Specialist: Infrastructure Platform Engineering

Vodacom; Bellville; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentives & benefits

Retirement & medical aid

Phone & data benefits

Job summary

Vodacom is seeking a senior platform engineer to design, operate and improve secure Kubernetes/OpenShift platforms for containerised workloads. You will implement automation, governance and observability, collaborating with cybersecurity and cloud teams to enable self-service deployments.

The role emphasizes platform reliability, incident prevention and continual upskilling in AI-enabled operational practices, with base location in Cape Town.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ relevant experience with Red Hat OpenShift and Kubernetes.
• Experience with infrastructure automation using Ansible, Terraform, and GitOps.
• Degree or diploma in CS/IS or related technology field.

Responsibilities

• Deploy, operate, scale, upgrade and maintain Kubernetes/OpenShift platforms across environments.
• Develop and maintain automation for provisioning, patching and self-service workflows.
• Implement platform security controls, RBAC, vulnerability management and hardening.
• Maintain monitoring, alerting, logging, backup and recovery to ensure service continuity.
• Collaborate with teams to improve CI/CD and platform enablement.

Skills

Kubernetes/OpenShift

Infrastructure automation

Linux & Containers

CI/CD practices

RBAC & security

AI leadership

Education

Grade 12

Bachelor’s / Diploma in CS/IS

Tools

Ansible Automation Platform

Terraform

GitOps

Job description

When it comes to putting people first, we're number 1.

The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa.

Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2026.

Role Purpose/Business Unit

To design, operate and continuously improve secure, resilient and automated Kubernetes/OpenShift platforms for containerised and virtualised workloads through infrastructure automation, observability and Zero Touch Operations practices.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Platform Operations and Lifecycle Management: Deploy, operate, scale, upgrade and maintain Kubernetes/OpenShift platforms across production and non-production environments, ensuring platform availability, performance, capacity, resilience and operational stability.
• Infrastructure Automation and Zero Touch Operations: Develop and maintain infrastructure automation, orchestration and run book automation using Ansible Automation Platform, Terraform, GitOps and approved automation frameworks to standardise provisioning, configuration, patching, remediation, self-service enablement and repeatable operational workflows.
• Platform Security, Compliance and Governance: Implement and maintain platform security controls, RBAC, vulnerability management, image governance, compliance monitoring, hardening and configuration consistency across Kubernetes/OpenShift environments.
• Observability, Reliability and Service Continuity: Maintain monitoring, alerting, logging, dashboarding, backup and recovery capabilities that provide visibility into platform health, service continuity and operational risk, enabling proactive detection, incident prevention and event-driven remediation.
• Continuous Improvement and Technology Enablement: Work with infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud and application teams to improve platform services, support CI/CD and approved deployment practices, enable self-service consumption patterns and support responsible use of emerging technology and AI-enabled operational improvements.

The Ideal Candidate For This Role Will Have

• Grade 12 is essential.
• A 3 year bachelor's degree/diploma in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technology field is essential.
• 3-5 years’ relevant experience with Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform, Kubernetes and OpenShift Virtualization.
• Experience with infrastructure automation using Ansible Automation Platform, Terraform, GitOps or similar tooling.

Preferred Certifications

• Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration or Red Hat Certified OpenShift Administrator (EX280).
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA).

Core Competencies, Knowledge, And Experience

• Advanced Kubernetes knowledge (OpenShift preferred), including architecture, lifecycle management, virtualisation, networking, storage, scheduling, troubleshooting and platform operations.
• Strong infrastructure automation and orchestration experience using Ansible Automation Platform, Terraform, GitOps and scripting to support provisioning, configuration, patching, remediation and self-service workflows.
• Experience managing platform reliability, availability, performance, capacity, resilience, observability, backup and disaster recovery in enterprise production environments.
• Strong understanding of Linux, containers, registries, CI/CD practices, platform security, RBAC, vulnerability management, hardening and configuration governance.
• AI-Enabled Leadership and Delivery advantageous.
• Demonstrates the ability to identify, evaluate and implement technology, automation and AI opportunities that improve team performance, operational efficiency and business outcomes.
• Creates an environment that encourages innovation, experimentation, continuous learning and responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
• Leads teams through evolving operating models and technology-enabled transformation, building capability and readiness for future workforce requirements.
• Tracks and delivers measurable business outcomes from digital, automation and AI initiatives through effective prioritisation, governance and benefits realisation.
• Demonstrates AI fluency and literacy through the ability to effectively use, evaluate and govern AI-enabled tools and solutions, applying them responsibly to improve business outcomes, productivity and decision-making.

We Make An Impact By Offering

• Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages
• Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits
• Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies

Closing date for Applications: 11 September 2026.

The base location for this role is Cape Town.

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.

Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates, and values diversity & inclusion.