Systems Analyst at Discovery Limited

Key Purpose

The Systems Analyst / Junior Architect will report to the Senior Systems Architect and form part of the Vitality Architecture team. The key purpose of the role would be to help us as the Architecture team in designing and implement robust, scalable and optimally performing systems using java related technologies, according to provided specifications, standards and procedures, while ensuring compliance with the architectural standards and guidelines laid out by Discovery. Also ultimately taking over the technical oversight of one of the streams.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

Design:

• Translate business requirements into technical designs adhering to Vitality’s processes, standards and guidelines, taking cognisance of performance, security and scalability requirements. Deliver within agreed timeframes. Complexity = complex interactions between a number of interacting systems.
• Liaise with relevant parties where clarification of business requirements or resolution to technical issues is needed
• Research and find effective solutions to technical issues that arise
• Estimate development timelines based on business requirements

Solutioning:

• Be called upon to join Solutioning sessions with various stakeholders as well as other teams
• Provide insights to steer the selection of the right Solution for the business or technical problem at hand

Development:

• Construct robust, maintainable, scalable, optimally performing system code in line with technical specifications, following prescribed process, standards and procedures. Deliver within agreed timeframes
• Conduct unit testing and fix any defects found
• Work with the Automation testing team in order to build out our automation capability

Testing:

• Verify build stability and quality with development team before releasing to test team, aiming to release with zero defects
• Consult and assist in reviewing risk / impact of defects found in testing, and assist with fixing where necessary

Support / Troubleshooting / Technical:

• Assist system users with technical support issues and handle according to defined procedures
• Ability to effectively analyse root cause of system errors (front end and data errors, performance and stability issues)
• Setting up of new infrastructure, provisioning servers, changing load balancer setups, etc. as directed by the Architecture Team.

Mentoring / Team development:

• Actively coach and mentor Developers in the space in order for them to also rise to the challenge of writing and maintaining a quality codebase
• Perform code reviews to ensure logical correctness, maintainability, scalability, performance, compliance with architectural standards and frameworks
• Assist in identifying training needs of team members
• Present on topics of interest in the Developer meetings
• Contribute to the Training material and Confluence knowledge bases in place

Personal development:

• Keep abreast of current technological trends and how these might be applied in the Discovery environment
• Constant improvement of knowledge of the various applications, their functionalities and data models
• Willingness to research new technologies needed as well as present PoCs to the Architecture Forums and Developer Forums

General:

• Ability to communicate clearly, constructively and effectively. Easily able to follow and participate in technical, business process, and other discussions
• Able to build business relationships with other members of the team and the business areas we support and integrate with

Personal Attributes and Skills

Technical Skills

• Excellent understanding of Object Orientated principals and Java language fundamentals
• Knowledge of commonly used design patterns
• Broad understanding of how to put together complex systems solutions from scratch which have various interactions from Partner facing to other internal systems and Business units
• Essential:
• Java 8+, Spring Framework, SOAP Web services, REST Web services, Message Driven beans, SpringJMS, SpringBatch, SpringBoot, XML/XSD,JSON, SQL, HTML5, CSS, Jenkins, Maven, Oracle DB, SQL, Basics of Application Security
• Advantageous:
• Weblogic Application server configuration and tuning, Angular (willingness to learn the front-end technologies that we use), Apache Kafka, Spring Cloud Data Flow, Harbor, Docker, Advanced Security (Tokens, Mutual TLS, etc.), Consul, Spring Cloud Gateway

Behavioural Skills:

• Highly adaptable and resilient (Able to work under pressure)
• Ability to work both independently and participate as a member of a cross-functional team.
• Ability to prioritize and work on multiple tasks simultaneously
• Able to work in conditions of change, flexible and open to learn new languages and architecture
• Recognise unique demands of IT of non-conventional working hours
• Structured and analytical problem solver – Obsessive about finding solutions to problems: action oriented problem solver.
• Team player – reliable, works actively with others towards a common goal, communicates constructively, shares information, knowledge and experience, treats others in a respectful and supportive manner
• Drives Results
• Problem Solver

Education and Experience

Qualification

• BSc Computer Sciences/ BSc Information Systems or equivalent IT tertiary qualification
• Formal Java qualification(s) (Advantageous)

Experience

• At least 5 – 8 years’ experience in Java development with exposure to core competencies listed in the SDLC (Essential)
• Some mentoring of junior team members
• Some knowledge of designing and architecting large interacting systems
• Knowledge of data modelling and design of database structures