Company Summary
Altron is one of South Africa’s largest and most established technology groups, with a history spanning over five decades. Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Altron operates across multiple technology divisions including Altron Digital Business, Altron Managed Solutions, Altron Arrow, and Altron FinTech — serving clients in financial services, retail, telecommunications, government, and beyond. Altron Digital Business specifically focuses on software engineering, cloud solutions, data analytics, and digital transformation services for enterprise clients. With a permanent staff complement of thousands and a footprint that extends beyond South Africa into the rest of Africa and internationally, Altron is one of the most credible and career-defining employers a young technology professional can join. A permanent role at Altron at junior level is a genuine long-term career opportunity — not just a stepping stone.
Opportunity Overview
Altron Digital Business is looking for a Junior Software Data Engineer to join their MAC project team within the Software Engineering department. MAC — Margin Assurance Cloud — is a bespoke, in-house developed AWS serverless, cloud-native application that supports financial margin assurance functions through near-real-time data controls, reporting, and investigation capabilities.
This is a permanent position, meaning the successful candidate joins Altron as a full employee — not a contractor or intern.
Position: Junior Software Data Engineer Position Number: 6974 Reference Number: 2026753 Business Unit: Altron Digital Business Department: Software Engineering Location: Plattekloof, Cape Town, Western Cape Work Model: Hybrid — combination of remote and on-site Appointment Type: Permanent Closing Date: 12 June 2026
What You Will Be Doing
This role places you inside a live, enterprise-grade cloud data engineering team working on a real AWS production system:
- Supporting the development of data ingestion and transformation pipelines using Python, SQL, and PySpark
- Assisting with building and maintaining Athena views and reports under guidance from senior engineers
- Helping implement data loaders and S3-based outputs for downstream consumption by reporting and analytics teams
- Participating in SOX-related reporting and validation builds using AWS Athena — giving you exposure to financial compliance and governance in a cloud environment
- Supporting monitoring and alerting on file ingestion processes and data quality controls
- Contributing to Agile delivery through sprint planning, development sessions, and sprint reviews
- Following engineering best practices for code quality, documentation, and version control
- Using team tools including JIRA, Confluence, and Git as part of daily delivery workflows
- Assisting with CI/CD automation activities in collaboration with the DevOps engineering team
You will work directly alongside experienced data engineers and cloud architects, learning how enterprise-grade cloud data solutions are designed, built, and operated in a regulated financial services environment.
Key Requirements
Qualifications:
- BSc, BEng, or Diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field
- AWS certification is advantageous but not mandatory at junior level
Experience and Skills — Required:
- 1 to 3 years of experience in data engineering, software development, or a data-focused role
- Basic working knowledge of Python and SQL
- Some exposure to AWS or cloud-based environments
- Genuine interest in data pipelines, analytics, and cloud-native systems
- Willingness to learn enterprise data platforms and engineering best practices
Advantageous — will strengthen your application:
- Exposure to PySpark or big data concepts
- Experience working with data ingestion or ETL and ELT pipelines
- Familiarity with Agile or Scrum delivery methodologies
- Experience with AWS QuickSight
- AWS certification or actively working toward one
What You Will Learn
Joining the MAC project team at Altron puts you inside one of the most complete cloud data engineering learning environments available to a junior engineer in South Africa:
- End-to-end AWS serverless architecture — how cloud-native applications are structured, deployed, and maintained at enterprise scale
- Python and PySpark for real data pipeline development on production systems
- AWS Athena for large-scale SQL querying directly against data stored in S3
- SOX compliance and financial data governance — a highly specialised and valuable skill set in the South African financial and technology sector
- Data quality monitoring and alerting in a near-real-time environment
- CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices as applied to cloud data engineering
- Agile software delivery — sprint ceremonies, backlog management, and iterative development
- Professional engineering practices including code reviews, version control with Git, and technical documentation using Confluence
- How to collaborate effectively with senior engineers, architects, and cross-functional delivery teams
The MAC system operates in near-real-time and supports financial assurance functions — meaning the work you contribute to has direct business impact from day one.
Possible Interview Questions
Prepare for a combination of technical and behavioural questions:
- Can you walk us through a Python script or SQL query you have written — what was the problem and what did your solution do?
- What do you understand about data pipelines — how does data typically move from a source system to a reporting or analytics layer?
- What AWS services have you worked with or studied, even in a personal or academic project?
- What is the difference between ETL and ELT, and when would each approach be appropriate?
- Have you worked with Git or any version control system? Describe how you use it in your workflow.
- What does Agile mean to you, and have you worked in a sprint-based environment before?
- How do you approach a task where the requirements are not fully clear and you need to ask for guidance?
- What does data quality mean to you, and how would you detect and handle poor quality data in a pipeline?
Tip: Altron is a structured, process-driven engineering environment. In your interview, demonstrate that you can follow best practices, communicate clearly about technical work, and collaborate with more experienced engineers without ego. Junior candidates who show humility and hunger to learn consistently outperform those who oversell their current skills.
Career Advice
- A permanent role at Altron at junior level is genuinely rare and valuable. Most entry-level data roles in South Africa are contract or internship-based. A permanent appointment means job security, employee benefits, and a clear pathway for promotion — take the application seriously.
- AWS is the dominant cloud platform in South African enterprise. Experience on a live AWS production system — even at junior level — puts you ahead of the majority of candidates at your career stage. Document everything you learn and work toward your AWS Cloud Practitioner or AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification while in the role.
- PySpark is a specialist skill that commands strong salaries. Big data processing with PySpark is used inside banks, telecoms companies, and large retailers across South Africa. Getting hands-on PySpark experience this early in your career is a significant advantage.
- SOX compliance exposure is a career differentiator. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act governs financial reporting controls for listed companies. Data engineers who understand SOX requirements are in demand inside every JSE-listed company and their technology partners — it is a niche that pays well and is not overcrowded.
- Build your GitHub portfolio now. Before your interview and throughout your career, maintain a GitHub profile with Python scripts, SQL queries, and any data pipeline projects you have worked on. Hiring managers in data engineering routinely check GitHub — a visible portfolio speaks louder than a CV.
- Get AWS certified while you are in the role. Altron notes that AWS certification is advantageous. Use the knowledge you gain on the MAC project to study for and pass your AWS certification — the company environment will reinforce everything you learn in the exam prep, making it significantly easier to achieve.
- Closing date is 12 June 2026 — that is days away. Do not delay. Prepare your CV, ensure your Python and SQL fundamentals are sharp, and submit your application through the Altron careers portal immediately.
Cloud data engineering is one of the highest-growth and best-compensated specialisations in South African technology. A permanent junior role inside Altron’s MAC project team, working on a live AWS production system, is an exceptional starting point for a long and well-rewarded career.
To apply, visit the Altron careers portal and submit your application under Position Number 6974, Reference Number 2026753. Note that by submitting your CV, you consent to the processing of your personal information in accordance with the POPI Act. Full privacy policy available at altron.com/privacy-policy. Closing date: 12 June 2026.