Systems & AI Automation Engineer

Systems & AI Automation Engineer

Remote | South Africa | R35,000 Gross CTC per month depending on experience

About the Role

We are looking for a technically curious and solutions-driven Systems & AI Automation Engineer to help streamline business operations through intelligent automation, system integrations and AI-powered solutions.

This role is ideal for an early-career developer or automation enthusiast with up to two years of professional experience who enjoys solving problems, building practical tools and finding smarter ways to get work done.

You will work closely with business and operational teams to identify repetitive manual processes, connect different systems, develop automation workflows and implement AI tools that improve efficiency, accuracy and scalability.

We are looking for someone who is hands-on, eager to learn and comfortable turning real-world business challenges into practical technical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Workflow Automation: Identify repetitive manual tasks and develop automated workflows to improve operational efficiency and reduce human error.
• AI Implementation: Integrate AI tools, large language models (LLMs) and AI APIs into existing business processes to automate tasks such as document processing, data extraction, information classification and reporting.
• Systems Integration: Connect business applications, databases and third-party platforms using APIs, webhooks and other integration methods.
• Software Development: Write and maintain scripts, lightweight applications and automation tools using Python or other suitable programming languages.
• Process Improvement: Work with internal teams to understand existing workflows, identify bottlenecks and recommend technology-driven improvements.
• Data Management: Automate data collection, transformation, validation and transfer between systems, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Testing and Troubleshooting: Test automation workflows, investigate errors, resolve technical issues and improve the reliability of existing solutions.
• Documentation: Document workflows, integrations and technical processes so that solutions are easy to maintain and scale.
• Continuous Improvement: Research emerging AI and automation technologies and identify opportunities to implement useful, cost-effective solutions.

Minimum Requirements

• 2 years of relevant professional experience in software development, systems integration, workflow automation or a similar technical role.
• A diploma, degree, relevant certification or demonstrable practical experience in software development, computer science, information systems or a related field.
• Working knowledge of Python or another programming language used for scripting and automation.
• Basic understanding of REST APIs, JSON, webhooks and system integrations.
• Exposure to AI tools, AI APIs or large language models, with an interest in applying them to business processes.
• Basic knowledge of databases and SQL, or the ability to work with structured data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to learn new technologies independently and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical colleagues.
• Availability to work remotely from South Africa with working-hour overlap across UK and US business hours.

Advantageous Experience

The following would be beneficial but are not essential:

• Experience with workflow automation platforms such as n8n, Make, Zapier or similar tools.
• Exposure to OpenAI, Anthropic or other AI APIs.
• Experience with browser automation, web scraping or automated data extraction.
• Familiarity with Git, version control and basic software development practices.
• Exposure to cloud platforms, databases or business management systems.
• Experience automating operational workflows involving documents, spreadsheets, reporting or multiple software platforms.
• Personal projects, GitHub repositories or practical examples demonstrating automation or AI integration skills.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for someone who is:

• Technically curious: Interested in understanding how systems work and how technology can solve business problems.
• Practical and resourceful: Focused on building solutions that work rather than overcomplicating problems.
• Proactive: Able to identify opportunities for improvement and take ownership of assigned projects.
• Analytical: Comfortable breaking down complex processes into smaller, manageable steps.
• Adaptable: Excited to experiment with new tools, learn quickly and work in a changing environment.
• Business-minded: Understands that the purpose of automation is to save time, reduce errors, improve visibility and deliver measurable value.

Working Arrangements

• Location: Remote, South Africa.
• Working hours: A schedule that provides meaningful overlap with both UK and US business hours. Specific daily hours will be agreed based on operational requirements.
• Experience level: Entry-level to junior, with a maximum of two years of relevant experience.
• Compensation: Maximum budget of R35,000 gross cost to company (CTC) per month, depending on experience and technical capability.