Lead Platform Engineer

Absa Group Limited; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 1 000 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bank in the financial services sector is seeking a Lead Platform Engineer in Gauteng. The role involves building high-performing API platform services, contributing technical expertise, resolving escalated issues, and mentoring fellow engineers. Experience in Datapower Gateway, API Connect, and scripting languages is essential. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology and have a strong background in Kubernetes, API technologies, and infrastructure automation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years Datapower Gateway experience in administration, operations, and development.
• 5+ years API Connect / v10 experience, including administration and operations.
• Experience in coding or scripting languages like Python, JavaScript, and Bash.
• Experience with Kubernetes architecture, network security, and management.
• Familiarity with messaging protocols and API technologies such as SOAP and REST.
• Experience using Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform and CloudFormation.
• Experience with big data tools like Elastic Search and Kafka.
• Knowledge of web security protocols like OAuth and JWT.
• A solid understanding of network layer routing and security.

Responsibilities

• Leverage expertise for platform feature and service design.
• Automate tasks through tools like Kubernetes and Python.
• Implement modern observability techniques with Elastic Search and Kafka.
• Identify risks and prevent defects proactively.
• Drive technical standards and best practices adoption across teams.
• Coach and mentor other engineers, enhancing team performance.

Skills

Datapower Gateway experience

API Connect / v10 experience

Coding / scripting languages (Python, JavaScript, etc.)

Kubernetes architecture

Messaging protocols (SOAP, REST)

Infrastructure as code tooling

Analytics tools and Big Data Platforms (Elastic Search, Kafka)

Web Security protocols

Networking knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology

Tools

Kubernetes

AWS services

Elastic Search

Kafak

Terraform

Job description

Job title : Lead Platform Engineer

Job Location: Gauteng, Randburg

Deadline : December 15

Job Summary

Build high-performing, scalable, enterprise-grade Platform services & build capability in others to do the same.

This includes but is not limited to applying critical thinking, design thinking and problem solving skills in an agile team environment to solve complex technical problems with high quality solutions & leading all phases of the development lifecycle to deliver against business requirements at an optimal cost to serve.

Job Description

Are you ready to make a difference?

Join an exciting and dynamic team of API Gateway Platform Engineers, who are responsible for shaping the technical API economy for the bank.

Work within the Platforms and Engineering Gateway technology tribe responsible for the development, design and run of the Datapower API Gateway platform.

Apply platform engineering expertise, critical thinking, design thinking and problem-solving skills to produce well-organized, optimized and documented source code that successfully delivers platform features, components of the service and solves complex technical problems with high quality solutions.

Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations of the Datapower API Gateway Platform.

Key accountabilities : (What you'll get to do)

• Leverage platform engineering expertise and a working knowledge of specific platforms (physical Datapower Gateway appliances, API Connect v10, vmware, Kubernetes, AWS services) and their constituent parts to positively contribute to platform feature and service designs
• Automate tasks through appropriate tools and scripting e.g. Kubernetes, Python, Terraform
• Use and configure modern observability techniques leveraging e.g. aggregated logging via Elastic Search stack, Kafka, metrics via Prometheus / Grafana
• Leverage platform (service design and code) and engineering technical expertise to proactively identify risks and prevent defects
• Uphold our technical principles off : self-service, scalability, re-usability, resilience & stability in all development practices and deliver feature sets that sustainably deliver on these principles
• Enable problem resolution across technical teams, apply and or facilitate root cause analysis, deeply understand the root causes of issues and find ways to resolve them (sustainably)
• Optimize, refactor and reuse components to improve performance and maintainability – ensuring maximum efficiency, effectiveness, and return on investment
• Take accountability for maintaining platform standards and best practices, and drive adoption across multiple service teams
• Contribute to a high-performance team environment by coaching and mentoring other engineers, support engineering teams on technical solutions and problem resolution, and proactively seek coaching and mentoring from others

Role / Person specification : (What do you need to get in?)

• years Datapower Gateway experience (admin, operational and development)
• years API Connect / v10 experience (admin, operational and development)
• years coding / scripting languages experience e.g. Python, JavaScript, Bash scripting, GoLang, XSLT, Gateway Scripting
• years' experience in Kubernetes architecture, Networking, Security, Deployment, and Management
• years messaging protocols and API technologies experience like SOAP and REST
• years Infrastructure as code (IaC) tooling experience (like Jenkins, GITOPS, AWS CI / CD tools eg. Terraform, CloudFormation, CodeBuilder, CodeDeploy)
• years analytics tools and Big Data Platforms experience like Elastic Search, Kafka (Hadoop)
• years Web Security protocols experience like OAuth, JWT, OIDC
• years Networking experience with a solid understanding of Network layer routing and security

Ideal Certifications :

• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) and Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) or Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist CKS)
• AWS Associate level certifications
• IBM Certified Solution Implementer - DataPower Gateway v10
• IBM Certified Solution Implementer - API Connect v10

Education

Bachelor's Degree : Information Technology