Cloud DevOps Engineer – JHB / Stellenbosch at Datafin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

• An AgriTech Company is currently seeking a skilled DevOps Engineer to join their team in managing the cloud infrastructure that powers their SaaS platform for the agricultural sector.
• With offices in Stellenbosch and Johannesburg, they are looking for pragmatic, results-driven individuals who take pride in creating solutions that deliver tangible value. 
• In this role, you will collaborate closely with development and data teams to ensure seamless deployments, continuous integration, and optimal system reliability. Key responsibilities include automating processes, improving scalability, and ensuring applications remain high-performing and secure.
• If you are passionate about building and maintaining robust infrastructure, thrive on solving complex challenges, and are committed to smooth operational delivery, this opportunity is ideal for you.

DUTIES:

• Infrastructure Management: Design, implement, and manage infrastructure solutions using AWS services for scalability and reliability.
• CI/CD Pipelines: Build and maintain continuous integration and deployment pipelines using GitHub Actions or similar tools.
• Containerisation: Manage containerised applications using Docker, ensuring consistency across environments (Nix and Windows).
• Deployment & Monitoring: Deploy applications on platforms like AWS, Heroku, and Kubernetes. Set up monitoring and alerting systems (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, or CloudWatch).
• Automation: Automate repetitive tasks and processes, reducing manual intervention and improving deployment efficiency.
• Security: Implement security best practices, including setting up firewalls, intrusion detection, and system hardening.
• Performance Optimisation: Monitor system performance and work with the development team to improve the efficiency and scalability of applications.
• Database Management: Assist with RDS Postgres database management and help explore potential use of MongoDB or other NoSQL solutions.
• Backup & Recovery: Set up and maintain backup and disaster recovery plans for critical infrastructure.
• Collaboration: Work with developers to troubleshoot production issues, implement fixes, and ensure smooth code releases.
• Cloud Cost Optimisation: Analyse cloud infrastructure to identify opportunities for cost optimization.
• Documentation: Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for infrastructure, processes, and configurations.

REQUIREMENTS:

Formal Qualifications

• Preferably a degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Information Systems.
• Relevant AWS certifications a bonus.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Technologies & Tools:

• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Heroku, and familiarity with services like ECS, EC2, RDS, S3, CloudFront, and Lambda.
• Containerization: Proficiency with Docker and experience with orchestration tools like Kubernetes.
• CI/CD Tools: GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or other CI/CD tools.
• Monitoring, Metrics & Alerting: Experience with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, CloudWatch), including defining key metrics, setting up dashboards, and configuring alerts for system health and performance.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Experience with Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible.
• Database Management: Familiarity with RDS Postgres and potential NoSQL solutions like MongoDB.
• Version Control: Git/GitHub for source control and collaboration.
• Scripting Languages: Proficiency in Ruby, Python, Bash, or similar scripting languages for automation.
• Systems Integration: Experience integrating disparate systems, APIs, and workflows that enable seamless automation and data flow across infrastructure and development tools.

Skills & Experience:

• Strong understanding of networking, security, and cloud infrastructure management.
• Experience managing high-availability, scalable environments.
• Experience with Docker for containerization and Kubernetes for orchestration.
• Ability to troubleshoot and optimise system performance.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.

Bonus points:

• Contributions to open-source DevOps tools or active participation in the DevOps community.
• Experience with hybrid cloud architectures.
• Previous experience in an AgTech or SaaS start-up environment.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Innovation-Driven: Embrace a culture of innovation and continuous learning, where creativity and curiosity are encouraged.
• Collaborative Environment: Foster a team-centric environment where open communication, mutual respect, and shared goals are prioritised.
• Commitment to Excellence: Strive for high-quality outcomes, with a focus on delivering value to the business and stakeholders. 
• Integrity and Accountability: Maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct and take responsibility for the quality of work produced.