Senior Data Operations Engineer

The Focus Group; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative insurance company in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Data Operations Engineer to modernize and improve SQL-based processes. This role involves ownership of technical responsibilities, acting as a Data Custodian, and collaborating with various teams to ensure data quality and governance. The ideal candidate has strong experience in SQL Server and data operations, with opportunities for growth towards leadership roles within the company.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in SQL Server and operations.

Responsibilities

• Modernize legacy technical processes across SQL and data extraction.
• Maintain and optimize SQL-based routines and stored procedures.
• Act as the primary Data Custodian for critical business domains.
• Oversee and improve data extracts for internal functions and external partners.
• Ensure effective integration between source systems and the data warehouse.
• Support and expand the company’s evolving data warehouse.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement improvements.
• Collaborate with data champions and analysts to fix issues.
• Document all technical processes.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex SQL/data issues.

Skills

SQL Server

Data operations

Job description

Overview

Employment Status: Full Time (with possibility of Hybrid)

Location: Gauteng or Cape Town

Company Overview: We are an exciting insurance company, with over 25 years of experience in nontraditional sectors, looking for a Senior Data Operations Engineer to join our team. We are focused on client centricity and solving needs for South Africans with innovation, unique and creative solutions, and products.

Role Description: The Senior Data Operations Engineer will assume ownership of technical and operational responsibilities currently managed by the CIO, with a strong focus on modernizing, automating, and improving existing SQL-based and data warehouse processes.

Responsibilities

• Modernize legacy technical processes across SQL, data extraction, and system integration — driving automation, scalability, and documentation.
• Maintain and optimize all SQL-based routines, stored procedures, and extract logic for operational and reporting purposes.
• Act as the primary Data Custodian for critical business domains — ensuring accuracy, consistency, and controlled access to data.
• Oversee and improve data extracts for both internal business functions and external partners, streamlining delivery and governance.
• Ensure effective integration between source systems and the data warehouse, with a focus on performance, quality, and maintainability.
• Support and expand the company’s evolving data warehouse (including the transition to Microsoft Fabric and star schema best practices).
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement process improvements, automation, and controls to reduce risk and dependency.
• Collaborate with data champions, analysts, and business units to fix data issues at source and ensure process alignment.
• Document all technical processes and ensure knowledge transfer as part of ongoing risk mitigation and succession planning.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex SQL/data issues in production.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Strong experience in SQL Server and operations.

Reporting Structure

Reports to: Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Works closely with

• Data Analyst(s), Developers, Business Process Analyst, and the broader data team.

Growth Path

Potential to evolve into: Data Operations Manager, Platform Engineering Lead, or Head of Data Operations, depending on future team scaling and business growth.