Old Mutual has long been a firm believer in the African opportunity, committed to building a future that reflects the continent’s diverse potential. The company is offering a Trainee Data Scientist (Fixed Term) opportunity based in Pinelands, designed for ambitious students in their final years of study.
Key Responsibilities
The trainee will be expected to support the design, development, and maintenance of scalable data solutions that underpin the organisation’s strategy. Responsibilities include:
- Assisting with the design and implementation of robust data pipelines from multiple sources.
- Ingesting and transforming large, complex datasets for business use.
- Building extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL/ELT) patterns to optimise data processes.
- Supporting Old Mutual’s cloud-first strategy and aligning data solutions with governance standards.
- Creating dashboards to track key metrics and conducting ad hoc data analysis.
- Collaborating with teams across the organisation to meet data requirements.
- Driving efficiency through automation and process improvement using emerging technologies.
- Supporting testing, deployment, and operational monitoring of new data features and services.
Role and Qualification Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance and technical potential. Minimum requirements include:
- Education: Matric plus current enrolment in 3rd or 4th year tertiary studies in BCom, BSc, or BBusSci with a focus on Information Systems, Computer Science, or Information Technology.
- Technical Knowledge: Exposure to data warehouse architectures, ETL/ELT processes, and analytics tools such as SSIS, SSRS, SAS ETL, SAP ETL, MongoDB, Apache Spark, and Hive.
- Programming Skills: Experience with Python or similar functional languages. Knowledge of Java, Scala, or Microsoft languages (C#, F#) is advantageous.
- Database Skills: Familiarity with at least two platforms such as TSQL, PSQL, SAS, or DB2.
- Cloud and DevOps: Some experience with AWS solutions, API integration, and DevOps practices will be beneficial.
- Problem-Solving Ability: Strong analytical skills and judgement to address technical and organisational challenges.
Skills Required
Candidates should bring:
- Action planning and resource scheduling capabilities.
- Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
- Proficiency in database administration, reporting, and management tools.
- Aptitude for performance tuning and troubleshooting in modern data systems.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across teams while working independently when required.
How to Apply for the Trainee Data Scientist
Candidates passionate about data science and innovation are encouraged to apply for this role. Applications can be submitted directly through the Old Mutual careers portal.
Old Mutual is dedicated to transformation and empowerment. This appointment will be made in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question. The organisation believes in creating opportunities that nurture diverse talent while shaping the future of financial services in Africa.
Check also: HP South Africa Graduate Programme 2025