Data Engineer

Sphere Digital Recruitment; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,050,000; Full time

Job summary

Sphere Digital Recruitment, on behalf of a global digital and technology agency, seeks a Data Engineer in Cape Town. You will design, build and maintain scalable data processing systems and pipelines, ensuring data quality and reliability across markets.

You will work on end-to-end data projects, optimize ETL processes, and mentor junior teammates while collaborating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This hybrid role requires strong GCP, SQL and Python skills.

Qualifications

• Advanced experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is essential.
• Advanced SQL and Python skills are required.
• Experience with end-to-end data pipelines and ETL processes.
• Ability to design, build and maintain data processing systems.
• Experience creating and troubleshooting dashboards and QA processes.
• Strong documentation and code-quality practices.
• Nice to have AWS/Azure exposure and Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer certification.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, maintain and improve data processing solutions and pipelines.
• Support technical data projects across multiple markets.
• Troubleshoot complex data and dashboard issues.
• Build new data products and improve existing data.
• Identify opportunities for automation and standardisation.
• Work with data security, code management and deployment processes.
• Conduct QA and ensure implementations meet standards.
• Create and maintain clear technical documentation.
• Mentor junior team members and share knowledge.
• Translate business requirements into technical deliverables and KPIs.
• Extract and manage data from multiple platforms.

Skills

SQL

Python

Data pipelines

ETL

Dashboards

Data quality

Tools

GCP

AWS/Azure

Job description

Data Engineer

Location: Cape Town
Working Model: Hybrid, 2 days in office and 3 days remote
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are hiring on behalf of our client, a global digital and technology agency, for an experienced Data Engineer to join their Cape Town team.

The successful candidate will design, build and maintain scalable data processing systems and pipelines, ensuring data quality, reliability and efficiency. You will work across a range of data projects, troubleshoot technical issues, improve existing solutions and support the development of junior team members.

This role would suit someone with strong hands‑on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), SQL and Python experience who is comfortable taking ownership of technical data solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, maintain and improve data processing solutions and pipelines.
• Support technical data projects across multiple markets.
• Troubleshoot complex data and dashboard issues.
• Build new solutions and improve existing data products.
• Identify opportunities for automation, optimisation and standardisation.
• Work with data security, code management and deployment processes.
• Conduct quality assurance and ensure technical implementations meet required standards.
• Create and maintain clear technical documentation.
• Independently manage and deliver smaller-scale data projects.
• Translate business and client requirements into practical technical solutions.
• Turn business objectives into KPIs, measurement plans and technical deliverables.
• Extract, transform and manage data from multiple platforms and sources.
• Support and mentor junior team members.
• Contribute to technical training and knowledge sharing across the wider team.

Technical Requirements

• Advanced experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is essential.
• Advanced SQL and Python skills.
• Strong experience working across end-to-end data pipelines.
• Experience extracting raw data, transforming data and building reporting solutions.
• Strong understanding of ETL processes and data engineering best practices.
• Experience creating and troubleshooting dashboards.
• Strong understanding of data quality, QA and validation processes.
• Ability to produce clean, well-documented and maintainable code.
• Experience with AWS and/or Azure would be advantageous.
• Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer certification is highly desirable.

About You

• Strong technical problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable taking ownership of projects and technical solutions.
• Able to manage priorities and communicate potential project blockers.
• Confident collaborating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Comfortable explaining technical concepts and solutions to clients where required.
• Able to mentor and support more junior team members.
• Proactive about identifying improvements and sharing knowledge with the wider team.

Sphere is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications regardless of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation, and any other protected status as required by applicable law.

If you require any adjustments or additional support during the recruitment process for any reason whatsoever, please let us know.