Graduate Data Engineer - Big Data Technologies

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive graduate salary

Health benefits

Training resources

Remote work environment

Opportunity to attend conferences

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Graduate Data Engineer for a fully remote role in South Africa. You will design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines and contribute to large-scale data infrastructure powering analytics and BI.

The role emphasizes hands-on work with Python/Scala/Java, SQL/NoSQL databases, and cloud data services (AWS/Azure/GCP). You will collaborate with data scientists and analysts while learning modern big data tech in a remote team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering or related field.
• Solid understanding of SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Proficient in Python, Scala, or Java for data engineering tasks.
• Familiarity with Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, and cloud data services.

Responsibilities

• Design, construct, install, test, and maintain scalable data systems.
• Develop and optimize ETL/ELT processes for ingestion and transformation.
• Build data lakes and warehouses on cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Collaborate with data scientists to meet data requirements.
• Implement data quality and monitor pipeline performance.
• Automate data processes using scripting and CI/CD tools.

Skills

SQL

NoSQL

Python

Scala

Java

Hadoop

Spark

Kafka

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

S3

Redshift

Glue

Data Lake

BigQuery

Dataflow

Synapse

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering data solutions company, is seeking motivated Graduate Data Engineers to join their fully remote team. This is an outstanding opportunity for technically adept individuals passionate about building robust data pipelines and managing large-scale data infrastructure from anywhere in **South Africa**. You will play a critical role in designing, developing, and maintaining scalable data systems that power advanced analytics and business intelligence initiatives. As a remote-first organization, we champion seamless collaboration and provide the necessary tools and support for our distributed workforce to excel. This role is perfect for graduates with a strong understanding of data structures, programming, and database management, who are eager to dive deep into big data technologies. You will work alongside experienced data professionals, contributing to projects that have a significant impact on data-driven decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, construct, install, test, and maintain highly scalable data management systems.
• Develop and optimize ETL/ELT processes for data ingestion and transformation.
• Build and manage data lakes and data warehouses on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Write efficient and well-documented code in languages such as Python, Scala, or Java.
• Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to understand data requirements and deliver appropriate solutions.
• Implement data quality frameworks and ensure data accuracy and integrity.
• Monitor data pipeline performance and troubleshoot issues proactively.
• Automate data processes and infrastructure using scripting and CI/CD tools.
• Stay current with advancements in big data technologies and cloud data services.
• Ensure data security and compliance with relevant regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• Solid understanding of database principles (SQL and NoSQL).
• Proficiency in at least one programming language commonly used in data engineering (e.g., Python, Scala, Java).
• Familiarity with big data technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, or similar.
• Experience with cloud data services (e.g., AWS S3, Redshift, Glue; Azure Data Lake, Synapse; GCP BigQuery, Dataflow).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, suitable for a remote team.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
• Knowledge of data modeling techniques is a plus.
• Previous internship or project experience related to data management or software development is beneficial.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers a competitive graduate salary, comprehensive health benefits, and generous paid time off.
• Our client is dedicated to continuous learning, providing access to industry-leading training resources, online courses, and opportunities to attend relevant conferences.
• Enjoy the flexibility of working from home, with potential for global collaboration and exposure to diverse projects.
• We foster a strong remote culture through regular virtual team-building activities and open communication channels.
• Career advancement opportunities into senior data engineering and data architecture roles are substantial.
• This is an ideal role for graduates looking to build a career in the exciting field of big data.