I am looking for a high-impact role—such as a Senior / Lead Data Engineer—within a dynamic, remote-first environment. I want to utilize my background in software engineering and cloud architecture to design scalable enterprise data platforms, align cross-functional teams, and deliver reliable, business-critical analytics capabilities.
KM
Looking for a job
Kuda Mhlanga
@kcmhlanga
Senior / Lead Data Engineer | 10+ yrs scaling AWS/Azure architectures, Databricks Lakehouses, and driving global enterprise analytics platforms.
South AfricaWhat I'm looking for
My career spans over two decades, evolving from a traditional software engineer into a specialized Lead Data Engineer and Architect. I have spent the last ten years designing scalable, secure enterprise data platforms across multi-cloud environments, specifically AWS and Azure. I specialize in bridging the gap between complex business requirements and high-performance technical implementations, ensuring data is not just stored, but transformed into reliable, actionable insights.
Beyond my enterprise data work, I am deeply interested in the evolving AI landscape, actively utilizing tools like Claude CoWork, GitHub Copilot and Google AI Studio to optimize development workflows. I also experiment with digital content creation, specifically exploring strategies for YouTube channel growth and monetization.
When I step away from my MacBook, I am an avid traveler who loves exploring destinations from the Netherlands to the Maldives. I am also a big fan of sim racing, frequently jumping on the PS5 for EA Sports F1. Whether I am catching a Basketball Africa League game, trying out archery, or spending the weekend at an indoor adventure park with my family, I thrive on staying active, balancing high-stakes technical problem-solving with a dynamic personal life.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
HB
Current
Senior Data Engineer & Architect
Heineken Beverages
Oct 2023 - Present (3 years)
Engineer and evolve Azure-based data solutions using Databricks, Azure Data Factory and complementary Azure data services. Improved transformation efficiency by refactoring legacy processing into modular, scalable PySpark jobs and applying cloud compute optimization techniques.
BA
Lead Data Engineer
BMW IT Hub South Africa
May 2021 - Sep 2023 (2 years 4 months)
Designed and built end-to-end AWS data pipelines using Glue, EMR, Lambda, Step Functions and S3, with Python supporting complex transformation and enterprise data-delivery requirements. Automated infrastructure deployment with Terraform and implemented CI/CD practices using Bitbucket and AWS CodeBuild.
AN
Senior Data Engineer
ASML Netherlands
Jan 2020 - Apr 2021 (1 year 3 months)
Accelerated data transformation delivery by implementing modular PySpark code patterns and reusable transformation logic for production workloads. Designed and optimized cloud data pipelines using Databricks, Azure Data Factory and ADLS Gen2 storage.
TH
Senior Data Engineer
Telesure Holdings
Jan 2018 - Dec 2019 (1 year 11 months)
Designed and implemented Azure data solutions using Azure Data Factory, Synapse Analytics and Azure Databricks to support enterprise reporting. Developed PySpark and SQL ingestion and transformation workflows to cleanse, enrich and aggregate source data for analytics.
SG
AWS Data Engineer
Standard Bank Group
Jan 2015 - Dec 2017 (2 years 11 months)
AWS data engineering and migration initiatives across cloud data services, PostgreSQL workloads and enterprise data movement. Design and implement resilient ingestion and transformation pipelines using Python, SQL and AWS-native data services.
SG
Cloud Engineer
Standard Bank Group
Jan 2014 - Dec 2014 (11 months)
Designed and supported cost-conscious, fault-tolerant cloud workloads across AWS and Azure, applying enterprise architecture and operational best practices. Assessed application portfolios and supported migration strategies including lift-and-shift and targeted re-architecture for cloud adoption.
SG
Senior C# Developer
Standard Bank Group
May 2013 - Dec 2013 (7 months)
Designed and delivered enterprise software solutions using C#, ASP.NET and MS SQL across the full software development lifecycle. Optimized SQL queries and backend application components to improve application performance and maintainability.
HI
Senior C# Developer
Hollard Insurance
Jan 2012 - Apr 2013 (1 year 3 months)
Developed and supported enterprise applications using C#, ASP.NET and MS SQL across analysis, development, testing, deployment and production support. Designed application components and database changes aligned to business requirements.
NM
Software Developer
Nashua Mobile
Jan 2007 - Dec 2011 (4 years 11 months)
Built and supported business applications using C#, ASP.NET and MS SQL across the software development lifecycle. Developed application features, database queries and integrations while troubleshooting production issues and supporting releases.
EW
Intern – Software Developer
Econet Wireless
Sep 2004 - Aug 2005 (11 months)
Completed a structured software development internship aligned to academic requirements and the school calendar. Supported software development activities including coding, testing, debugging, documentation and technical troubleshooting.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
NT
National University of Science and Technology
BSc Honours, Computer Science
BSc Honours in Computer Science from the National University of Science and Technology, completed in 2006.
MI
Microsoft
Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204), Azure Development
Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) certification.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Looking for a job
Location
South AfricaAuthorized to work in
Salary expectations
1500k-2500k ZAR
Social media
Job categories
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