Senior Principal Software Engineer

Network Finance; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Finance seeks a Senior/Principal Software Engineer – Data Platform to own a cloud PostgreSQL data warehouse and data ingestion processes in Google Cloud. You will develop API services, ensure security, and drive reliability across multiple production systems.

The role combines hands-on technical leadership with platform ownership and mentorship, collaborating with cross-functional teams in a hybrid Rosebank, Johannesburg setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/IS or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• 3+ years owning and supporting a live data platform or similar production‑critical services.
• Strong experience with JavaScript/Node.js, Python, and SQL.
• Advanced PostgreSQL experience including upserts, views, permissions, SSL, paging, data loading methods.
• Proven experience with Google Cloud technologies (Cloud SQL, Cloud Run, Cloud Scheduler, Secret Manager, IAM, Firebase Authentication).
• Experience with Microsoft Graph integrations and cloud‑based data ingestion solutions.
• Solid experience with Git/GitHub, automated testing frameworks, CI/CD, and multi‑environment deployments.
• Experience coaching developers, setting engineering standards, and leading technical decision‑making across multiple systems.
• Exposure to telecommunications/ISP billing or OSS/BSS platforms is advantageous.
• GCP Professional Cloud Architect or Data Engineer certification beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain a cloud-based PostgreSQL data warehouse supporting customer, revenue, operational and field service data.
• Design, manage and optimise scheduled data ingestion and integration processes in Google Cloud.
• Develop, review and maintain API services, data-loading apps and integration solutions using Node.js, Python and SQL.
• Ensure platform security through access management, secret management and secure cloud practices.
• Drive platform reliability through monitoring, logging, incident management, health checks and runbooks.
• Establish engineering standards, conduct design and code reviews, promote automated testing and deployment practices.
• Mentor and coach developers while fostering engineering excellence across the team.
• Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to ensure data integrity and timely communication of changes and incidents.

Skills

Node.js

Python

SQL

PostgreSQL

Google Cloud

CI/CD

GitHub

Security

Mentoring

Data Integration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Cloud SQL

Cloud Run

Cloud Scheduler

Secret Manager

Firebase Authentication

Job description

Our client, a leading organisation in the telecommunications and connectivity sector, is looking for a Senior / Principal Software Engineer – Data Platform to take ownership of a business-critical cloud data platform. This role offers the opportunity to lead the architecture, reliability, security, and performance of a PostgreSQL-based data warehouse, cloud-native data loading processes, and API services that support multiple operational systems.

Working closely with cross-functional stakeholders across technology, finance, operations, and network teams, you will ensure that data remains accurate, secure, and available while driving best practice engineering standards across multiple codebases. This is an ideal opportunity for a seasoned software engineer who enjoys a blend of hands‑on technical leadership, platform ownership, cloud engineering, and mentorship. The role is based in Rosebank, Johannesburg, with a hybrid working model and occasional travel requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain a cloud-based PostgreSQL data warehouse supporting customer, revenue, operational, and field service data.
• Design, manage, and optimise scheduled data ingestion and integration processes running within Google Cloud environments.
• Develop, review, and maintain API services, data-loading applications, and integration solutions using Node.js, Python, and SQL.
• Ensure platform security through effective access management, secret management, environment controls, and secure cloud practices.
• Drive platform reliability through monitoring, logging, incident management, health checks, and well‑maintained runbooks.
• Establish engineering standards, conduct design and code reviews, and promote automated testing and deployment best practices.
• Mentor and coach developers while fostering engineering excellence across the team.
• Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to ensure data integrity and timely communication of platform changes and incidents.

Job Experience and Skills Required

• Matric (Grade 12) is required.
• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum 8 years' experience as a professional Software Engineer.
• Minimum 3 years' experience owning and supporting a live data platform, integration layer, or similar production‑critical services.
• Strong experience with JavaScript/Node.js, Python, and SQL.
• Advanced PostgreSQL experience, including upserts, views, user permissions, SSL, paging, and data loading methodologies.
• Proven experience with Google Cloud technologies, including Cloud SQL, Cloud Run, Cloud Scheduler, Secret Manager, IAM, and Firebase Authentication.
• Experience working with Microsoft Graph integrations and cloud‑based data ingestion solutions.
• Solid experience with Git/GitHub, automated testing frameworks, CI/CD practices, and multi‑environment deployments.
• Experience coaching developers, setting engineering standards, and leading technical decision‑making across multiple systems.
• Exposure to telecommunications, ISP billing, OSS/BSS platforms, fibre operations, or high‑volume operational data environments will be advantageous.
• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect or Professional Data Engineer certification would be beneficial.