Company Summary
This opportunity is being offered through Cestasoft, a South African technology recruitment and staffing firm that connects skilled data and technology professionals with leading corporate clients. In this instance, Cestasoft is recruiting on behalf of an established client with an active Data and Analytics division — the kind of organisation that is investing heavily in data transformation, cloud infrastructure, and modern analytics platforms. While the end client has not been named publicly, the technical stack required — SQL, Apache Spark, Databricks, and cloud platforms — points to a mature, forward-thinking data environment that operates at scale. For a data professional looking to grow their skills on real enterprise-level projects, this is a strong contract opportunity in one of Johannesburg’s most in-demand technology disciplines.
Opportunity Overview
Cestasoft is looking for a Technical Information Analyst to join their client’s Data and Analytics team on a contract basis. The role focuses on data transformation initiatives — meaning you will be working hands-on with data pipelines, data quality assessments, and the movement and mapping of data across systems.
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng — Hybrid (combination of remote and on-site) Contract Type: Contract position — duration to be confirmed with Cestasoft directly Level: Graduate to junior professional with the right technical foundation
Key Requirements
Essential:
- Strong SQL skills — this is non-negotiable for this role
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Engineering, or similar)
- Data Profiling experience — ability to assess, analyse, and document data quality
- Data Mapping experience — understanding how data moves and transforms between source and target systems
- Cloud platform experience — familiarity with AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
Advantageous (will strengthen your application significantly):
- Apache Spark experience — working with large-scale distributed data processing
- Databricks exposure — the industry-leading unified analytics platform built on Spark
- Experience working in a Data and Analytics team environment
- Familiarity with data warehousing concepts and ETL or ELT processes
What You Will Learn and Experience
Working on data transformation initiatives inside a corporate Data and Analytics team exposes you to some of the most sought-after skills in the South African and global technology market:
- How large organisations move, clean, and transform data across enterprise systems
- Real-world application of SQL for data extraction, transformation, and quality validation
- Hands-on experience with cloud-based data infrastructure and modern analytics platforms
- Working with Apache Spark and potentially Databricks on large, complex datasets
- Data profiling techniques — understanding what data exists, what condition it is in, and what needs to change
- Data mapping and lineage — tracing how data flows from source systems through to analytical outputs
- Collaboration with data engineers, data architects, and business analysts on live transformation projects
- Professional documentation and communication standards in a corporate analytics environment
For a graduate or early-career data professional, this contract is the kind of real-world exposure that accelerates career growth by years compared to classroom or self-study alone.
Possible Interview Questions
Prepare for technical and behavioural questions such as:
- Walk us through a SQL query you have written — what was the business problem and how did you solve it?
- What experience do you have with data profiling — how do you identify and document data quality issues?
- Can you explain what data mapping is and give an example of a mapping exercise you have worked on?
- What cloud platforms have you worked with, and what specifically did you do on those platforms?
- Have you used Apache Spark or Databricks? If so, describe what you used them for and at what scale.
- How do you handle a situation where source data is incomplete, inconsistent, or poorly documented?
- Describe how you would approach a data transformation project from start to finish.
- How do you prioritise accuracy versus speed when working under tight project deadlines?
Tip: SQL is listed as essential — expect to be tested on it. Brush up on joins, window functions, CTEs, and aggregations before your interview. Even a short practical SQL assessment is common for roles like this one.
Career Advice
- SQL is the foundation of everything in data — master it. No matter how advanced the tools around it become, strong SQL remains the single most important skill a data professional can have. If your SQL is rusty, dedicate time to it before applying and before your interview.
- Databricks is the future of enterprise data engineering. It is rapidly becoming the standard platform for large-scale data transformation and analytics in South African and global corporates. Even basic Databricks exposure makes your CV significantly more competitive — free learning resources are available on the Databricks Academy website.
- Contract roles in data are a smart career move. Contract positions often pay higher daily or monthly rates than permanent roles at the same level, and they expose you to multiple environments and tech stacks over time. Each contract adds a new line to your CV and a new set of skills to your profile.
- Cloud certification accelerates your career. If you do not yet have a cloud certification, consider starting with Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or AWS Cloud Practitioner — both are entry-level, widely recognised, and achievable within a few weeks of focused study.
- Data transformation experience is in extremely high demand. South African banks, insurers, retailers, and telecommunications companies are all in the middle of major data modernisation programmes. A candidate with hands-on transformation project experience is valuable across every one of these sectors.
- Use this contract to build toward permanence. Perform well, document your contributions clearly, and express your interest in longer-term opportunities. Many contract placements convert to permanent roles — especially when the candidate proves their value early.
The data and analytics job market in South Africa is one of the most active and well-paying in the technology sector right now. This contract is your entry point — approach it with full commitment.
Interested? Send your updated CV directly to: moipone.raphahlelo@cestasoft.com — include a brief motivation highlighting your SQL experience and any cloud or Spark exposure.