Data Engineer - JHB - Intermediate

Decision Inc.

Johannesburg

On-site

ZAR 600,000 - 900,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Decision Inc. is seeking talented Data Engineers to join our Data, Information, and Analytics practice as client-facing consultants.

You will design and build modern data platforms, lead delivery across diverse industries, and help our clients become genuinely data-driven businesses. You will work across the full engineering lifecycle, from architecture and pipeline development to mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to pre‑sales engagements.

Qualifications

3–5 years of hands-on data engineering experience.
Strong in Python and SQL with cloud data platforms.
Experience with data pipelines, lakehouse architectures, and modern tooling.

Responsibilities

Design and build scalable data platforms using cloud-native and lakehouse patterns.
Develop and optimise data pipelines with Python, SQL, and cloud tools.
Modernise on‑prem data environments to cloud-native platforms.
Engage with clients to conceptualise data solutions aligned to strategy.
Support pre‑sales activities with proof‑of‑concepts and proposals.
Provide mentoring and lead technical reviews for consultants.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data pipelines

Lakehouse architectures

Databricks

Snowflake

PySpark

dbt

CI/CD

Git

Terraform

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS/IT

Master's degree advantageous

Tools

Azure Data Factory

Azure Synapse Analytics

AWS Glue

Google Dataflow

Databricks

BigQuery

Job description

Decision Inc. is seeking talented Data Engineers to join our Data, Information, and Analytics practice as client-facing consultants. You will design and build modern data platforms, lead delivery across diverse industries, and help our clients become genuinely data-driven businesses.

You will work across the full engineering lifecycle, from architecture and pipeline development to mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to pre‑sales engagements. A passion for data, a curiosity for new technologies, and the ability to adapt quickly to different business environments are essential.

Who Are We?

Decision Inc. is a global digital partner that enables businesses to reinvent themselves to realise their full potential.

We deliver agility, resilience, and intelligence to any enterprise, enabling them to adapt quickly and thrive through innovation and opportunity. Our teams have engaged with more than 400 clients globally over the past 15 years, providing them with the expertise to build, operate, and optimise their digital businesses.

We achieve this by leveraging the world's best technology to drive our client's business ambitions forward into tomorrow's reality. These technologies include but are not limited to: Microsoft, SAP, Qlik, Snowflake, Alteryx, Automation Anywhere, and Workday Adaptive Insights.

What Will You Do?

Key Responsibility:

Design and build scalable data platforms using modern cloud-native and Lakehouse architectures
Develop and optimise data pipelines using Python, SQL, and tools such as Azure Data Factory, AWS Glue, Google Cloud Dataflow, Databricks, and dbt
Modernise legacy data environments, migrating from on-premises solutions to cloud-native platforms such as Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse Analytics, AWS Redshift, Google BigQuery, or Databricks
Engage with clients to conceptualise data solutions aligned to their business strategy
Support our sales team with pre‑sales activities, proof‑of‑concept deliveries, and technical proposals
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and intermediate consultants
Lead technical reviews and contribute to consultants' growth plans
Identify opportunities to automate manual processes, optimise data delivery, and improve infrastructure scalability
Work with stakeholders, including executive, product, and analytics teams, to address data infrastructure needs
Drive knowledge sharing through technical blogs, internal forums, and workshops
Balance billable project work with team support responsibilities

Who Do You Need to Be?

Intermediate (3–5 years' experience)

3–5 years of hands‑on experience in data engineering
Strong proficiency in Python and/or SQL, including query optimisation and working with both relational and non‑relational databases
Experience designing and building data pipelines, data models, and lakehouse architectures (medallion pattern)
Practical experience with one or more cloud platforms: Microsoft Azure (Data Factory, ADLS Gen2, Synapse Analytics, Fabric), AWS (Glue, S3, Redshift, EMR), or GCP (Dataflow, BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Dataproc)
Familiarity with Databricks, Snowflake, Delta Lake, and PySpark
Understanding of data transformation frameworks such as dbt
Experience with version control (Git) and CI/CD practices for data workflows
Strong analytical skills and the ability to perform root‑cause analysis on complex data problems
Good communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Senior (6–8+ years' experience)

6–8+ years of hands‑on experience in data engineering
All of the above, plus demonstrable experience leading end‑to‑end platform delivery
Experience architecting enterprise‑grade lakehouses and data mesh patterns
Proficiency with infrastructure‑as‑code tools (Terraform, Bicep, AWS CDK, or Pulumi) and DevOps pipelines
Proven ability to work with cross‑functional teams in a dynamic consulting environment
Track record of mentoring junior engineers and contributing to technical strategy

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a related field
A master's degree in a relevant field is advantageous

Certifications