Senior Data Engineer

Human Accent; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established client in the pharmaceutical industry is seeking a Senior Data Engineer in Parktown. The successful candidate will lead the design and development of a modern Azure-based data infrastructure while mentoring junior engineers. Candidates should have extensive experience in data engineering, with strong skills in Azure Data Platform components and ETL processes. This strategic role involves collaboration with business leaders and IT teams to ensure governance-compliant data solutions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in data engineering with data warehouse design experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with ETL processes using SSIS.
• Proficient in implementing data governance principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of an Azure-based data warehouse.
• Oversee the optimization of the existing ETL environment.
• Mentor junior data engineers and champion best practices.

Skills

Data Engineering

Azure Data Platform

SQL

Data Governance

ETL Processes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Master's degree in Data Engineering or related discipline

Azure Data Engineer Associate certification

Tools

SSIS

Azure Data Factory

Power BI

Git

Job description

Our well-established client in the pharmaceutical industry has a vacancy available for aSenior Data Engineer based in Parktown.

Main Purpose of Job
To lead the design, development, and governance of the company’s enterprise data infrastructure, transitioning
from the current SSIS-based ETL environment to a modern, scalable, Azure-based cloud data warehouse.
This role is strategic and collaborative, requiring close engagement with business leaders, BI developers,
analysts, and IT teams to ensure data solutions are business-aligned, governance-compliant, and ready for
advanced analytics.As a senior member of the team, the role will mentor junior data engineers, influence architectural decisions, andchampion best practices across the organisation.

EDUCATION
Mandatory:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or related field.
Preferred:
• Master’s degree in Data Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline.
• Business Management or Project Management certification to support stakeholder engagement and
project oversight.
• Azure Data Engineer Associate or equivalent cloud certification.
• Data governance certification (DAMA, DCAM, or equivalent).

Technical Experience
• Mandatory:
o 5+ years in data engineering, with experience in data warehouse design and development.
o Strong hands-on experience with SSIS for ETL processes.
o Proven expertise in Azure Data Platform components (Azure Data Factory, Azure SynapseAnalytics, Azure SQL Database, Data Lake Storage).
o Strong SQL skills (T-SQL preferred).
o Experience implementing data governance principles, including data quality frameworks,security/access controls, and metadata management.
o Experience with data modeling (Kimball/Star Schema/Snowflake).
o Proficient in performance tuning and troubleshooting data processes.
• Preferred:
o Experience with Python or other scripting languages for data processing and automation.
o Knowledge of Azure Purview or other data catalogue solutions.
o Knowledge of Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines for data solutions.
o Power BI integration experience with Azure datasets.

Key Performance Areas (Core, essential responsibilities –outputs of the position)
1. Data Warehouse Architecture & Leadership
• Lead the architectural design and implementation of the new Azure-based data warehouse.
• Oversee the optimisation of the existing SSIS-based ETL environment during the transition phase.
• Establish long-term data platform strategy in collaboration with BI and IT leadership.
2. Data Governance & Compliance
• Own the data governance framework, ensuring standards for data quality, security, lineage, and
access control are embedded in all solutions.
• Partner with compliance and legal teams to meet regulatory requirements for data storage and
processing.
• Champion the use of data cataloguing and metadata management tools.
3. Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
• Work directly with senior stakeholders across business units to translate needs into actionable technical
solutions.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the BI team, engineering, and external vendors for data
infrastructure matters.
• Facilitate workshops, architectural reviews, and cross-team solution design sessions.
4. Technical Delivery & Mentorship
• Lead the build, testing, and deployment of robust ETL/ELT pipelines for multi-source integration.
• Ensure smooth migration of historical and real-time data to the new warehouse with minimal downtime.
• Mentor and support junior and mid-level engineers in technical best practices and solution delivery.
5. Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
• Implement platform monitoring solutions to track and optimise performance.
• Drive continuous improvement in architecture, tooling, and governance processes.

Physical & Technical Competencies
• Ability to design and optimise complex ETL/ELT workflows.
• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Proficient in working with large-scale data sets and high-volume data pipelines.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on automation and efficiency.
• Proficient in version control tools (e.g., Git).
• Expertise in optimising data platforms for scale and performance.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple projects.

Please attach cv, qualification, id and driver's license