Remote Lead Data Engineer (Insurance Solutions)

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to spearhead remote data initiatives within the insurance tech domain. You will design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines and data warehousing solutions, leading a team of engineers across cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.

You will mentor junior engineers, collaborate with data scientists and analysts, and ensure data quality and security. Prior leadership experience and strong communication are essential for success in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related quantitative field.
• 7–10 years of data engineering experience, with 3+ years in leadership or senior role.
• Extensive experience with cloud data platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and data services (S3, Redshift, BigQuery, Data Factory).
• Proficiency in Python, Scala, or Java.
• Strong SQL and NoSQL, data modeling, and warehousing concepts.
• Expertise with Spark, Hadoop, and distributed systems.
• Experience building ETL/ELT pipelines with Airflow or similar tools.
• Strong data governance, data quality, and security knowledge.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytics, and leadership skills.
• Exceptional remote collaboration and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and maintenance of scalable data pipelines and ETL processes.
• Architect and manage data warehousing solutions and data lakes for performance and cost optimization.
• Oversee migration of data infrastructure to cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Develop data governance policies, standards, and security practices.
• Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to supply optimized data sets.
• Mentor and guide a team of data engineers remotely.
• Identify new data technologies to enhance infrastructure.
• Troubleshoot data-related issues to ensure availability and reliability.
• Automate data processes and monitor system performance.

Skills

Leadership

Cloud platforms

Python

SQL

Data warehousing

Airflow

Big data

Data governance

Communication

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science/Engineering/IT

Tools

AWS S3

Redshift

BigQuery

Data Factory

Job description

About the Role Our client, a global leader in insurance technology, is seeking an exceptional Lead Data Engineer to spearhead their remote data initiatives. This fully remote position offers the opportunity to design, build, and maintain scalable data infrastructure and pipelines that power advanced analytics and data science within the insurance domain. You will lead a team of data engineers, mentor junior members, and collaborate closely with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders to deliver robust data solutions. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of data warehousing, ETL processes, big data technologies, and cloud platforms, with specific experience in the financial services or insurance sector. You will be responsible for ensuring data quality, integrity, and accessibility across the organization. This is a critical leadership role for driving data innovation in a remote‑first environment, contributing to cutting‑edge insurance solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of robust, scalable, and efficient data pipelines and ETL processes.
• Architect and manage data warehousing solutions and data lakes, optimizing for performance and cost.
• Oversee the migration of data infrastructure to cloud‑based platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Develop and enforce data governance policies, standards, and best practices to ensure data quality, security, and compliance.
• Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to understand their data requirements and provide optimized data sets for analysis and modeling.
• Mentor and guide a team of data engineers, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing environment.
• Identify and evaluate new data technologies and tools to enhance the data infrastructure and capabilities.
• Troubleshoot and resolve data‑related issues, ensuring data availability and reliability for business operations.
• Automate data processes and monitor system performance, implementing necessary optimizations.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in data engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior role.
• Extensive experience with cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and their associated data services (e.g., S3, Redshift, BigQuery, Data Factory).
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in data engineering, such as Python, Scala, or Java.
• Strong experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, data modeling, and data warehousing concepts.
• Expertise in big data technologies like Spark, Hadoop, and distributed systems.
• Proven experience in building and managing complex ETL/ELT pipelines using tools like Airflow or similar orchestration tools.
• Excellent understanding of data governance, data quality, and data security principles.
• Strong problem‑solving, analytical, and leadership skills.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills for effective remote team interaction.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive remote benefits package including superior medical coverage and retirement savings plans. This role provides significant opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and exposure to cutting‑edge technologies in the insurance sector. Enjoy the ultimate flexibility and autonomy of a fully remote position, contributing to impactful projects from anywhere.