Data & AI Platform Engineer at University of Cape Town

Role Overview

• The Data & AI Platform Engineer will be responsible for building, maintaining, and optimising the organisation’s data and
• AI infrastructure. In addition to contributing to digital transformation initiatives, the successful candidate will assist in developing reliable platforms that support data processing, analytics, and machine learning operations.
• The role sits at the intersection of data engineering, cloud infrastructure, DevOps, and machine learning operations
• (MLOPS), ensuring that systems are scalable, automated, and production-ready for real-world use.

The successful candidate will work closely with software developers and Knowledge Translation teams to:

• Build and maintain data platforms (warehouses, pipelines)
• Develop and optimise large-scale data processing systems
• Build and support AI/ML platforms for model training and deployment
• Implement CI/CD pipelines for data and AI workflows
• Automate infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimise system performance
• Ensure reliability, scalability, and security of platforms
• The position provides hands-on technical implementation and operational support for data and AI systems across the organisation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Python and SQL
• Strong command of data engineering concepts, including ETL/ELT pipelines
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud
• Practical experience working with big data technologies
• Proficiency in Linux environments and scripting
• Strong understanding of DevOps principles and automation practices
• Proven problem-solving capability with a systems-thinking approach to designing scalable and efficient solutions
• Exceptional attention to detail with a strong, reliability-focused mindset

Closing Date:15 April 2026