Lead Data & AI Engineer

Recruiter:

Talexus

Job Ref:

JHB001916/Varai

Date posted:

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Location:

Anywhere, South Africa

SUMMARY:
Are you ready to shape the future of data and AI? Our client is seeking a Lead Data & AI Engineer to join their team and drive innovation in digital payments across Africa.

POSITION INFO:

What You'll Be Doing

As the Lead Data & AI Engineer, you'll wear many hats, all of them impactful:

Lead and Inspire: You'll drive the vision, execution, and continuous improvement of our data and AI team. Get ready to mentor a high-performing squad, instilling best practices and innovative thinking, and ensuring projects align perfectly with business strategy to deliver outcomes that truly matter.
Engineer & Innovate: You'll be the mastermind behind robust, scalable data pipelines, integrating diverse data sources with finesse. You'll champion best-in-class data governance, quality, and architecture standards, partnering with product and engineering to create data-driven solutions for real-world challenges.
Drive Generative AI Strategy: This is where the magic happens! You'll shape the company's roadmap for generative AI, building and prototyping cutting-edge AI tools that support both our clients and internal teams. Plus, you'll be a passionate advocate for ethical, impactful AI across the organization.
Communicate with Impact: Your insights will speak volumes! You'll deliver them through interactive dashboards and automated reports, presenting strategic data narratives to executives and stakeholders. And because knowledge is power, you'll foster data literacy company-wide through engaging training and knowledge sharing.

What We're Looking For in You

You're more than just a talented engineer; you're a leader, a mentor, and a visionary. Here’s what you’ll bring to the table:

A STEM degree (BSc, BEng, or higher) – your foundational knowledge is key.
Hands-on expertise in Python, SQL, and modern AI/ML frameworks.
Strong command of cloud platforms (AWS) – you know your way around the cloud.
Proven expertise in building and scaling data architectures and pipelines using Airflow.
Proficiency in PowerBI for creating and managing stunning data visualizations and dashboards.
Solid understanding and experience with MySQL database management and querying.
Leadership skills that inspire collaboration, innovation, and ownership.
A natural mentor and team builder – you love helping others grow.
A clear, confident communicator who can connect with execs and engineers alike.
Highly organized but adaptable – you thrive in a fast-moving, purpose-driven environment.

Location: Johannesburg, Hybrid

Apply now for this exciting opportunity!

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