Head AI and Data Engineer

Offernet; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic data solutions company in Cape Town is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to head its Data Platform & AI. This hands-on leadership position involves managing the full data infrastructure, building ETL/ELT pipelines, and collaborating with various teams to enhance data-driven decision-making. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of relevant experience and strong proficiency in Google Cloud Platform and Python.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Data Engineer or Data Platform Lead.
• Advanced proficiency in Google Cloud Platform, especially BigQuery, Dataflow, and Pub/Sub.
• Strong coding skills in Python, SQL, and either Java or PHP.

Responsibilities

• Own the GCP-based Data Platform.
• Architect and manage ETL/ELT pipelines.
• Implement best practices for data validation and governance.
• Lead root-cause analysis of pipeline failures.
• Collaborate with teams to design data products.

Skills

Data engineering

Google Cloud Platform

Python

SQL

Data modelling

AI/ML concepts

Tools

BigQuery

Dataflow

Cloud Functions

Pub/Sub

Composer

Job description

Help Us Turn Big Data into Revenue Clarity.

Offernet is seeking to employ a Senior Data Engineer as the Head of Data Platform & AI to take ownership of our full data infrastructure and elevate the architecture behind our proprietary DMP (Data Management Platform). You’ll work alongside a team of data engineers, analysts, and AI developers, and report directly to senior leadership. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who thrives on optimisation, standardisation, and real‑time, revenue‑driving execution. If you’re a self‑starter who understands how to turn unstructured data into scalable pipelines and measurable outcomes, let’s talk.

What You’ll Do

• Own our GCP‑based Data Platform (BigQuery, Cloud Functions, Composer, Dataflow, Pub/Sub, etc.)
• Architect, build, and manage robust ETL/ELT pipelines to ingest structured and unstructured data from dozens of sources
• Implement best practices across data validation, deduplication, enrichment, and governance
• Optimise the cost, speed, and performance of data storage, pipelines, and compute
• Build tools and dashboards for internal reporting and marketing analytics teams
• Create and enforce documentation, processes, and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Lead root‑cause analysis of pipeline failures and ensure data accuracy and uptime
• Collaborate with AI, analytics, marketing, and ops teams to design data products that drive decision‑making
• Mentor data engineers and analysts; oversee technical delivery and team growth
• Be available for after‑hours escalations during mission‑critical incidents

Skills & Experience We’re Looking For :

• 5+ years of experience as a Data Engineer or Data Platform Lead
• Advanced proficiency in Google Cloud Platform, especially BigQuery, Dataflow, Pub/Sub, Cloud Storage, and Composer
• Strong coding skills in Python (SQLAlchemy or similar ORM), SQL, and either Java or PHP
• Experience with data modelling, schema design, and performance tuning
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and tools like Gemini (bonus)
• Proven ability to manage complex data workflows, edge‑case debugging, and data security
• Comfortable with cloud cost optimisation and scalable architecture design
• Strong communicator with high professional accountability

Bonus Points For :

Experience in lead generation, digital marketing, or performance media

Building or scaling a proprietary DMP / CDP from scratch

• Familiarity with Salesforce, Meta Conversions API, or Google Analytics integrations
• GCP Professional Data Engineer Certification