Senior Data Engineer

Queer Networks; Remote; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading queer tech company in Cape Town is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to manage data ingestion and maintain reliable pipelines. The ideal candidate will have 5 years of experience with big data technologies and strong skills in SQL and Python. Responsibilities include optimizing performance in BigQuery and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Join a mission-driven team offering flexible, remote-first working conditions aimed at creating a safe space for the LGBTQ community.

Benefits

Flexible remote-first work environment

Opportunity to work on meaningful projects

Monthly invoicing or employment options

Qualifications

• 5 years of Data Engineering experience with a proven track record.
• Strong expertise in SQL (BigQuery preferred) and Python.
• Deep knowledge of cloud data warehouses and orchestration frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Own the ingestion of raw data into BigQuery.
• Design and maintain robust ETL pipelines.
• Implement data contracts and quality checks.

Skills

SQL

Python

Data Pipelines

Cloud Data Warehouses

Data Quality Frameworks

CI/CD

GitHub

Data Governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field

Tools

BigQuery

Airflow

Hadoop

AWS

Kafka

Job description

Hornet ( Queer Networks ) is the worlds leading queer tech company providing a digital home for gay men to safely connect with each other anytime anywhere. Amplifying the radical affirmative power of the queer community with cutting‑edge technology Queer Networks serves the LGBTQ community with products such as the gay chat app Hornet with over 100 million users worldwide the gay live‑streaming app Hornet Live and HornetX a map‑based web app for gay guys. Our diverse team spans the world bringing together various perspectives and incredible talent.

Do you want to join Hornet We are looking for a Senior Data Engineer at Hornet starting immediately.

Your Tasks

In this role you will be the owner of Hornets raw data layer ensuring that downstream Analytics & AI applications can build on a consistent and trustworthy foundation. You will design and maintain the pipelines that bring our user product and monetization data into BigQuery while enforcing standards that guarantee quality scalability and reliability.

• Own the ingestion of raw data from Firebase back-end / front-end systems and external partners into BigQuery.
• Design build and maintain robust ETL / ELT pipelines that are efficient evolvable and scalable to TB-scale workloads.
• Implement data contracts schema enforcement and quality checks at the ingestion layer to prevent downstream issues.
• Proactively monitor and debug pipelines ensuring resilient idempotent ingestion processes.
• Optimize data storage and query performance in BigQuery balancing cost efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate new data sources and align pipeline development with analytics needs.
• Contribute to engineering best practices documenting processes reviewing code and mentoring colleagues where appropriate.
• Partner with the AI Engineer on aligning ingestion with broader architectural standards and long-term infrastructure goals.

Your Profile & Experience

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of Data Engineering experience with a proven track record of delivering reliable scalable data pipelines.
• Strong expertise in SQL (BigQuery preferred) and Python for production‑ready data workflows.
• Deep knowledge of cloud data warehouses and orchestration frameworks (e.g. Mage / Airflow).
• Experience implementing data contracts schema enforcement and data quality frameworks.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a focus on pipeline reliability scalability and cost optimization.
• Familiarity with CI / CD practices and version control systems (GitHub).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with analytics and engineering peers.
• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Engineering or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with event‑driven architectures and data for experimentation or ML pipelines.
• Prior work with subscriptions ad‑tech or social networking platforms.
• Understanding of data governance privacy and security best practices.

Our Benefits

• You will be part of our mission to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ community.
• Work alongside an innovative and passionate Data‑Analytics‑AI squad pushing the boundaries of whats possible.
• Enjoy a flexible remote‑first work environment with teammates across the world.
• We offer you an open contract with monthly invoicing or employment depending on circumstances.

Do you want to become a part of Hornet To apply please submit your resume. We do not ask for cover letters but we give bonus points to candidates who can articulate their passion for our mission in a concise (1‑2 sentence) statement. We are looking forward to hearing from you! Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. We strongly believe that diversity of experience perspectives and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our team members and a better product for our users and community.

Required Experience : Senior IC

Key Skills

Apache Hive, S3, Hadoop, Redshift, Spark, AWS, Apache Pig, NoSQL, Big Data, Data Warehouse, Kafka, Scala

Employment Type

Full‑Time

Experience

years

Vacancy

1