Principal Cloud Security Architect

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonus

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Professional development

Remote-friendly with travel

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa is seeking a Principal Cloud Security Architect to define and lead our cloud security strategy across AWS, Azure, and GCP. This senior role focuses on designing secure cloud environments, guiding security controls, and embedding best practices throughout the cloud lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years in information security with 5+ years in cloud security, strong leadership, and certifications such as AWS Security Specialty or Azure Security Engineer.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in CS, engineering, cybersecurity, or related field.
• 10+ years in information security with at least 5 years in cloud security.
• Extensive experience designing and securing cloud environments on AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
• Deep understanding of IAM, encryption, logging, and network security.
• Experience with cloud security tools and technologies (e.g., security groups, WAFs, cloud-native services).
• Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, Terraform).
• Strong knowledge of ISO 27001 and SOC 2 requirements.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Experience supporting clients or operations in Rustenburg region is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement comprehensive security architectures for cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Define and enforce security standards, policies, and best practices for cloud deployments.
• Architect and implement security controls for IAM, encryption, network security, and threat detection.
• Lead security reviews of cloud applications and infrastructure designs.
• Develop and implement security automation for provisioning, monitoring, and incident response in the cloud.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure secure coding practices and application security.
• Assess and manage cloud security risks, and develop mitigation strategies.
• Stay current with evolving cloud security threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance on cloud security best practices to internal teams.

Skills

Cloud security

Security leadership

IAM

Encryption

Network security

Logging

Automation scripting

Python

Terraform

ISO 27001

SOC 2

Communication

Strategic thinking

Cloud platforms

Security reviews

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related field

Tools

WAFs

Cloud-native security services

Job description

Our client is looking for a visionary Principal Cloud Security Architect to define and implement the cloud security strategy for their organization, based in or supporting operations in Rustenburg, North West . This is a senior leadership role responsible for designing secure cloud environments across major platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), ensuring compliance, and protecting sensitive data. You will architect and guide the implementation of security controls, automation, and best practices for cloud infrastructure and applications. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of cloud technologies, extensive experience in security architecture, and a passion for innovation. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of cloud security for a growing enterprise and to work with cutting-edge technologies. You will collaborate closely with development, operations, and business teams to embed security into the entire cloud lifecycle. This is a remote-friendly position, offering flexibility while maintaining a high level of impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement comprehensive security architectures for cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Define and enforce security standards, policies, and best practices for cloud deployments.
• Architect and implement security controls for cloud services, including identity and access management, data encryption, network security, and threat detection.
• Lead security reviews of cloud applications and infrastructure designs.
• Develop and implement security automation solutions for provisioning, monitoring, and incident response in the cloud.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure secure coding practices and application security.
• Assess and manage cloud security risks, and develop mitigation strategies.
• Stay current with evolving cloud security threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance on cloud security best practices to internal teams.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in information security, with at least 5 years focused on cloud security architecture.
• Extensive experience designing and securing cloud environments on AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
• Deep understanding of cloud security best practices, including identity and access management (IAM), network security groups, encryption, and logging.
• Experience with cloud security tools and technologies (e.g., security groups, WAFs, cloud-native security services).
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Terraform) for automation.
• Strong understanding of compliance frameworks relevant to cloud environments (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills.
• Relevant cloud security certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Security - Specialty, Azure Security Engineer Associate) are highly preferred.
• Experience supporting clients or operations in the Rustenburg region is beneficial but not required for remote candidates.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary and performance bonus structure.
• Top-tier health, retirement, and insurance plans.
• Significant budget for professional development, conferences, and certifications.
• Remote work flexibility with occasional travel as needed.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and innovative cloud security projects.
• Cutting-edge technology stack and resources.
• A culture that promotes innovation and continuous learning.