Overview
Opti-Num Solutions has been innovating in the South African technology sector for almost 30 years. We partner with our clients to develop meaningful, data-driven solutions that support impactful, evidence-based decision making. Using class-leading tools and a collaborative mindset, we help industry leaders take on their most complex challenges.
We’re looking for a Lead Consultant with experience in the process industry to join our team of data scientists and engineers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in technically challenging environments and is excited to work closely with clients to conceptualise, implement and roll out high-impact solutions.
Your first project would support one of our clients in the chemical or manufacturing sectors, where you would guide the design and deployment of advanced modelling, monitoring and optimisation solutions. You would work closely with your project team and senior client stakeholders to develop systems that improve plant performance, process reliability and operational efficiency.
You’ll see your work go live in the real world—and make a measurable difference.
What we’re offering:
- Cross-industry exposure - Collaborate with colleagues across diverse sectors including telecommunications, mining, automotive, and finance. Our culture encourages cross-pollination through project shares, technical reviews and collaborative problem-solving.
- Endless learning opportunities - From coding dojos and data science clubs to funding for external courses and postgrad studies, we create space for continuous growth.
- Flexible hybrid work - Work remotely or from our well-equipped offices—it’s your choice. We support flexibility with a strong culture of trust and accountability.
- Mentorship - Receive support from experienced consultants and have the opportunity to guide and mentor junior team members.
- Strong employee value proposition - We contribute to your provident fund, offer life cover, and even give you an extra day off in your birthday month! Our regular team outings are a highlight—whether it’s go-karting, park walks, or just a great lunch together.
What we’re looking for:
- Proven leadership - You should be comfortable leading projects and people. We need someone who can align teams around a shared vision, manage delivery against milestones and budgets, and grow others while delivering exceptional results.
- Client engagement skills - We’re looking for someone who enjoys complex conversations with clients—someone who asks the right questions and helps uncover the core technical and business challenges.
- Engineering experience in the process industry - You must have hands-on experience working with process data, industrial systems, or operations in sectors such as chemicals, manufacturing, or energy. Exposure to plant modelling, control systems, or data-driven optimisation is a strong plus.
- Strong software engineering skills - You should be familiar with object-oriented programming, design patterns, unit testing, and Git-based collaboration. Experience with deployment into industrial or edge systems is highly advantageous.
- Self-management and ownership - We need someone who is proactive and independent, capable of managing timelines, deliverables, and scope. You’ll track progress against KPIs and flag risks early.
- A critical thinker with an eye for detail - Our best work starts by noticing something unexpected in the data. You should be curious and analytical, always digging into the "why" behind the numbers.
- Programming experience - At least 3 years of industry experience writing object-oriented code in MATLAB, Python or a similar language. SQL experience is a plus.
- Relevant education - Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with strong mathematical foundations (minimum second-year level, ideally third-year). Degrees in chemical, mechanical or electrical engineering are highly relevant, but we also welcome backgrounds in physics, applied maths, statistics, and computer science. A Master’s degree, or interest in pursuing one, is a bonus—we’ll support you if you choose to go that route.
Interview Process:
If your application passes our screening, you’ll be invited to a two-step interview process. The first interview is conversational and focuses on your interests, experience and fit for the role. The second step includes a take-home technical task. You’ll present your solution to us twice: once as if we were a client interested in business value, and once as if we were your peers reviewing your code.