• Give you flexibility on how, where and when you work.
• Help you advance your career by playing you to your strengths.
• Give you a voice to help our business grow and make Vitality a great place to be.
• Give you the space to try, fail and learn.
• Provide a healthy balance of challenge and support.
• Recognise and reward you with a competitive salary and amazing benefits.
• Be there for you when you need us.
• Provide opportunities for you to be a force for good in society.

We commit to all these things because we want you to feel that you belong, and are supported to be happy and healthy.