Discovery – Life Systems

Senior Developer (Oracle)

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About Discovery Life

Discovery Life is an ever growing fast-paced and dynamic environment that provides innovative risk assurance to individual clients. This environment thrives on customer engagement and customer experience as well as mutually beneficial relationships with our brokers and other stakeholders.  It is important for our employees to provide a world class service to our internal and external clients, thereby ensuring long and sustainable relationships

Key Purpose

Design and implement robust, scalable, and optimally performing systems using Oracle related technologies, according to provided specifications, standards and procedures, while ensuring compliance with the architectural standards and guidelines laid out by Discovery.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

Design:

• Translate business requirements into technical designs adhering to Discovery Life processes, standards, and guidelines, taking cognisance of performance, security and scalability requirements.
• Deliver within agreed timeframes.
• Liaise with relevant parties where clarification of business requirements or resolution to technical issues is needed
• Research and find effective solutions to technical issues that arise
• Estimate development timelines based on business requirements

Development:

• Construct robust, maintainable, scalable, optimally performing system code in line with technical specifications, following prescribed process, standards, and procedures. Deliver within agreed timeframes
• Conduct unit testing and fix any defects found

Testing:

• Verify build stability and quality with development team before releasing to test team, aiming to release with zero defects
• Assist the Business analyst in ensuring the test pack includes relevant scenarios and test data.
• Consult and assist in reviewing risk / impact of defects found in testing, and assist with fixing where necessary

Support / Troubleshooting:

• Assist system users with technical support issues and handle according to defined procedures
• Ability to effectively analyse root cause of system errors (data errors, performance, and stability issues)

Personal development:

• Keep abreast of current technological trends and how these might be applied in the Discovery environment
• Constant improvement of knowledge of the various applications, their functionalities, and data models

General:

• Ability to communicate clearly, constructively, and effectively. Easily able to follow and participate in technical, business process, and other discussions
• Able to build business relationships with other members of team and the business areas we support.

Education and Experience

    Essential:

• AT least 5 - 7 years of consistent experience in the listed core competency areas.
• 3 years + of experience in development
• Diploma in IT or similar

    Advantageous:

• BSc Computer Science or equivalent 3 year qualification
• Oracle Certified Professional - Advanced PLSQL developer

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Software development within SDLC
• Unit Testing
• Data modelling and design of database structures
• Action orientated go-getter, hungry to learn and add real value
• Structured and analytical problem solver: Obsessive about finding solutions to problems: action-oriented problem solver.
• Able to plan, organise and prioritize own work
• Able to multitask
• Able to work independently
• Able to work under pressure
• Team player: reliable, works actively with others towards common goal, communicates constructively, shares information, knowledge, and experience, treats others in a respectful and supportive manner
• Flexible and able to adapt to changing requirements

Competencies

Essential:

• Data Modelling specifically related to OLTP
• PLSQL
• SQL
• Dynamic SQL 
• SQL and PLSQL performance tuning
• Report writing

Advantageous:

• MSSQL server + SSIS
• BI/Warehouse/ETL
• Short Term Insurance knowledge

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY   
                             
The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.