{"id":289,"date":"2026-02-25T09:14:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T09:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samford.co.za\/recruit\/?post_type=job_listing&p=289"},"modified":"2026-03-05T11:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T11:24:46","slug":"principal-dat-consultant","status":"publish","type":"job_listing","link":"https:\/\/samford.co.za\/recruit\/job\/principal-dat-consultant\/","title":{"rendered":"Principal Data Consultant"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our client is an innovative global consultancy that works closely with clients, from blue-chip multinationals and public sector organisations to tech startups.\u00a0 We help clients shape their data transformations, from blueprint and lean delivery methods, to developing reproducible data product pipelines. We walk the data journey with them.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As a Principal Data Consultant, you will be a technical leader in the data space where you will be challenged to help solve interesting and complex data problems that our clients face.\u00a0 You will be part of a team that helps clients adopt processes that meet needs and deliver value.\u00a0 Supported by a global network of engineering, product and delivery minds you will be a key part of our clients journey and success.<\/p>\n

Please note: Must be based in South Africa (no sponsorship available)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Principal Data Consultant Responsibilities<\/h2>\n

Responsibilities:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • \n

    As a trusted advisor to product, engineering, and architecture leadership, help shape and validate patterns and solutions that enable teams to rapidly and autonomously develop value-generating data\/insight products.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Employ an evidence-driven approach to decision-making and work scoping.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Effectively collaborate across multiple teams, synthesizing needs and pain points to support roadmap development and prioritization.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Be a pathfinder, collaborating in product discovery and inception.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Develop proof-of-concepts and exemplars to demonstrate, validate designs, patterns, or showcase the art of the possible.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Lead and collaborate in conducting analyses and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative evidence\/findings regarding technology choices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Collaborate with clients to define and influence patterns and designs that enable engineering teams to create high-quality, lightweight Request for Comments (RFCs) and Architectural Decision Records (ADRs).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Present and communicate proposals and motivations to senior stakeholders.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Deliver demos and talks to engineers and product teams.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Required Skills and Experience: (8 – 10 years)<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • A deeply experienced software\/data engineering or full-stack data science background<\/li>\n
    • A servant-leader, low-ego and empathetic professional who is confident to provide reasoned, evidenced opinions<\/li>\n
    • Collaborative and a mentor to both client staff and our own consultants<\/li>\n
    • A product mindset balanced with engineering reasoning<\/li>\n
    • Strong advocate (having lived and breathed) engineering discipline including\n
        \n
      • Automated testing, TDD, CICD<\/li>\n
      • Infrastructure as code<\/li>\n
      • API\/Headless first design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • A strong advocate for agile practices and value driven decision making<\/li>\n
      • Deep experience in developing data platforms in complex organisational technology estates using one or more of the hyper cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure) data\u00a0 stacks.<\/li>\n
      • A strong understanding of data science and AI\/ML operation concerns, model training, monitoring, performance attribution.<\/li>\n
      • Excellent communication skills – able champion solutions with senior stakeholders\/leadership by distilling and synthesising technical complexities into crisp insights and calls to action<\/li>\n
      • Strong background in at least one programming language, SQL, Python and\/or Scala preferable.\u00a0 A polyglot<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Perks include:<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Remote Work<\/li>\n
        • Great leave benefits<\/li>\n
        • Competitive Salaries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Please note:<\/strong> you must reside in South Africa to\u00a0 apply for this role.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":291,"template":"","meta":{"_promoted":"","_job_location":"South Africa","_application":"talent@samford.co.za","_company_name":"","_company_website":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_filled":0,"_featured":1,"_remote_position":1,"_job_salary_currency":"","_job_salary_unit":""},"job-categories":[48,23,47,46],"job-types":[28],"class_list":{"0":"post-289","1":"job_listing","2":"type-job_listing","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","5":"hentry","6":"job_listing_type-perm-contract","8":"job-type-permanent-or-contract","9":"job_position_featured"},"yoast_head":"\nPrincipal Data Consultant - Samford Solutions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Principal Data Consultant! Lead our data services team. Solve complex client challenges & unlock max value. 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