Job Description – Engineering Lead (Platforms, Insights & Customer Experience) Position Details * Position Title: Engineering Lead – Platforms, Insights & Customer Experience * Department: Engineering * Employment Type: Fixed-term (24 months) * Reporting To: Head of Engineering * Location: Cape Town (with flexibility for Johannesburg-based candidates; relocation support available)

Company Overview

A large retail and technology-driven organisation with approximately 42,000 employees globally and a 2,000-strong technology division. The engineering function supports high-volume omnichannel retail platforms, customer engagement systems, and data-driven insights solutions across multiple business units.

Role Purpose

The Engineering Lead will drive the delivery of platform engineering and customer-facing digital solutions, while also leading teams responsible for insights, loyalty systems, and omnichannel eCommerce capabilities. The role requires strong hands-on technical expertise combined with leadership across multiple engineering squads in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Platforms Engineering

• Lead development of eCommerce and omnichannel platforms.
• Work across technologies including C#, C++, Microsoft stack, with Java as a bonus skill.
• Contribute to and oversee development on proprietary eCommerce platform components.
• Ensure scalable, high-performance, and secure platform delivery.

2. Insights & Loyalty Systems

• Lead development of customer rewards and loyalty systems.
• Support data-driven initiatives such as VAT insights and business intelligence projects.
• Work across multiple parallel projects in an agile delivery environment, with some legacy waterfall processes still present.

3. Engineering Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of engineers, including:
  • Senior Engineers (8–12+ years experience)
  • Principal Engineers
  • Junior Engineers
• Drive technical excellence, accountability, and delivery discipline.
• Support career development and performance management.

4. Delivery & Modernisation

• Drive modernization of legacy systems and platforms.
• Support legal compliance and payment gateway innovation initiatives.
• Ensure alignment between engineering output and business priorities.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with product, architecture, and business stakeholders.
• Align delivery across multiple streams and competing priorities.
• Contribute to agile ceremonies and delivery governance structures.

Key Challenges

• High leadership expectations requiring strong technical depth and delivery capability.
• Competitive talent market with frequent counteroffers (local and international).
• Limited internal talent pipeline for this level of expertise.
• High workload pressure due to platform demand and business dependency.

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based in Cape Town, with 1-day remote flexibility per week (negotiable).
• Fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Strong focus on performance, delivery, and revenue-driving platforms.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong hands-on engineering background in platform engineering or large-scale systems.
• Proven leadership of senior technical teams in complex environments.
• Experience in eCommerce, omnichannel, fintech, or high-scale digital platforms.
• Strong understanding of agile delivery, with exposure to hybrid waterfall environments.
• Ability to balance technical depth with leadership and stakeholder management.
• Passion for building scalable, modern, customer-focused systems.

Preferred Background

Candidates with experience from:

• Fintech or digital-first organisations (e.g., Capitec-type environments)
• High-scale global tech companies (Amazon-type exposure)
• Fast-paced platforms (gaming, fintech, or digital marketplace companies)

Exclusions (cultural/non-compete risk):

• Certain traditional retail organisations due to cultural or contractual constraints.

Remuneration & Benefits

• Total Guaranteed Package: R1M – R3M annually (target ~R1.6M)
• Annual performance incentive (single structure)
• Relocation allowance for candidates moving to Cape Town
• Staff benefits including retail discounts and annual allocation structures

Interview Process

1. Initial interview with Engineering Leadership
2. Panel interview (HR + Engineering Leads + Senior Stakeholder)
3. Technical case study (5–7 days preparation; in-person or virtual)
4. Final interview with CIO and CTO

Success in the Role

A successful Engineering Lead will:

• Deliver high-performing omnichannel and platform systems
• Strengthen engineering team capability and delivery maturity
• Improve speed, quality, and reliability of releases
• Drive modernization of legacy systems
• Align technical execution with business growth objectives