Lead Software Architect

Placements24; Soweto; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly culture

Competitive salary

Learning opportunities

Challenging projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Software Architect for a fully remote role across South Africa. You will define the technical vision, guide architecture for large-scale systems, mentor teams, and collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into robust solutions.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of software development, 5+ years in architecture, expertise in microservices, event-driven patterns, cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP), and containers (Docker, Kubernetes).

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software development experience, with at least 5 years in a software architecture role.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale, complex software systems.
• In-depth knowledge of architectural styles and patterns (microservices, event-driven, SOA).
• Expertise across multiple programming languages and technology stacks.
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their architectural implications.
• Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the software architecture strategy, patterns, and standards for the organization.
• Lead architectural design sessions and provide technical guidance to development teams.
• Ensure scalability, performance, security, and maintainability of software systems.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, frameworks, and tools to support architectural goals.
• Collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Mentor software engineers and foster technical excellence and innovation.
• Develop architectural documentation, diagrams, specifications, and guidelines.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and challenges.
• Oversee implementation of architectural designs and ensure standards compliance.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and best practices in software architecture.
• Champion modern software development methodologies and practices.
• Facilitate technical decision-making processes.

Skills

Software architecture

Microservices

Cloud platforms

Docker

Kubernetes

Leadership

Agile

Stakeholder management

Event-driven

SOA

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Architectural design

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly expanding enterprise software company, is seeking a visionary Lead Software Architect to join their team. This is a fully remote position, offering the freedom to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be responsible for defining and guiding the technical vision and architecture for complex software systems, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability. As a Lead Architect, you will mentor development teams, set technical standards, and collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into robust technical solutions. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in designing large-scale software systems, a deep understanding of various architectural patterns, and a passion for innovation. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of our client's technology stack and drive engineering excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the software architecture strategy, patterns, and standards for the organization.
• Lead architectural design sessions and provide technical guidance to development teams.
• Ensure the scalability, performance, security, and maintainability of software systems.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, frameworks, and tools to support architectural goals.
• Collaborate with product managers and business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Mentor and guide software engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation.
• Develop architectural documentation, including diagrams, specifications, and guidelines.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and challenges.
• Oversee the implementation of architectural designs, ensuring adherence to standards.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry best practices in software architecture.
• Champion the adoption of modern software development methodologies and best practices.
• Facilitate technical decision-making processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a software architecture role.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale, complex software systems.
• In-depth knowledge of various architectural styles and patterns (e.g., microservices, event-driven, SOA).
• Expertise in multiple programming languages and technology stacks.
• Strong understanding of cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their architectural implications.
• Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies.
• Familiarity with DevOps principles and practices.

Benefits

This fully remote role offers an exceptional opportunity for professional growth and work-life balance. You will receive a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, opportunities for continuous learning and development, and the chance to work on challenging and impactful projects with a talented and motivated team. Our client is committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative remote work culture.