Lead Blockchain Architect - Enterprise Solutions

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,400,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive leadership development

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous paid time off

International travel opportunities

Cape Town office environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Blockchain Architect to define the technical vision from our Cape Town office. You will drive architectural roadmaps, design secure and scalable enterprise networks, and translate business needs into technical specifications.

You will mentor cross‑functional teams, evaluate technologies (Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, Ethereum), ensure compliance with security standards, and shape the company’s blockchain strategy and rollout.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• 10+ years in software architecture with at least 5 years in blockchain architecture.
• Experience with enterprise blockchain platforms (Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, Ethereum).
• Strong communication and stakeholder management in the Cape Town context.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the overall architectural vision for enterprise blockchain solutions.
• Lead design and deployment of secure, scalable blockchain networks.
• Evaluate blockchain technologies, frameworks, and consensus mechanisms for business needs.
• Provide technical leadership to cross-functional teams throughout projects.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications with product owners.
• Define best practices for blockchain development, security, and operations.
• Conduct feasibility studies and PoCs for new blockchain use cases.
• Represent the company in technical discussions with clients and partners in Cape Town.
• Ensure compliance with security standards and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor and train other architects and developers on blockchain.

Skills

Blockchain architecture

Leadership

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Stakeholder management

Smart contract development

Digital assets & tokenization

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/IT

Tools

Hyperledger Fabric

R3 Corda

Enterprise Ethereum

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is at the forefront of leveraging blockchain technology for enterprise solutions and is looking for an exceptional Lead Blockchain Architect to spearhead their initiatives from their Cape Town, Western Cape office. This senior role is critical in defining the technical vision, architectural roadmap, and strategic implementation of blockchain-based systems designed to enhance security, transparency, and efficiency for businesses. You will be the primary technical authority, guiding development teams, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring our blockchain solutions meet the highest industry standards. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a rapidly growing sector, driving innovation in areas such as supply chain management, digital identity, and secure data sharing. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of enterprise-level systems and the unique challenges and opportunities presented by blockchain integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the overall technical architecture for enterprise blockchain solutions.
• Lead the design and implementation of secure, scalable, and robust blockchain networks and platforms.
• Evaluate and select appropriate blockchain technologies, frameworks, and consensus mechanisms for specific business needs.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to development teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with business analysts and product owners to translate business requirements into technical specifications.
• Define best practices for blockchain development, security, and operational management.
• Conduct feasibility studies and proof-of-concepts for new blockchain use cases.
• Represent the company in technical discussions with clients, partners, and industry forums in Cape Town .
• Ensure compliance with relevant security standards and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor and train other architects and developers on blockchain best practices.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of experience in software architecture and design, with a minimum of 5 years dedicated to blockchain architecture.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing enterprise-grade blockchain solutions (e.g., Hyperledger Fabric, R3 Corda, enterprise Ethereum).
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, consensus algorithms, cryptography, and network protocols.
• Proven experience in leading cross-functional technical teams.
• Strong knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their integration with blockchain.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, specifically within the Cape Town business community.
• Experience with smart contract development and deployment.
• Familiarity with tokenization, digital assets, and related economic models.
• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive compensation package.
• Significant influence on the company's blockchain strategy and technology roadmap.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunities for international travel and engagement with global partners.
• A stimulating work environment in Cape Town , fostering innovation and collaboration.
• Executive leadership development programs.