Lead Software Development Architect

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Bonus structure

Training and certifications

Conferences sponsorship

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch is seeking a Lead Software Development Architect to define and drive the architectural direction for fintech products. You will lead a team of engineers, set coding standards, and ensure robustness, scalability, and maintainability across platforms.

You will mentor engineers, shape technology roadmaps, collaborate with product leaders, and advocate modern development practices including DevOps, CI/CD, and cloud-native design to deliver impactful financial technology

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of software development experience with at least 4 years in senior architectural or lead roles.
• Proven track record designing and building distributed systems.
• Strong knowledge of OO design, design patterns, and architectural principles.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proficient in Java, C#, Python, or Go.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills; fintech experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical architecture for software products.
• Lead and mentor software development teams, setting technical direction and standards.
• Design and architect scalable, high-availability software systems.
• Collaborate with product managers to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Promote DevOps practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, and infrastructure as code.
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies.
• Contribute to strategic technology roadmap.

Skills

Leadership

Architectural design

OO design

Distributed systems

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

SQL/NoSQL databases

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the financial technology space, is seeking an experienced Lead Software Development Architect to join their prestigious team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape . This critical role will define and champion the architectural direction for the company's software products, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and maintainable. You will lead a team of talented software engineers, providing technical guidance, setting standards, and fostering a culture of engineering excellence. The Lead Software Development Architect will be instrumental in designing complex systems, making key technology decisions, and ensuring alignment with business objectives. This position requires a deep understanding of software design principles, modern development practices, and emerging technologies. You will play a key role in mentoring and growing the engineering talent within the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical architecture for software products and platforms.
• Lead and mentor software development teams, setting technical direction and standards.
• Design and architect scalable, high-availability, and resilient software systems.
• Collaborate with product managers and business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools for development.
• Conduct architectural reviews and ensure adherence to design principles and best practices.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and challenges.
• Promote and implement DevOps practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, and infrastructure as code.
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies, advocating for their adoption where appropriate.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and technology roadmap of the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Over 8 years of experience in software development, with at least 4 years in a senior architectural or lead development role.
• Proven experience in designing and building complex, distributed software systems.
• Strong expertise in object-oriented design, design patterns, and architectural principles.
• Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Java, C#, Python, Go).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and related services.
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices architecture.
• Strong understanding of database design and performance optimization (SQL and NoSQL).
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in financial services or fintech is a strong advantage.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive medical and dental benefits, a generous bonus structure, and significant investment in employee growth through training, conferences, and certifications. You'll be part of a dynamic team working on cutting-edge financial technology solutions, with excellent opportunities for career advancement.