Remote Graduate Data Engineer - Big Data

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Remote; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top-tier health insurance

Retirement contributions

Home office stipend

Professional development budget (confs

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Lead Data Engineer to design, build, and manage scalable data pipelines and AI data platforms. You will lead a team of data engineers, mentor juniors, and partner with data scientists to enable advanced analytics for AI initiatives.

The role requires extensive experience with large-scale data systems in cloud environments, strong leadership, and a remote-first mindset. A competitive package and global collaboration await the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field.
• 8+ years in data engineering with at least 3 years in a lead/senior role.
• Experience building large-scale pipelines with Spark, Kafka, Flink.
• Proficiency with cloud data services: AWS S3, Azure ADLS, GCS, Redshift, BigQuery, Snowflake.
• Strong understanding of data warehousing, data modeling, SQL/NoSQL.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Proven leadership and mentoring experience.
• Good problem-solving and communication skills; remote-friendly.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and implementation of scalable data pipelines for big data/AI workloads.
• Architect and manage cloud-based data platforms optimized for AI/ML.
• Oversee data warehousing, data lakes, and ETL/ELT processes.
• Mentor and guide a team of data engineers.
• Collaborate with data scientists and AI researchers to meet data needs.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and security across platforms.
• Optimize performance, cost-efficiency, and scalability of data infra.
• Stay updated on big data, cloud, and AI data engineering trends.
• Develop and enforce data governance policies.

Skills

Team leadership

Data engineering

Problem solving

Communication

Remote work

Education

Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science

Tools

Spark

Kafka

Flink

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

Cloud platforms (S3, ADLS, GCS)

Job description

Showing 19 Graduate Data Engineer Big Data jobs in remote

About the Role

Join a globally recognized leader in AI innovation as a Remote Lead Data Engineer. This fully remote position offers the unparalleled opportunity to design, build, and manage the sophisticated big data and AI platforms that power our cutting-edge technologies. Our client is at the forefront of AI research and application, and you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, scalability, and efficiency of our data infrastructure. You will lead a team of talented data engineers, mentor junior members, and collaborate closely with data scientists and AI researchers to enable advanced analytics and machine learning initiatives. The ideal candidate has extensive experience with large-scale data systems, cloud platforms, and data engineering best practices, combined with strong leadership capabilities. If you are passionate about building robust data foundations for AI and thrive in a collaborative, remote-first environment, this is the perfect opportunity for you to make a significant impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of scalable and robust data pipelines for big data and AI workloads.
• Architect and manage cloud-based data platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) optimized for AI and machine learning.
• Oversee the implementation of data warehousing, data lakes, and ETL/ELT processes.
• Mentor and guide a team of data engineers, fostering best practices and technical excellence.
• Collaborate with data scientists and AI researchers to understand their data needs and provide efficient solutions.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and security across all data platforms.
• Optimize data infrastructure for performance, cost-efficiency, and scalability.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and trends in big data, cloud computing, and AI data engineering.
• Develop and enforce data governance policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, with at least 3 years in a lead or senior role.
• Extensive experience designing and building large-scale data pipelines using technologies such as Spark, Kafka, Flink, or similar.
• Proficiency with cloud data services (e.g., S3, ADLS, GCS, Redshift, BigQuery, Snowflake).
• Strong understanding of data warehousing concepts, data modeling, and database technologies (SQL and NoSQL).
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure as code (Terraform, CloudFormation).
• Proven leadership skills with experience mentoring and managing engineering teams.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with MLOps principles and tools is a strong advantage.
• Experience working in a remote, collaborative environment is preferred.

Benefits

This fully remote position offers an exceptional salary, generous performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package including top-tier health insurance, retirement contributions, and extensive paid time off. Enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of working from anywhere, with a dedicated home office stipend. Our client provides a significant budget for professional development, including access to online courses, conferences, and certifications. You'll be part of a dynamic, innovative culture, collaborating with a global team of experts on the cutting edge of AI and big data technologies, with ample opportunities for career advancement.