Principal Software Architect: Lead Scalable Systems & Teams

Placements24; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive benefits package

Stock options / equity participation

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in Randburg to lead architecture and delivery of high‑impact enterprise software. You will mentor teams, drive technical strategy, and shape product roadmap while delivering robust, scalable systems for complex business needs.

In this senior role, you will champion best practices, oversee distributed systems, cloud deployments, and performance tuning, and collaborate across product management, design, and engineering to realize ambitious

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent extensive experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with a proven track record of leading major technical projects.
• Expert-level proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Java, C++, C#, Python, Go).
• Deep understanding of software architecture patterns, data structures, algorithms, and design principles.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing distributed systems and microservices.
• Proven experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong knowledge of database technologies (SQL and NoSQL) and performance tuning.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to mentor and influence technical teams effectively.
• Experience with agile development methodologies and CI/CD practices.
• A passion for technical excellence and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and architecture of complex, scalable, and high-performance software systems.
• Develop and implement robust, efficient, and maintainable code for critical product features.
• Mentor and guide junior and senior engineers, fostering technical growth and best practices.
• Drive technical decision-making, evaluating trade-offs and recommending optimal solutions.
• Identify and address technical debt and system performance bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with product management, design, and other engineering teams to define and deliver product roadmaps.
• Champion coding standards, code reviews, and quality assurance processes.
• Research and evaluate new technologies, tools, and methodologies to enhance development capabilities.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges in production environments.
• Contribute to the overall technical strategy and vision of the engineering organization.
• Ensure the security, scalability, and reliability of all developed systems.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Problem-solving

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/SE or related field

Tools

Java

C++

C#

Python

Go

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in Randburg to lead architecture and delivery of high‑impact enterprise software. You will mentor teams, drive technical strategy, and shape product roadmap while delivering robust, scalable systems for complex business needs.

In this senior role, you will champion best practices, oversee distributed systems, cloud deployments, and performance tuning, and collaborate across product management, design, and engineering to realize ambitious