Senior Data Engineer (ML/AI)

Sana Commerce; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading SaaS company in Cape Town is seeking an experienced Data Engineer (ML/AI) to design systems that power analytics and machine learning. The role involves optimizing data pipelines, collaborating with data scientists, and ensuring data quality for AI applications. Ideal candidates should have over 8 years of experience, strong SQL and Python skills, and familiarity with Azure and MLOps.

Benefits

Opportunity to make an impact at a fast-growing SaaS scale-up

Global onboarding program

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as a Data Engineer.
• Strong analytic abilities.
• Familiarity with MLOps concepts.
• Experience with orchestration frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain data pipelines optimized for ML/AI workloads.
• Collaborate with Data Scientists and ML Engineers.
• Ensure data quality, lineage, and governance.
• Leverage distributed processing frameworks for scalable ML data processing.

Skills

Experience as a Data Engineer

Azure

Machine Learning (ML/AI) workflows

SQL

Python

Problem-solving skills

Education

College degree (Econometrics, Computer Sciences, Mathematics)

Tools

Azure Databricks

Apache Airflow

Spark

Job description

Company Description

At Sana Commerce, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment because we know our diverse workforce is one of our greatest strengths.

What started in 2007 with a pizza and a plan has grown into a fast-moving SaaS company that helps manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers thrive in B2B commerce complexity.

Our mission? To transform the way businesses buy and sell, so they can grow, build stronger relationships, and make the most of digital commerce. Join us and take ownership of your career in a dynamic, fast-moving environment.

At Sana Commerce, we're looking for aData Engineer (ML/AI)to design, build, and scale data systems that power our analytics and machine learning initiatives. Your work will ensure high-quality, reliable, and ML-ready data pipelines that enable both traditional analytics and advanced AI-driven solutions across the business.

What you’ll get

• The opportunity to make an impact at a fast-growing SaaS scale-up;
• A global and customized onboarding program (9,1/10 rated by previous hires);
• A hybrid working model – 3 days from the office, 2 days from home.

Job Description

What you’ll be doing

• Designing and maintainingdata pipelines optimized for ML/AI workloads, including handling of large-scale, unstructured, and semi-structured data.
• Buildingfeature pipelines and feature storesthat ensure reusability and consistency of data used by machine learning models.
• Collaborating with Data Scientists and ML Engineers to understanddata requirements for training, validation, and production deployment.
• Ensuringdata quality, lineage, and governancemeet standards required for AI/ML applications.
• SupportingMLOps practicesby integrating data pipelines with model training, monitoring, and deployment workflows.
• Leveraging distributed processing frameworks (e.g., Spark, Databricks, Azure Synapse) forscalable ML data processing.

What you bring

• 8+ yearsof experience as a Data Engineer, working with Azure and Databricks, ideally with exposure toML/AI-related data workflows.
• College degree that demonstrates your analytic abilities, such as Econometrics, Computer Sciences, Mathematics or similar;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Experience withdata preparation for ML/AI: managing large datasets, feature engineering, and real-time or batch data pipelines.
• Familiarity withMLOps conceptsand how data engineering supports model lifecycle management.
• Experience with orchestration frameworks (Airflow, Prefect, or Azure Data Factory) forcomplex ML pipelines.
• Knowledge of unstructured data processing (text, images, logs) is a plus.
• Strong SQL and Python skills; experience with distributed data processing (PySpark, Dask, etc.) is a plus.

Who we are

So, what does it mean to be a part of the Sana Commerce team?

At Sana Commerce, our values guide how we work, collaborate, and drive success.

• Champions of Our League. "We deliver lasting success, balancing quick wins and long-term value."
  We take pride in our unique product and extensive B2B knowledge and continuously strive to improve. No matter our role, we bring value every day, helping our customers and partners succeed.
• Supercharge Our Customers. "We’re revolutionizing B2B commerce together, helping our customers to lead and succeed."
  Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We go beyond solutions, providing the tools and support they need to grow.
• Determined to Grow. "We embrace challenges, growing and raising the bar for ourselves and our industry."
  We take on challenges, seek feedback, and keep learning. Every setback is a chance to improve and move forward.
• Bold Together. "We dare to be bold because we have each other’s back."
  We collaborate across teams and time zones, challenge the status quo, and support each other to achieve the best outcomes.

Job descriptions can be tough to interpret. Even if you may not tick all the boxes,please explain your motivation for the role ofData Engineer (AI/ML) in a cover letter, we strongly encourage you to apply if you still feel like you are a great match for this role.Apply now!