Senior Python Developer

Discovery; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 850 000 - 1 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health and wellness company in Sandton is looking for a Senior Python Developer to serve as the technical cornerstone of the AI Enablement team. The successful candidate will architect and maintain production-grade Python systems, manage ML pipelines, and mentor junior developers. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of Python experience, strong knowledge of MLOps tools, and cloud platforms. This role offers an opportunity to influence the future of AI integration within the organization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Python development and software engineering best practices.
• Experience with CI/CD, Git, unit testing, and SOLID principles.
• Hands-on experience with MLOps tools like MLflow and Kubeflow.

Responsibilities

• Architect and maintain high-performance Python code for AI/ML projects.
• Lead peer reviews and enforce best practices in software engineering.
• Design and manage ELT/ETL pipelines in MPP environments.

Skills

Expert in Python

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Ownership Mindset

Continuous Learning

Education

5+ years in Python development

Experience with CI/CD

Hands-on experience with MLOps tools

Strong knowledge of cloud platforms

Tools

MLflow

Kubeflow

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Discovery – Health| Data Science Lab

Senior Python Developer – AI Enablement

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast‑paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self‑driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About Data Science Lab

The Group Data Science Lab (DS Lab) is expanding, and we’re looking for talented individuals to join our growing team. Our global team collaborates with partners such as Discovery Health Digital, Quantium, Risk Intelligence, and renowned institutions like the London School of Economics (LSE). Working across diverse areas—including digital, clinical, wellness, and behavioral themes—we harness terabytes of structured and unstructured data using a modern big data architecture. The DS Lab also embraces a forward‑thinking approach, identifying new data sources and opportunities and leveraging the Vit.AI platform, we create scalable, fit‑for‑purpose solutions that serve the business well into the future.

About AI Enablement

The AI Enablement team is the engineering engine that transforms cutting‑edge data science into tangible value for our members and business. We bridge experimental AI and robust, enterprise‑scale production systems, enabling scalable, reliable, and efficient AI solutions.

Key Purpose

Serve as the technical cornerstone of the AI Enablement team by building and maintaining production‑grade Python systems, managing ML pipelines, and ensuring models operate reliably at scale. This role sets technical standards, mentors team members, and drives innovation through robust engineering practices.

Key Outputs

The successful applicant will be responsible for but not limited to the following job functions:

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

• Architect and maintain high‑performance Python code for AI/ML projects.
• Lead peer reviews and enforce best practices in software engineering.
• Design and manage ELT/ETL pipelines in MPP environments (for instance using Spark, Ray or similar).
• Oversee ML model lifecycle: deployment, monitoring, optimization.
• Implement automated monitoring and alerting for production models.
• Mentor junior developers and data scientists on coding standards.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.

Personal Attributes and Skills

The successful candidate would need to have the following competencies:

• Technical Leadership – Expert in Python and software architecture; sets high standards for code quality.
• Problem Solving – Ability to debug complex systems and deliver scalable solutions.
• Collaboration – Works effectively with data scientists, engineers, and business teams.
• Ownership Mindset – Takes responsibility for system resilience and performance.
• Continuous Learning – Stays current with emerging technologies and MLOps practices.

Education and Experience

The following requirements are Essential:

• 5+ years in Python development and software engineering best practices.
• Experience with CI/CD, Git, unit testing, and SOLID principles.
• Hands‑on experience with MLOps tools (e.g. MLflow, Kubeflow, etc).
• Strong knowledge of cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP).

The following requirements are advantageous:

• Experience with tools like Vertex AI, BigQuery, Cloud Composer.
• Exposure to large‑scale data environments and distributed systems.

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.