Head of Data Engineering
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: FinTech | Data & Analytics | Financial Services
About the Role
WatersEdge Solutions is partnering with a fast-growing, technology-driven financial services organisation to find a Head of Data Engineering. This senior leadership role is ideal for an experienced data professional ready to drive platform innovation, team excellence, and strategic delivery.You'll oversee a mature cloud-based data environment while contributing to broader tech strategy at the executive level.
You will lead and evolve a core data function spanning Data Engineering, Analytics Engineering, and Machine Learning Engineering, shaping the organisation’s data strategy, governance, and innovation.
Key Responsibilities- Lead and grow high-performing teams across Data Engineering, Analytics, and ML Engineering
- Embed best practices for scalable, secure, high-performance systems
- Define and execute a business-aligned data strategy and roadmap
- Architect and maintain modern cloud-based platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Azure)
- Ensure strong compliance with privacy laws and data governance (POPIA, GDPR)
- Oversee data pipeline design, platform performance, and team delivery
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Business stakeholders
- Manage budgets, SLOs, SLAs, and vendor relationships
- Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or similar (Master’s preferred)
- 8–10+ years of experience in Data Engineering with advanced cloud expertise
- 3–5+ years of leadership experience in data teams, governance, and compliance
- Proven track record with cloud-based data platforms, ELT, and CI/CD pipelines
- Hands-on experience enabling MLOps and delivering operational data products
- Strong grasp of data privacy regulations and implementation frameworks
- Experience within product-aligned, agile environments
- Experience in financial services or banking
- Deep familiarity with Snowflake, Azure, and DBT
- Exposure to event streaming tools like Kafka
- Experience with legacy platform modernisation
Technology Environment
Snowflake, Azure, Azure SQL (MSSQL), Postgres, Airbyte, Airflow, DBT Cloud/Core, Kafka, Azure ML, Terraform
What’s On Offer- Executive-level influence on data and technology direction
- Leadership over a high-impact, cloud-first data function
- Access to cutting-edge AI and data innovation initiatives
- Hybrid working environment based in Cape Town
- Collaborative, product-focused technical culture
Company Culture
The company champions ownership, technical excellence, and commercial awareness. Teams work with a strong product mindset and collaborate across disciplines to deliver customer-focused, data-driven solutions. As part of the leadership group, you’ll contribute to innovation at scale in an environment that encourages forward thinking and real-world impact.
If you have not been contacted within 10 working days please consider your application unsuccessful.