What the job is

This is a remote contract role for an AI Data Engineer specializing in Claude Code, offered by E-Merge IT Recruitment. The position is based in Johannesburg, Gauteng, and focuses on building advanced data systems and AI-powered solutions for modern businesses.

What you will do

You will design and build scalable data pipelines that handle both batch and near-real-time data processing. Your tasks will include collecting and processing data from various sources like APIs, databases, files, event streams, and web pages. You will develop and maintain large-scale web scraping systems and clean, validate, and transform data for analytics and AI use. Additionally, you will create AI workflows and agent-based systems using tools like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), tool calling, and structured outputs. You will also support data lake, warehouse, and lakehouse setups, and ensure data quality through monitoring and validation. Collaboration with engineering teams to deliver secure and scalable systems is a key part of the role.

What you need

You must have strong experience with Python or Node.js/TypeScript, as well as advanced SQL and relational database skills. Experience in building production-grade data pipelines and working with cloud platforms like AWS is required. Practical knowledge of LLM platforms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or Claude Code is essential. You should also have experience with agentic workflows, including tool use, task decomposition, retrieval systems, and human-in-the-loop processes. Familiarity with scraping frameworks like Playwright, Puppeteer, or Scrapy, and a good understanding of APIs, containers, CI/CD, and secure engineering practices are also necessary.

What you will get

This is a contract role offering a salary of up to R650 per hour, negotiable based on experience. The position is fully remote, allowing you to work from anywhere. You will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI and data engineering projects with a focus on innovation and scalability.