Lead Solutions Architect

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office stipend

Remote-first culture

Annual bonus

Medical coverage

Pension scheme

Share options

International travel

Job summary

Placements24, a fintech leader, seeks a visionary Lead Solutions Architect for a fully remote role across South Africa. You will shape the technical strategy, drive digital transformation, and lead cross-functional teams in a fast-growing environment.

You will architect distributed systems, microservices, and data platforms, mentor engineers, and define architectural roadmaps while ensuring scalability, security, and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years in software development and architecture, with a minimum of 4 years in a lead architect role.
• Experience designing distributed systems, microservices, and event-driven architectures.
• Proficiency in Java, Python, Go and SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure or GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong API design, RESTful services and messaging with Kafka/RabbitMQ.
• Experience with agile development methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven leadership and remote team management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Define and document the overall technical architecture for new and existing systems.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Lead the design and implementation of microservices-based architectures, APIs, and data platforms.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to development teams, ensuring adherence to architectural standards and best practices.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and assess their suitability for adoption.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective.
• Oversee the integration of various systems and third-party services.
• Develop and maintain architectural blueprints, diagrams, and documentation.
• Participate in code reviews and design sessions to ensure architectural integrity.

Skills

Leadership

Architectural design

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing fintech firm, is searching for a visionary Lead Solutions Architect to spearhead their technical strategy. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be responsible for architecting innovative and scalable solutions that align with business objectives, driving the company's digital transformation forward. This role requires a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of modern technology stacks and a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams. As a remote-first organization, we foster a culture of autonomy, collaboration, and continuous improvement. You will play a critical part in defining our client's technical roadmap and ensuring the successful delivery of complex, high-impact projects. Join us to shape the future of financial technology in a challenging and rewarding remote environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and document the overall technical architecture for new and existing systems and products.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Lead the design and implementation of microservices-based architectures, APIs, and data platforms.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to development teams, ensuring adherence to architectural standards and best practices.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and assess their suitability for adoption.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective.
• Oversee the integration of various systems and third-party services.
• Develop and maintain architectural blueprints, diagrams, and documentation.
• Participate in code reviews and design sessions to ensure architectural integrity.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in software development and architecture, with a minimum of 4 years in a lead architect role.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing distributed systems, microservices, and event-driven architectures.
• Proficiency in multiple programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, Go) and database technologies (SQL, NoSQL).
• Deep understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong knowledge of API design principles, RESTful services, and message queues (Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Experience with agile development methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary with annual bonus potential.
• Full medical, dental, and optical coverage.
• Generous annual leave allowance.
• Opportunities for international travel for industry conferences.
• Pension scheme and share options.
• Fully remote work setup with a home office stipend.
• Access to state-of-the-art technology and professional growth opportunities.
• Dynamic and inclusive work culture.