ABOUT THE ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking a highly skilled Data Platform System Administrator to manage, optimize, and evolve our internal information management systems across relational, NoSQL, OLAP, and vector databases. This role goes beyond traditional database administration - supporting data reliability, secure architectures, event-driven pipelines, and AI-powered workflows.

The ideal candidate is forward-thinking, detail-oriented, and capable of enabling clean, scalable, and secure data ecosystems that power analytics, operations, and agentic automation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Database, Storage & Vector Systems Administration

• Administer, maintain, and optimize relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Manage vector databases (pgvector, Milvus, Pinecone) for embedding-based search.
• Administer and optimize data warehouse platforms and OLAP systems (e.g., ClickHouse) supporting hybrid analytical workloads.
• Administer NoSQL systems such as MongoDB, Elasticsearch, Redis.
• Ensure proper indexing, normalization, and data modeling.
• Execute backups, recovery testing, schema maintenance, and performance tuning.
• Operate several database paradigms simultaneously (polyglot persistence).
• Write and maintain infrastructure as code using Terraform best practices.

Data Flow, Integrations & Pipelines

• Ensure clean, reliable data pipelines for BI tools, analytics, and agentic systems.
• Support data warehouse architecture and ETL/ELT processes feeding BI, analytics, and reporting layers.
• Support integration efforts by ensuring proper data availability and quality.
• Implement event-driven architectures (Kafka, Pulsar, CDC).
• Maintain semantic layers, metadata catalogs, data dictionaries, and embedding pipelines.
• Guarantee data consistency, quality, and structuring across all storage environments.

System Reliability, Monitoring & Observability

• Monitor system health, performance, uptime, and data flow.
• Implement observability for databases, pipelines, and agentic workflows.
• Conduct audits, performance reviews, and capacity planning.
• Troubleshoot incidents, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.

Security, Access Control & Compliance

• Manage roles, permissions, RBAC/ABAC, and secure system access.
• Ensure compliance with data security, privacy, and auditability requirements.
• Maintain explainability and traceability of agentic and automated actions.
• Apply best practices for backups, encryption, and data lifecycle protection.

Automation, Infrastructure & DevOps Support

• Develop scripts for automation (Bash, Python, PowerShell).
• Support IaC approaches using Terraform and Ansible.
• Assist in container deployment workflows (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Provide configuration-level support for ExtJS or Django-based platforms.

Collaboration & Documentation

• Work closely with engineering, data, and business teams.
• Maintain documentation of schemas, workflows, contracts, and governance.
• Provide knowledge support and system enablement to internal teams.

Requirements

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• 5+ years of experience in System administration
• Strong proficiency in SQL and relational database optimization.
• Experience with vector databases and embedding search systems.
• Experience with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch).
• Knowledge of OLAP databases (ClickHouse).
• Understanding of event-driven systems and streaming platforms.
• Proficiency in automation scripting (Bash, Python, PowerShell).
• Experience with monitoring/observability tools.
• Familiarity with ExtJS and Django for system configuration.
• Knowledge of IaC (Terraform, Ansible), GitOps, Docker, Kubernetes.
• Experience orchestrating data warehouse platforms, including deployment, performance tuning, and lifecycle operations.
• Strong understanding of data security and compliance.
• Understanding of asynchronous task execution and distributed workflows.
• Ability to manage semantic layers and metadata systems.

Key competencies:

We are looking for someone who:

• Instills Trust - Follows through on commitments, builds credibility by being direct and truthful, and shows genuine care for staff members.
• Acts with Courage - Steps up to address difficult issues and speaks openly with bravery; takes the initiative to pursue new opportunities; takes full ownership of own work
• Makes Informed Decisions - Seeks relevant data and input when needed, takes appropriate action within their area of responsibility, and knows when to escalate.

Benefits

WHAT YOU’LL GET

This role is inside a high-growth, mission-driven social enterprise. By joining, you’ll access:

• Meaningful work that directly contributes to sustainable livelihoods and job creation across East and Central Africa.
• Competitive salary, and potential Performance-based bonus
• Incredible company culture, with opportunities for learning and growth
• Diverse colleagues across the region, and policies that demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion
• A dynamic and entrepreneurial team environment committed to innovation and social impact
• Health insurance for self and family
• Staff savings and provident fund negotiated bank rates for long-term employees
• Generous annual leave, parental leave, and sabbatical options.

• Administer, maintain, and optimize relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Manage vector databases (pgvector, Milvus, Pinecone) for embedding-based search.
• Administer and optimize data warehouse platforms and OLAP systems (e.g., ClickHouse) supporting hybrid analytical workloads.
• Administer NoSQL systems such as MongoDB, Elasticsearch, Redis.
• Ensure proper indexing, normalization, and data modeling.
• Execute backups, recovery testing, schema maintenance, and performance tuning.
• Operate several database paradigms simultaneously (polyglot persistence).
• Write and maintain infrastructure as code using Terraform best practices.
• Ensure clean, reliable data pipelines for BI tools, analytics, and agentic systems.
• Support data warehouse architecture and ETL/ELT processes feeding BI, analytics, and reporting layers.
• Support integration efforts by ensuring proper data availability and quality.
• Implement event-driven architectures (Kafka, Pulsar, CDC).
• Maintain semantic layers, metadata catalogs, data dictionaries, and embedding pipelines.
• Guarantee data consistency, quality, and structuring across all storage environments.
• Monitor system health, performance, uptime, and data flow.
• Implement observability for databases, pipelines, and agentic workflows.
• Conduct audits, performance reviews, and capacity planning.
• Troubleshoot incidents, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Manage roles, permissions, RBAC/ABAC, and secure system access.
• Ensure compliance with data security, privacy, and auditability requirements.
• Maintain explainability and traceability of agentic and automated actions.
• Apply best practices for backups, encryption, and data lifecycle protection.
• Develop scripts for automation (Bash, Python, PowerShell).
• Support IaC approaches using Terraform and Ansible.
• Assist in container deployment workflows (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Provide configuration-level support for ExtJS or Django-based platforms.
• Work closely with engineering, data, and business teams.
• Maintain documentation of schemas, workflows, contracts, and governance.
• Provide knowledge support and system enablement to internal teams.

• SQL
• Relational database optimization
• Vector databases
• Embedding search systems
• NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch)
• OLAP databases (ClickHouse)
• Event-driven systems
• Streaming platforms
• Automation scripting (Bash, Python, PowerShell)
• Monitoring/observability tools
• ExtJS
• Django
• IaC (Terraform, Ansible)
• GitOps
• Docker
• Kubernetes
• Data warehouse platforms
• Data security
• Compliance
• Asynchronous task execution
• Distributed workflows
• Semantic layers
• Metadata systems

• 5+ years of experience in System administration
• Strong proficiency in SQL and relational database optimization.
• Experience with vector databases and embedding search systems.
• Experience with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch).
• Knowledge of OLAP databases (ClickHouse).
• Understanding of event-driven systems and streaming platforms.
• Proficiency in automation scripting (Bash, Python, PowerShell).
• Experience with monitoring/observability tools.
• Familiarity with ExtJS and Django for system configuration.
• Knowledge of IaC (Terraform, Ansible), GitOps, Docker, Kubernetes.
• Experience orchestrating data warehouse platforms, including deployment, performance tuning, and lifecycle operations.
• Strong understanding of data security and compliance.
• Understanding of asynchronous task execution and distributed workflows.
• Ability to manage semantic layers and metadata systems.