Data Engineer

As a Data Engineer at Africrest Properties, you will own the data platform end to end, the pipelines, integrations, and reporting that the business relies on to make decisions. You will take full ownership of our existing data pipelines and reporting suite, build automation and system integrations that remove manual effort, and apply AI-accelerated ways of working to deliver faster and more reliably.

This is a hands-on, self-directed role. You will operate as a team of one, setting your own standard without a technical lead above you, and translating data into clear insight for non-technical stakeholders across finance, leasing, property management, and the directors. Reliable reporting is the non-negotiable foundation of the role; automation, integration, and AI fluency are where you will add lasting value.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Data Collection and Management:

• Develop and implement data collection systems and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and data quality.
• Acquire data from primary or secondary data sources and maintain databases/data systems.
• Filter and "clean" data by reviewing reports and performance indicators to locate and correct code problems.

Platform Ownership and Pipeline Management:

• Take full ownership of the existing data pipelines and run them independently, without escalation to external parties.
• Maintain, monitor, and improve data pipelines to ensure reliability, performance, and data quality.
• Produce and maintain platform documentation and operational runbooks so the environment is transparent and supportable.
• Remove dependency on external contractors for routine operations and platform support.

Reporting Reliability and Delivery:

• Own the suite of Power BI reports end to end, ensuring accurate, on-time monthly delivery with zero silent data-error incidents.
• Deliver and maintain finance-reporting automation, moving manual reporting to reliable automated processes.
• Turn around new report and dashboard requests within agreed service levels.
• Develop and maintain dashboards that monitor key performance indicators for the residential portfolio.

Automation and Integration:

• Design, build, and ship automation and system integrations to production using tools such as Power Automate and APIs.
• Deliver integrations between core business systems and third-party platforms (e.g. accounting, tenant-screening, and CRM/workflow systems).
• Continuously identify and automate manual processes to increase efficiency and reduce error.

AI-Augmented Workflows:

• Apply AI tools to accelerate delivery, evidenced by measurable reductions in cycle time on defined deliverables.
• Build or extend AI-augmented processes and agents (e.g. Copilot Studio) to production where they create clear business value.

Data Stack, Migration and Governance:

• Work fluently across the Microsoft data ecosystem (Azure / Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Power Platform).
• Adapt to platform changes, including migration to alternative reporting stacks, and ramp quickly on new tooling as required.
• Ensure data governance, integrity, security, and compliance with applicable data-protection requirements.

Compliance and Security:

• Ensure data governance and compliance with data protection regulations.
• Maintain data security and privacy by following best practices and company policies.

Training and Support:

• Train and support staff on the use of data systems and tools.
• Provide technical expertise in data storage structures, data mining, and data cleansing.

Project Management:

• Lead and manage data-related projects from inception to completion.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure project objectives are met within deadlines.

Autonomy and Stakeholder Communication:

• Operate independently and self-direct, prioritising work against business needs without day-to-day technical supervision.
• Communicate data findings clearly to non-technical stakeholders across finance, leasing, and the directorate.
• Collaborate with departments to understand their data needs and deliver practical solutions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining data pipelines, ETL processes, and data integrations.
• Strong proficiency in Power BI and SQL, with proven delivery of production reporting.
• Experience with workflow automation and API integration (e.g. Power Automate, REST APIs).
• Working knowledge of the Microsoft / Azure data ecosystem (Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform); willingness to learn adjacent stacks (e.g. SQL/C#-based reporting platforms) as the environment evolves.
• Demonstrable AI fluency practical, hands-on use of AI tools to accelerate real work (this is a non-negotiable requirement).
• Proven ability to work independently as a self-directed team of one in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and strong attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex data clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Experience in the property management or real estate sector is advantageous.