Remote Lead Software Architect (Telecoms Platform)

Placements24; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive-level health benefits

Retirement benefits

Professional development budget

Flexible remote environment

Collaborative, inclusive culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Lead Software Architect to define and guide the development of a next‑gen telecom platform. This fully remote role, open to candidates based in South Africa, focuses on setting architectural vision, standards, and ensuring scalable, high‑performance software.

You will lead a team of engineers, drive microservices and cloud‑native design, mentor peers, and work with product and stakeholders to align technical strategy with business goals.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a software architecture role.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale, distributed, and highly available systems.
• Deep expertise in microservices architecture, API design, and various communication protocols.
• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and container orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Java, Go, Python, Scala).
• Strong understanding of networking, security principles, and data management strategies.
• Experience in the telecommunications industry, particularly with OSS/BSS or network functions, is highly desirable.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fully remote and collaborative work environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the overall software architecture for the telecommunications platform, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability.
• Establish architectural principles, patterns, and standards for the engineering teams.
• Lead the design of complex, distributed systems, microservices, and cloud-native applications.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering leads, and stakeholders to align technical strategy with business goals.
• Mentor and guide software engineers on architectural best practices, design patterns, and technology choices.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools to meet project requirements.
• Ensure the security, reliability, and high availability of the platform through robust architectural design.
• Drive the adoption of CI/CD practices and automated testing to enable rapid and reliable software delivery.
• Identify and address technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and areas for system improvement.
• Actively participate in code reviews and provide architectural oversight throughout the development lifecycle.

Skills

Software architecture

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Microservices

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

Master's/PhD in CS/SE

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering force in telecommunications technology, is seeking an visionary Lead Software Architect to define and guide the development of their next-generation telecom platform. This is a fully remote role, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa . As a Lead Software Architect, you will be instrumental in establishing technical vision, setting architectural standards, and ensuring the design and implementation of scalable, resilient, and high-performance software systems. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in software architecture, a deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices, and cloud-native technologies, ideally within the telecommunications domain. You will lead and mentor a team of talented engineers, driving innovation and technical excellence. This is a unique opportunity to make a profound impact on the future of telecommunications infrastructure, working with a forward-thinking company that values technological leadership and collaboration in a remote-first setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the overall software architecture for the telecommunications platform, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability.
• Establish architectural principles, patterns, and standards for the engineering teams.
• Lead the design of complex, distributed systems, microservices, and cloud-native applications.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering leads, and stakeholders to align technical strategy with business goals.
• Mentor and guide software engineers on architectural best practices, design patterns, and technology choices.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools to meet project requirements.
• Ensure the security, reliability, and high availability of the platform through robust architectural design.
• Drive the adoption of CI/CD practices and automated testing to enable rapid and reliable software delivery.
• Identify and address technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and areas for system improvement.
• Actively participate in code reviews and provide architectural oversight throughout the development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a software architecture role.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale, distributed, and highly available systems.
• Deep expertise in microservices architecture, API design, and various communication protocols.
• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and container orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Java, Go, Python, Scala).
• Strong understanding of networking, security principles, and data management strategies.
• Experience in the telecommunications industry, particularly with OSS/BSS or network functions, is highly desirable.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fully remote and collaborative work environment.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers an exceptional salary package, comprehensive executive-level health and retirement benefits, and a generous professional development budget for conferences, training, and certifications.
• Our client provides a highly flexible work environment, empowering you to achieve optimal work-life integration.
• You will be part of an innovative and inclusive culture, working with a world-class team on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of global communications.
• This role offers unparalleled opportunities for impact and career advancement in the evolving telecommunications landscape.