Lead Cloud Solutions Architect

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,600,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Performance-based bonuses

Stock options

Global travel opportunities

Sandton office

Job summary

Placements24 in Sandton, Gauteng, is seeking an experienced Lead Cloud Solutions Architect to shape our cloud strategy and architecture. You will design scalable, secure, and cost-efficient environments, guide a team of architects and engineers, and drive migrations from on-premises to cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.

The role requires deep cloud networking, IAM, IaC (Terraform or CloudFormation), containers (Docker, Kubernetes), and a strong grasp of microservices and CI/CD.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field.
• 10+ years IT infrastructure and solution architecture experience, with 5+ years cloud focus.
• Proven expertise on major cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and cloud networking.
• IaC with Terraform or CloudFormation; containerization with Docker/Kubernetes.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills; fintech experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain cloud architecture strategy aligned with business goals.
• Design scalable, secure, and cost-efficient cloud solutions across platforms.
• Lead cloud migrations from on‑prem to cloud and govern ongoing optimization.
• Mentor engineers, provide technical guidance, and enforce governance.
• Evaluate new cloud technologies to boost performance and security.

Skills

Cloud architecture leadership

AWS/Azure/GCP

IaC (Terraform/CloudFormation)

Docker/Kubernetes

CI/CD pipelines

Microservices

Cloud security

Cost optimization

Leadership & stakeholder mgmt

Fintech domain familiarity

Education

Master's degree in CS/IT

Relevant certifications (highly desirable)

Tools

Terraform

CloudFormation

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the financial technology sector, is seeking an experienced and visionary Lead Cloud Solutions Architect to spearhead their cloud strategy and infrastructure development. Based in the bustling business hub of Sandton, Gauteng , this role demands a strategic thinker with a proven track record of designing, implementing, and managing complex cloud environments. You will be responsible for defining the architecture for scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions, aligning technology initiatives with business goals. This is a critical leadership position that requires deep technical expertise, strong communication skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across the organization. You will lead a team of talented architects and engineers, ensuring the successful migration and ongoing optimization of our client's applications and services to the cloud.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the overall cloud architecture strategy, ensuring it supports business objectives and future growth.
• Design highly available, scalable, and secure cloud solutions using industry best practices.
• Lead the implementation of cloud infrastructure on platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering and operations teams.
• Evaluate and recommend new cloud technologies and services to enhance performance, security, and cost-efficiency.
• Define and enforce cloud governance policies, standards, and procedures.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into robust cloud architectures.
• Oversee the migration of on-premises infrastructure and applications to the cloud.
• Manage cloud costs and implement optimization strategies.
• Stay abreast of the latest trends and advancements in cloud computing.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; relevant certifications are highly desirable.
• 10+ years of experience in IT infrastructure and solution architecture, with at least 5 years focused on cloud technologies.
• Proven expertise in designing and implementing solutions on major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Deep understanding of cloud networking, security, identity, and access management.
• Experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Knowledge of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture and CI/CD pipelines.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in the financial services or fintech industry is a plus.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary package of R per annum.
• Generous performance-based bonuses and stock options.
• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Opportunities for international travel and professional development.
• Prime office location in Sandton, Gauteng , with excellent amenities.
• Executive-level leadership role with significant impact.