Lead Solutions Architect

Catalyst24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Catalyst24 is seeking a Lead Architect to own architecture and integration across the organization’s platforms in Cape Town. You will collaborate with business stakeholders and IT teams to design enterprise-grade solutions and lead a team of domain architects to delivery excellence.

The role requires deep expertise in enterprise architecture, governance, and financial services experience, with a focus on secure, scalable IT design.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience and mentoring of architecture teams.
• Experience designing and deploying Cloud and On-Prem solutions.
• Knowledge of IT governance and operations.
• Experience with Banking Switch platforms (Base24, Postilion).
• Enterprise and solution architecture roles within financial services.
• Certified Architect or equivalent qualification.
• About 15 years of relevant experience.
• Technical skills: Cards Payments, PHP (Laravel/Lumen), GoLang, Java, Python.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the architecture team of IT domain architects.
• Define skills and training plans for Architecture team.
• Translate business problems into technical designs for IT solutions.
• Ensure secure IT architecture aligned with Enterprise Architecture strategy.
• Balance standards with business needs and constraints.
• Govern IT change governance and maintain Architecture Repository.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, Change, and IT teams.
• Drive continuous improvement within the IT organization.

Skills

Leadership

Cloud & On-Prem

Enterprise Architecture

Banking Switch Platforms

Base24

Postilion

PHP (Laravel/Lumen)

GoLang

Java

Python

Communication

Negotiation

Problem Solving

Leadership Development

Education

Certified Architect or equivalent

Tools

Base24

Postilion

Job description

We are hiring for one of our reputed MNC clients for a role - Lead Solution Architect (Principle) - Cape Town South Africa

About Our Client

Our client is a global technology consulting and digital transformation organization with a strong presence across multiple countries and a workforce of over 16,500 professionals.

The organization partners with leading businesses to drive innovation and digital transformation through expertise in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data engineering, and other emerging technologies.

With a strong global delivery network and deep industry expertise, our client provides scalable, cost-effective technology solutions tailored to local and international markets. The organization also works closely with leading technology platforms and strategic partners to help businesses accelerate innovation and achieve sustainable growth.

Overview

We are seeking a Lead Architect to join the IT team and take ownership of the architecture and integration of IT systems across the organization’s platforms, ensuring alignment with the overall business strategy.

The role will involve working closely with business stakeholders, Change, and IT teams to design and deliver effective enterprise solutions.

The successful candidate will also be responsible for leading and managing a team of domain architects, providing direction, mentoring, and effective delegation to drive strong team performance and successful outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing and mentoring the architecture team consisting of IT domain architects.
• Define the required skills and competencies for the Architecture team, and work with the team to put in place appropriate training and development plans to ensure these are met.
• Able to look beyond the immediate technical problem and identify the wider implications, understanding how current work fits into the broader context and identify deeper underlying problems and opportunities.
• Effective communicator, able to translate technical concepts across teams, expressing these in appropriate language so that they are understood by all.
• promote the Architecture practice and ensure that the purpose and processes of the practice are understood and followed.
• Assist in the embedding of a continuous improvement mindset within the IT team to continually improve services.
• Continue to populate and maintain the Architecture Repository, to act as a record of IT assets in use or planned, and as a foundation for future IT initiatives.
• Responsible for architecture and technical design governance for all IT change in line with the Enterprise Architecture and Strategy to ensure consistency and service is met.
• Able to balance architecture standards and technical best practice against business ambition, risk appetite and financial constraints to achieve cost effective and proportionate business outcomes.
• Using technical experience to translate business problems into technical designs and assist the business stakeholders in selection of suitable IT Solutions and products keeping user requirements and business needs in mind.
• Design and deliver secure IT architecture in line with the Enterprise Architecture and IT Strategy to minimise and mitigate security breaches and risks.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Knowledge and Experience

• Strong leadership experience of guiding, developing, mentoring, to create an effective, well-functioning team environment.
• Experience designing and deploy Cloud and On-Prem Solutions
• Knowledge of IT governance and operations
• Experience working with Banking Switch platforms, i.e. Base24, Postilion
• Experience with Enterprise and solution architecture roles within financial services
• Certified Architect or equivalent
• Experience: 15 years
• Technical Skills-Preferable Cards Payments / PHP (Laravel, Lumen) / GoLang/ Java / Python
• Influence and negotiate.
• Collaborative well with others.
• Ability to effectively prioritise tasks/work items.
• Inquisitive mind, always seeking to improve or solve problems.
• Critical thinking.
• Proactive

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity in our hiring practices.