Data Wizard at Nedbank

Job Purpose

• The Data Wizard will serve as the technical engine behind Nedbank’s newest innovation unit, Ned Defi.
• This role combines strong SQL engineering capabilities with advanced data pipeline development skills to transform massive, complex datasets—particularly blockchain, Web3, and crypto‑related data—into reliable, accessible and meaningful information for decision‑making, regulatory reporting, and strategic insights.
• As Ned Defi builds the future of blockchain‑enabled banking, the Data Wizard will create the data foundations that make high-volume crypto data (e.g., Bitcoin and Ethereum datasets with >24 billion rows) usable, trusted and analytics‑ready across the business.

Job Responsibilities

Data Engineering & Pipeline Management

• Design, develop and maintain scalable, reliable data pipelines for ingestion, real-time streaming, transformation and delivery.
• Engineer data flows that support both structured and unstructured datasets, including blockchain event streams, API feeds and Big Data sources like Kafka.
• Build and maintain SSIS packages, SQL stored procedures and high‑performance transformations.
• Optimise existing SQL scripts, structures and processes for speed, stability, and minimal latency.
• Rapidly identify breakages, troubleshoot issues, and implement corrective actions to ensure uninterrupted data flow.

Building Data Structures for a New Business

• Create data models, tables, platforms and integration points required to support Ned Defi as a newly established business unit, ensuring alignment with Nedbank’s data governance
• standards.
• Set up data environments in partnership with Infrastructure, Group Technology (GT) and vendors to ensure correct landing zones, processing pathways and system accessibility.
• Ensure Chinese-wall compliance and proper data segregation between Nedbank and Ned Defi environments.

Data Preparation, Analysis & Insights

• Convert raw blockchain and crypto transaction data into clean, structured, readable datasets suitable for analytics, reporting and operational decision-making.
• Develop insights that support AML, Risk, Compliance, Conduct and Transaction Monitoring teams.
• Support daily reconciliations, settlements to vendors, audit requirements and regulatory reporting using reliable and validated data.
• Automate recurring operational processes and identify opportunities for pipeline enhancement.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with internal teams (GT, CIA, Product, Risk, Web Development, Infrastructure) to align development strategies and ensure smooth integration of data solutions.
• Liaise with vendors and external partners for data ingestion, tooling and solution design.
• Participate in requirements discussions, validate specifications and deliver fit‑for‑purpose data solutions within agreed timelines.
• Understand front-end systems, operational workflows and product platforms to ensure data engineering supports business processes end‑to‑end.

Governance, Security & Quality

• Ensure adherence to data governance standards, metadata requirements, lineage rules and Nedbank architectural guidelines.
• Partner with Information Security, CISO and Data Governance teams to ensure secure handling of sensitive information.
• Ensure data delivered for reporting, AI/ML enablement, auditing, and operational consumption is complete, accurate and reliable.

Visualisation & Output

• Create insights using Tableau, Power BI or similar tools for consumption by leadership and operational stakeholders.
• Build clear dashboards, reports and data stories that simplify complex datasets into actionable outputs.

Essential Qualifications - NQF Level

• Matric / Grade 12 / National Senior Certificate
• Advanced Diplomas/National 1st Degrees

Preferred Qualification

• BSc, BEng

Preferred Certifications

•  DEVOPS or Data engineering certification

Minimum Experience Level

• A highly skilled SQL engineer with strong experience in writing, reading and optimising complex SQL scripts (some Nedbank stored procedures exceed 2,000 lines).
• 3+ years experience in data engineering, including SSIS, stored procedures, ETL, and working with large datasets.
• Comfortable with Big Data technologies such as Hadoop, Postgres, Kafka, or other large-scale processing environments.
• Curious and adaptable, able to research tools and propose fit-for-purpose technologies that align with Group Technology guidelines.
• Able to work independently, quickly understand existing environments, and deliver quick turnaround times under pressure.
• Strong in problem-solving, optimisation and automation, able to replace reliance on existing web developers performing SQL work.

Technical / Professional Knowledge

• Cloud Data Engineering (Azure , AWS, Google)
• Data Warehousing
• Databases (PostgreSQL, MS SQL, IBM DB2)
• Data Analysis and Data Modelling
• Data Pipelines and ETL tools (Ab Initio, ADB, ADF, SAS ETL)
• Agile Delivery