Lead Data Engineer

X, bigly labs; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

X, bigly labs, Dis-Chem’s high-performance innovation hub, seeks a Lead Data Engineer to architect and lead a scalable data platform powering analytics, ML, and AI initiatives. You will manage data delivery teams and partner with analysts, data scientists, and AI engineers to enable secure, high-performance data platforms across the enterprise.

Responsibilities include building robust data pipelines, implementing governance and privacy controls, and driving best practices to ensure data quality

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Certifications in cloud platform (AWS, Azure DP-203/DP-700, or Databricks) are desirable.
• 8+ years in data engineering or software development.
• 4+ years leading data teams or data programs.
• 3+ years hands-on with Databricks and Medallion Architecture.
• Strong Python, SQL, Spark, and cloud-native data services.
• Familiarity with cloud-native data integration tools.
• Experience delivering data platforms for data science and AI workloads.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and maintenance of a scalable data platform using Medallion Architecture for analytics, data science and AI workloads.
• Build robust data pipelines using Python, SQL, Spark, and cloud-native services for timely, accurate data delivery.
• Enable secure data sharing with external partners via access controls and data contracts.
• Collaborate with analysts, data scientists, AI engineers and data quality teams to ensure platform meets needs.
• Ensure data governance, privacy, and compliance with POPIA and GDPR via automated checks and lineage tracking.
• Establish coding templates and peer review processes to improve code quality.
• Monitor platform performance and pipeline health with observability tools and SLAs.

Skills

Python

SQL

Spark

Cloud services

Education

Bachelor’s degree (CS/DE)

Tools

Databricks

GitHub

JIRA

Confluence

MIRO

SAP Datasphere

Snowflake

Airflow

Job description

We are X, bigly labs, Dis-Chem’s high-performance innovation hub; a place where bold ideas meet data, design, and radical customer focus to reimagine what healthcare can be.

Our mission is to power the future of healthcare by lowering costs, unlocking new possibilities, and improving access to healthcare for all South Africans. We do this through cutting-edge digital solutions that deliver smarter, more human, and truly patient-focused experiences. Here, your work is not limited to a whiteboard; it becomes real. It drives decisions, shapes experiences, and moves healthcare forward. We are driven by one big question: How do we use data and today’s technology to build breakthroughs to better health?

There’s only one question left: are you ready to make healthcare smarter, and actually mean it?

We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer to lead the development of a modern, scalable, and secure data platform that supports enterprise-wide analytics, machine learning, and AI initiatives. The Lead Data Engineer will be responsible for managing data delivery teams as well as design, build, maintain and optimise data platforms while enabling governed data sharing with external partners. This role will work closely with data analysts, data scientists, and AI engineers to ensure the scalable, secure, and high-performance data platforms that power analytics, AI, machine learning and operational excellence required by business teams.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR?

Minimum

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Certification in cloud platform: AWS, Azure Data Engineer (DP-203/DP-700), or Databricks Certified Data Engineer.
• 8+ years of experience in data engineering or software development.
• 4+ years of experience in leading data teams or data program management.
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience with Databricks Intelligence Platform and implementing Medallion Architecture.
• Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, Spark, and cloud-native data services (e.g., Azure Data Lake, AWS S3, GCP BigQuery).
• Familiarity with cloud-native data integration tools (e.g. SAP Datasphere, Snowflake Airflow).
• Experience in delivery and collaboration tools: GitHub, JIRA, Confluence and MIRO
• Proven experience in developing data platforms that support data science, data analytics and AI workloads.
• Extensive experience in ETL development and Data Pipelines with CI/CD, as well as data governance, and data quality frameworks.
• Solid understanding of data science workflows, model lifecycle, and AI concepts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in Machine Learning or AI (e.g., Azure AI Engineer Associate).
• Experience in healthcare, retail, or insurance data ecosystems
• Working knowledge of SAP BW, S4 HANA, CRM, ERP, and Data Business Cloud

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING?

• Lead the development and maintenance of a scalable and secure data platform using the Medallion Architecture to support analytics, data science, and AI workloads with high performance and reliability.
• Build robust, reusable, and modular data pipelines leveraging Python, SQL, Spark, and cloud-native services to ensure consistent, timely, and accurate data delivery across the organisation.
• Enable secure and governed inbound and outbound data sharing with external partners by applying access controls, encryption, and data contracts to ensure compliance, trust, and seamless collaboration.
• Collaborate with data analysts, data scientists, AI engineers and data quality analysts through regular engagement, feedback sessions, and shared development environments to ensure the platform meets analytical and modelling needs effectively.
• Ensure data integrity, privacy, and compliance by implementing automated data quality checks, lineage tracking, and governance frameworks to maintain trust and meet regulatory standards (e.g., POPIA, GDPR).
• Establish coding and architectural best practices by creating reusable templates, guidelines, and peer review processes to improve code quality and team efficiency.
• Monitor platform performance and pipeline health using observability tools and alerting mechanisms to proactively resolve issues and maintain SLAs.

WHO YOU ARE?

• Have an advanced knowledge of AWS, Databricks and Apache Spark.
• Be an expert in Medallion Architecture (Bronze, Silver, Gold layers).
• Be able to balance multiple initiatives and deadlines with structured focus
• The ability to help coordinate timelines, deliverables, and interdependencies across teams
• Have work delivery experience using agile principles and collaboration tools: GitHub, JIRA, Confluence and MIRO
• Be able to adapt effectively to shifting priorities, evolving goals, and dynamic business contexts.

Our values show up in how we think, build, and make choices that make an impact. We are building a culture that drives progress; one that fixes friction, chases what changes, and owns the outcome. We design with tomorrow in mind, ask sharper questions, and answer them with care, urgency, and systems that scale.

Think you’ve got energy, curiosity, and guts? Come hold the space, make it matter, and own a breakthrough.