Employer: Clinical Research Organization (CRO) / Healthcare Intelligence
Job ID: R0000046562
Industry: Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Research, Data Engineering & Biotechnology
Location: Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa (On-Site)
Position Type: 12-Month Paid Graduate Internship
Start Date: January 2027
Target Candidates: Final Year BSc Students & Honours Graduates (IT, CS, Data Science)
Compensation: Monthly Market-Related Graduate Internship Stipend
Posted Date: 08 October 2026
Closing Date: 30 November 2026
About the Role & Clinical Research Environment
A global leader in clinical research solutions and trial data management is recruiting an Intern – Clinical Data Engineer (Job ID: R0000046562) to join their clinical operations team in Bloemfontein, Free State.
Starting in January 2027, this paid 12-month internship provides high-performing computer science and data science graduates with hands-on experience in clinical trial data engineering, SAS dataset manipulation, offline listing programming, third-party data ingestion, and global regulatory compliance (ICH-GCP).
Key Responsibilities & Data Engineering Operations
Under close supervision, the Intern Clinical Data Engineer will contribute across five core trial data pillars:
1. SAS Programming & Dataset Manipulation
- Offline Listings & Custom Reports: Program offline data listings and custom reports using SAS to provide actionable clinical insights.
- Data Structure Creation: Handle raw data files, manage data structures, troubleshoot programming errors, and perform appending and concatenating of SAS datasets.
2. Third-Party Data Ingestion & Reconciliation
- Ingestion Workflows: Support the ingestion, cleaning, transformation, and reconciliation of electronic third-party clinical trial data.
- Missing Values & Trends: Handle missing data values systematically and execute trend analysis to detect data anomalies early.
3. Regulatory Compliance & Quality Control
- ICH-GCP Alignment: Conduct all trial data engineering in strict adherence to Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP), corporate SOPs, Work Instructions, and international regulatory standards.
- First-Time Quality: Take accountability for first-time quality control across all data deliverables and study files.
4. Documentation & Audit Trail Management
- Traceability: Maintain study documentation, logs, and deviation reports to ensure complete auditability for regulatory inspections.
5. Global Team Collaboration
- Cross-Functional Projects: Partner with global data managers, biostatisticians, and clinical operations leads across international hubs.
Candidate Profile & Minimum Entry Requirements
To qualify for consideration for Job ID R0000046562, applicants must meet the following mandatory criteria:
- Educational Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in the Final Year of a Bachelor’s Degree OR completed an Honours Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Science, or Applied Mathematics / Statistics (Mandatory).
- Technical Core Stack & Knowledge:
- Basic programming knowledge (SAS, SQL, Python, or R) with an understanding of raw data structures, database tables, and missing value logic.
- Familiarity with data manipulation, concatenation, and trend analysis techniques.
- Soft Skills & Attributes:
- High level of precision, logical thinking, and attention to detail.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Eager to learn clinical trial methodologies (ICH-GCP, clinical data management).
- Location & On-Site Availability:
- Must be able to work on-site in Bloemfontein, Free State starting January 2027.
Internship Benefits & Career Growth
- Paid Internship: Competitive monthly stipend for the entire 12-month program duration.
- Specialized Domain Exposure: Rare entry-level pathway into global clinical trial data engineering and pharmaceutical research.
- Structured Mentorship: Direct coaching from senior clinical programmers and biostatisticians.
Career Advice for Applicants
- Highlight Programming & SAS / SQL Exposure: Feature any university projects involving SAS, SQL, Python, or database management on page 1 of your CV.
- Mention Data Science Credentials: Clearly indicate whether you are in your Final Year or hold an Honours Degree in IT/Computer Science/Data Science.
- Format Application Correctly: Search for Job ID R0000046562 on the official careers portal to submit your CV and academic transcripts.
Sample Selection & Interview Questions
Clinical Data Science & Programming Logic
- Question (Data Manipulation): “How do you approach handling missing data values and concatenating large raw datasets without introducing duplicate records?”
- Question (Regulatory Standards): “Why is strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and audit trails critical when managing clinical trial patient data?”
How to Apply
Apply online directly on the official Careers Portal using Job ID: R0000046562:
- Employer: Global Clinical Research Organization
- Job ID: R0000046562
- Location: Bloemfontein, Free State
- Start Date: January 2027