Lead Software Architect

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 2,334,000 - 3,334,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Stock options

Flexible hours

Professional development budget

Challenging projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Software Architect for a fully remote role focused on defining the technical vision for our flagship product suite. You will design scalable, resilient systems and mentor engineers across distributed teams.

Responsibilities include setting technical standards, leading architectural reviews, evaluating technologies, and ensuring security and performance. The role offers autonomy, international collaboration, and opportunities to shape cutting-edge

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years in software development; 5+ years in architecture or lead role.
• Proven experience with large-scale distributed systems and microservices.
• Deep experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and containers (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proficiency in Java, Python, Go, or C#.
• Strong SQL/NoSQL, messaging queues, and caching.
• SDLC and Agile methodologies; strong communication.
• Experience in a remote-first engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and define the overall architecture for new and existing software systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Establish and enforce technical standards, coding best practices, and architectural principles across development teams.
• Lead architectural reviews and provide technical guidance to software engineers.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools for various project needs.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical designs.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, ensuring the performance and security of the systems.
• Drive innovation by exploring and advocating for new architectural patterns and technologies.
• Develop technical documentation, roadmaps, and proofs of concept.
• Mentor and guide junior and senior engineers on architectural best practices.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and provide solutions.

Skills

Software architecture

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Microservices

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a trailblazing innovator in cloud-based enterprise solutions, is seeking an experienced Lead Software Architect for a fully remote position. This role is crucial in defining the technical vision and architectural direction for our client's flagship product suite. You will be responsible for designing scalable, resilient, and high-performance software systems, setting technical standards, and guiding development teams. As a remote-first organization, collaboration, clear communication, and a strong sense of ownership are paramount. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of modern software architecture patterns, cloud technologies, and distributed systems. You will have the opportunity to work with a talented and passionate engineering team, tackle complex technical challenges, and influence the technological future of the company. This position demands a strategic mindset, exceptional problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to delivering robust and elegant software solutions. You will be a key mentor for engineers, driving technical excellence across the organization. The role offers extensive autonomy and the opportunity to shape impactful software products from concept to deployment, all within a flexible remote work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and define the overall architecture for new and existing software systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Establish and enforce technical standards, coding best practices, and architectural principles across development teams.
• Lead architectural reviews and provide technical guidance to software engineers.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools for various project needs.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical designs.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, ensuring the performance and security of the systems.
• Drive innovation by exploring and advocating for new architectural patterns and technologies.
• Develop technical documentation, roadmaps, and proofs of concept.
• Mentor and guide junior and senior engineers on architectural best practices.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and provide solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a software architecture or lead engineering role.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Deep understanding of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, Go, C#).
• Strong knowledge of database technologies (SQL and NoSQL), message queues, and caching mechanisms.
• Excellent understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and agile methodologies.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience working in a remote-first engineering environment is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions and influence engineering decisions.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and annual bonus potential.
• Stock options and long-term equity participation.
• Fully remote work environment with flexible hours.
• Generous professional development budget for training and conferences.
• Opportunity to work on challenging, impactful projects at the forefront of cloud technology.
• Contribute to the architecture of cutting-edge enterprise solutions.