Data Engineering and Architecture Lead (AWS & Databricks) - Johannesburg - up to R2+ mil CTC

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Data Engineering and Architecture Lead to join a dynamic IT division. In this role, you will drive the design, development, and optimization of enterprise-scale data platforms, enabling advanced analytics, seamless data integration, and high-impact business intelligence within a modern AWS cloud environment.

You will lead and mentor a team of engineers and architects, fostering best practices and ensuring the delivery of secure, scalable, and high-performance data solutions. Working closely with key stakeholders, you will align data architecture initiatives with broader digital transformation objectives, playing a critical role in shaping the organization's data strategy and long-term technology vision.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, deployment, and management of scalable, secure, and future-ready data architectures.
• Develop and maintain robust ETL/ELT pipelines to integrate data from diverse sources.
• Design data models and structures that support analytics, BI, and AI/ML initiatives.
• Partner with data science, BI, and business teams to ensure high data quality, accessibility, and performance.
• Define and enforce engineering standards, best practices, and data governance frameworks.
• Drive platform automation, optimize performance, and manage costs effectively.
• Mentor and guide data engineers and architects, fostering skills development and knowledge sharing.
• Monitor emerging trends in data engineering and cloud technologies, recommending enhancements to the data platform.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in Data Engineering, Data Architecture, or a related technical role.
• Proven hands-on experience with AWS Cloud services including S3, Glue, Redshift, EMR, Lambda, and Athena.
• Strong programming skills in SQL and Python.
• Advanced expertise in data modeling techniques (e.g., Kimball, Data Vault) and ETL/ELT development.
• Experience with DevOps practices and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation).
• Previous experience in team leadership or managing technical teams is essential.