Lead Data Engineer

Data Engineer – Microsoft Fabric (Team Lead)

Waters Edge Solutions is partnering with a leading long-term insurance provider to recruit an experienced Data Engineer (Team Lead) with expertise in Microsoft Fabric to spearhead the development and optimisation of a next-generation data warehouse. This hybrid role requires flexibility for 3 days in-office per week in Cape Town and offers an exciting opportunity to build and lead a growing data team.

Role Overview

As a Data Engineer (Team Lead), you will play a key role in designing, developing, and optimising scalable data pipelines and architectures within the Microsoft ecosystem. You will work closely with business stakeholders, mentor data professionals, and drive data-driven decision-making by ensuring efficient data processing and integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of scalable data pipelines using Microsoft Fabric.
• Architect and optimise the data warehouse using Azure Data Services (Synapse, Data Factory, Azure SQL, Databricks).
• Implement and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines, ensuring data quality, governance, and security best practices.
• Oversee data ingestion, transformation, and integration to support business intelligence and analytics.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Build and lead a data engineering team, initially managing an existing analyst and expanding the team as needed.
• Provide mentorship, training, and career development for junior data professionals.
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies in data engineering, analytics, and Microsoft Fabric advancements.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in Data Engineering, specialising in Microsoft Fabric.
• Strong expertise in Azure Data Services (Synapse, Data Factory, Azure SQL, Databricks).
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, and/or Spark for data processing and transformation.
• Experience designing and implementing data warehouses, data lakes, and ETL/ELT pipelines.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, and compliance best practices.
• Proven experience leading and mentoring data teams, with a track record of scaling data operations.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to translate business needs into data-driven solutions.

Nice to Have

• Microsoft Azure Data Engineering or Microsoft Fabric certifications.
• Experience with machine learning or AI-driven analytics.
• Background in financial services, sales optimisation, or regulatory reporting.

Why Join?

Leadership Role – Build and shape a data team from the ground up.
Innovative Projects – Work on cutting-edge data engineering solutions.
Career Growth – Access to continuous training and professional development.

Company Culture

The client cultivates a mission-driven, member-centred culture rooted in empathy, reliability, and service excellence. Their teams operate with compassion at the core - ensuring clients feel heard, supported, and respected through every personal interaction. With a strong emphasis on operational integrity, efficiency, and clear communication, they aim to minimise friction during life’s most challenging moments. Internally, they uphold a culture of accountability, fairness, and trust, fostering a workplace where every team member is empowered to do meaningful work in service of others.

If you are not contacted within 10 days of your application, please consider your application unsuccessful.