Senior Database Engineer

Kurtosys Systems Inc.; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech company is looking for a Senior Database Engineer to design and optimize critical databases while ensuring performance and security. The candidate should have over 6 years of experience, strong skills in MySQL and AWS services, along with the ability to communicate effectively across teams. This role also emphasizes modernization through cloud infrastructure and automation practices in a hybrid work setting, fostering professional growth with exposure to emerging technologies.

Benefits

Hybrid Working

Relaxed Dress Code

Open Culture

Flexible Work Hours

Group Risk Cover

Employee Wellbeing Program

20 Days Paid Leave

Access To Learning Platforms

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in transactional database environments.
• Experience with MySQL and other database systems.
• Strong scripting skills for automation.

Responsibilities

• Design and build logical and physical databases.
• Lead database performance tuning efforts.
• Support platform migrations and improve database health.

Skills

MySQL expertise

Performance tuning

AWS services (RDS, EC2)

Scripting skills (Python, Bash)

Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)

Analytical skills

Collaboration skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AWS RDS

PostgreSQL

MySQL

CI/CD tools (TeamCity, Octopus)

Job description

ABOUT US

Kurtosys provides asset and wealth managers with a data and content publication platform that enables the construction and distribution of critical sales, marketing, and client reporting materials. Founded in 2002, Kurtosys operates across four global offices. Underpinned by global ISO-27001 certification in information security management, the Kurtosys team has a deep understanding of working at scale with data, information design, industry regulations and compliance issues.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As a Senior Database Engineer, you will be a key member of the Technology Platform Engineering team, responsible for designing and building logical and physical databases as well as shaping data architecture. You will lead performance tuning efforts, including query and index optimization, and guide engineers on efficient schema design and database access. Your work will also include supporting platform migrations, cleaning up legacy schemas, reducing technical debt, improving monitoring and alerting for database health, and finding opportunities to automate database maintenance and provisioning. A strong focus on data security and compliance will be central to ensuring our platforms remain resilient and audit-ready.

While your primary focus will be on databases, this role also offers the opportunity to get hands‑on experience with cloud infrastructure, automation, and platform engineering practices. You may contribute to CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure‑as‑code, and platform tooling, as well as help monitor shared services and automate routine operations. Collaboration with engineering, InfoSec, and operations teams will provide exposure to security, compliance, and emerging technologies such as GenAI and agent‑based tools. These areas are not mandatory requirements but provide valuable learning and growth opportunities as part of the broader platform engineering team.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• 6+ years of experience operating and supporting highly transactional, mission‑critical database environments.
• Strong expertise in MySQL‑based databases (ideally RDS), with proven experience in performance tuning, query optimisation, and execution plan analysis.
• A database‑agnostic mindset with the willingness to work across multiple technologies, including relational (PostgreSQL, MSSQL, SingleStore) and NoSQL/cloud‑native platforms (DynamoDB, Snowflake basics).
• Hands‑on experience with AWS services such as RDS, Aurora, EC2, S3, and related cloud‑native tooling.
• Solid scripting skills (Python, Bash, or PowerShell) for automation, tooling, and database operations.
• Familiarity with containerisation and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) and an understanding of CI/CD practices for database deployments.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across teams, explain technical concepts clearly, and support shared goals.
• A disciplined approach to change management, documentation, and compliance, with awareness of data security standards.
• Analytical and problem‑solving abilities, combining logical thinking with attention to detail to deliver robust solutions.
• Curiosity and adaptability — an eagerness to explore new approaches such as AI‑driven database monitoring, anomaly detection, and automation to modernise operations.

OUR TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT

• AWS: RDS MySQL, RDS MSSQL, RDS PostgreSQL, RDS Aurora, EC2, ECS, Lambda, Route 53, DynamoDB, Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), S3, Athena, Quicksight
• Scripting: PowerShell, Bash, Python
• Monitoring: Zabbix, AWS CloudWatch, Percona Monitoring
• Security: MySQL ACL, Windows AD, Database Encryption
• Source Control & Deployment: TeamCity, Octopus, GitHub
• Operating Systems: Windows Server, Linux Ubuntu
• Collaboration Tools: Atlassian Jira, Confluence
• Databases: MySQL, SingleStore, MSSQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, DynamoDB, basic Snowflake

You don’t need to be an expert in every one of these technologies. What matters most is strong experience with database platforms, deep understanding of database internals, and the ability to apply a database‑agnostic mindset. Familiarity across multiple tools and environments will be helpful, but a focus on database technologies and performance will make you successful in this role.

BENEFITS

• Hybrid Working
• Relaxed Dress Code
• Open Culture
• Flexible Work Hours
• Group Risk Cover
• Employee Wellbeing Program
• 20 Days Paid Leave
• Ongoing Staff Appreciation Events
• Access To Learning Platforms
• Working With Experts Across The Globe

FINAL THOUGHTS

• We are an international SaaS based fintech company
• We work with up to date technology, promote from within wherever possible, and encourage our team members to use initiative, think out the box and share their ideas.
• We aim to transform how our customers - which includes the world's most prestigious financial services firms - drive engagement with their audiences.
• Our aim is to give our customers the ability to target, knowledge share and nurture their community of prospects and clients to develop long standing relationships.

Get in touch to learn more.