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Senior Software Engineer – Data Science

Summary

Senior Software Engineer building and deploying ML/AI features on large-scale, real-time distributed systems using Python/Java, SQL, and microservice architectures in a hybrid role based in Stellenbosch.


Job Description:
The successful candidate will join a specialised team focused on developing machine learning and AI-driven capabilities that deliver valuable insights from large-scale, real-time distributed systems


Key responsibilities include:
  • Designing and implementing machine learning and AI features from concept through deployment
  • Working across the full product lifecycle, from idea generation and design to implementation and deployment
  • Training, deploying, and supporting machine learning models in production environments
  • Building software solutions capable of processing and analysing large-scale datasets
  • Collaborating with software engineers, data specialists, and cross-functional teams to solve complex technical challenges
  • Contributing to scalable, distributed systems and microservice-based architectures
  • Ensuring solutions are practical, maintainable, and valuable to both end users and support teams
  • Contributing to an engineering culture centred around innovation, learning, knowledge sharing, and technical excellence
Why developers apply for opportunities like this:
  • Exposure to petabyte-scale data environments
  • The opportunity to work at the intersection of Software Engineering, AI, and Data Science
  • Strong focus on mentorship, skills development, and continuous learning
  • Hybrid working model that supports flexibility and work-life balance
  • The ability to influence products from conception to deployment rather than working on isolated components
Skills & Experience:
Required:
  • Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in Data Science or a data-focused software engineering role
  • Proven experience training, deploying, and supporting machine learning or AI models in production environments
  • Strong programming ability in Python and/or Java
  • Strong SQL and database design skills with experience working on large datasets
  • Experience with data wrangling, feature engineering, and model evaluation
  • Experience working in Unix-based environments, including scripting, networking, and troubleshooting
  • Experience with version control systems, containers, CI/CD processes, and microservice architectures
Advantageous:
  • Master's degree in a relevant field
  • Experience with Apache Kafka or real-time event processing
  • Strong understanding of distributed systems and scalability challenges
  • Experience with NLP, LLMs, RAG architectures, or audio processing
  • Experience deploying ML services as scalable microservices.
  • Leadership or mentoring experience
  • Exposure to telecommunications, signal processing, or IP networking
Qualification:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline
  • Minimum 3 years of relevant Data Science or Software Engineering experience

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