Senior Java Data Engineer at The SPAN Digital, Apply now!

Job Details

🏢 Job Title: Senior Java Engineer (Data Engineering)
🏛️ Company: SPAN Digital
📍 Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
💼 Job Type: Full-Time
🏠 Work Model: Hybrid (2 Days In-Office per Week)
🛠️ Department: Engineering / Data Engineering

Company Overview

SPAN Digital is a global software consulting firm with offices in San Francisco, Cape Town, and Guadalajara. The company partners with startups and enterprise clients across industries such as fintech, technology, and digital media to build scalable, high-impact digital solutions.

SPAN Digital is known for its engineering excellence, collaborative culture, and focus on delivering innovative, enterprise-grade systems.

Job Overview

SPAN Digital is seeking a Senior Java Engineer with Data Engineering expertise to lead large-scale data migration and transformation initiatives.

This role combines advanced software engineering, data engineering, and technical leadership, focusing on delivering high-quality solutions across complex, multi-petabyte data environments. You will design and implement scalable data pipelines, lead engineering teams, and ensure data integrity, security, and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement large-scale data migration strategies
• Develop ETL pipelines for batch and streaming data processing
• Build data validation, lineage, and monitoring systems
• Lead technical design and architecture discussions
• Mentor engineers through code reviews and pair programming
• Develop scalable, production-grade Java-based systems
• Ensure data integrity, security, and compliance (e.g., GDPR)
• Implement observability and performance monitoring solutions
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders
• Drive continuous delivery and engineering best practices

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Experience

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in data engineering or software engineering
• 4–7 years in technical leadership roles
• Experience working on enterprise-scale data systems

Skills

• Advanced Java programming (Gradle/Maven)
• ETL pipeline development
• Distributed systems and data structures
• Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure, Databricks)
• Kubernetes (AWS EKS) and containerisation
• Data storage systems (HDFS, S3, GCS)
• Data privacy and compliance (GDPR)
• Monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana)
• Strong problem-solving and system design skills

Preferred Skills

• Scala or Python for data processing
• Apache Spark / PySpark
• Hadoop ecosystem (HDFS, MapReduce)
• Apache Kafka or AWS Kinesis
• Data formats (Parquet, ORC, Avro, Iceberg)
• Data lineage and validation frameworks
• Identity management in distributed systems

CV Tips

To strengthen your application, ensure your CV highlights:

• Large-scale data migration or ETL projects
• Experience with cloud platforms and distributed systems
• Java-based backend engineering experience
• Leadership roles (mentoring, architecture, team lead)
• Data pipeline tools and frameworks used
• Experience with Kubernetes and containerised environments

Pro Tip: Use keywords such as data engineering, ETL pipelines, Java engineer, distributed systems, cloud platforms, big data, Spark, and Kafka for ATS optimisation.

Benefits of Joining the Company

• Work on petabyte-scale data engineering projects
• Technical leadership and mentorship opportunities
• Exposure to global enterprise clients
• Hybrid work flexibility
• Continuous learning and professional development
• Access to modern technologies and tools
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Clear career growth pathways

Company Policy

SPAN Digital is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

All applications are evaluated based on skills, experience, and qualifications. Candidate information is handled confidentially in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.