Lead AI Applied Engineer: RA SC SFP (Lynnwood) (JG 11

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Date: 21 Aug 2026

Location:

Pretoria, Gauteng, ZA

Who are we?

Sanlam, is dedicated to support, grow and empower clients with affordable, easy and suitable solutions, primarily through face-to-face intermediary channels, but also directly. We have approximately 2,400 tied advisors and 2,000 supporting independent brokers, all dedicated to meet the financial needs of our clients. Our vision:
We aspire to be the best at building enduring relationships by connecting clients with Sanlam. We create sustainable value by attracting new clients, supporting ongoing client engagement and providing adaptive solutions designed to answer life’s financial questions. ULTIMATELY, WE EMPOWER PEOPLE TO BE FINANCIALLY CONFIDENT, SECURE AND PROSPEROUS

As part of Sanlam Connect, Succession Financial Planning (SFP) is a financial services provider with a focus on the Registered Financial Advisor (RFA), looking to grow a professional practice while offering holistic financial planning to their clients. SFP is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sanlam Group.

The candidate will be responsible for designing, building, and ope rationalising AI-enabled capabilities that accelerate SFP’s modernisation agenda and enhance advisor productivity, client experience, and business performance. This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role at the intersection of business, data, and technology, with duties comparable to Forward Deployed Engineer and AI Engineer roles.

Core Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and ope rationalise AI-enabled solutions across SFP platforms, systems, and advisor journeys.
• Identify and deliver automation and process optimisation opportunities across the business.
• Develop data, insights, and decisioning capabilities that support advisory, operational, and compliance needs.
• Deliver AI responsibly, within Group and SFP governance, risk, and compliance frameworks.
• Drive experimentation and innovation, contributing to an AI-first culture within SFP.
• Collaborate with business, technology, data, and governance stakeholders across SFP and the Group.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical capability with business acumen, translating high-value opportunities into practical AI-enabled solutions. Success in this role will require the ability to:

• Convert business challenges into scalable AI, automation, and digital solutions that deliver measurable value.
• Lead initiatives end-to-end, from ideation and experimentation through deployment, adoption, and continuous improvement.
• Balance innovation with governance, ensuring solutions remain compliant, secure, and explainable.
• Combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery across solution design, implementation, and optimisation.
• Engage confidently with business, technology, data, compliance, and executive stakeholders.

Qualification and

Experience:

• Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field. A Master's degree will be advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years’ hands-on experience building and deploying AI, machine learning, data, or advanced analytics solutions.

Knowledge and

Skills:

• Applied AI/ML, automation, and advanced analytics techniques.
• Modern programming, data engineering, and cloud technologies.
• Solution design and business process analysis.
• Working within regulated and governed environments.
• Agile and product-based delivery approaches.

Personal Qualities:

• Cultivates innovation.
• Strong business and commercial thinking.
• Results-driven with a focus on value delivery.
• Action-oriented, adaptable, and collaborative.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Key Deliverables:

• AI-enabled capabilities embedded into SFP platforms and operations.
• Measurable productivity, efficiency, and client experience gains.
• Delivery aligned to governance, risk, and compliance standards and SFP’s modernisation roadmap.

Organisational savvy
- Contributing through others

Manages complexity
- Contributing through others

Plans and aligns
- Contributing through others

Optimises work processes
- Contributing through others