Principal Cloud Solutions Architect

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Executive benefits package

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Principal Cloud Solutions Architect in Sandton, Gauteng, to lead the design and implementation of scalable, secure cloud solutions. The role combines strategic direction with hands-on leadership across AWS, Azure and GCP across a hybrid work model.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years IT experience with at least 5 years in cloud architecture, strong enterprise architecture knowledge, and excellent stakeholder communication to influence senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years focused on cloud architecture/design.
• Extensive experience on AWS, Azure and/or GCP.
• Deep knowledge of cloud-native tech, microservices, containers (Docker, Kubernetes) and serverless.
• Strong enterprise-architecture frameworks understanding.
• Proven IaC experience with Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates.
• Excellent networking, security and data management in cloud environments.
• Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking with strong stakeholder influence.
• Cloud certifications such as AWS/Azure are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and implement scalable, secure cloud solutions on major platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Define cloud strategy and roadmap with business and technical leaders.
• Provide technical leadership on cloud patterns and emerging tech.
• Evaluate and recommend cloud services to meet requirements.
• Develop reference architectures and blueprints for deployments.
• Ensure compliance with security and governance requirements.
• Lead cloud adoption and migration projects.
• Mentor engineers/architects on cloud design principles.
• Optimize for cost and performance.
• Stay updated on industry cloud trends.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Stakeholder influence

Cloud strategy

Cost optimization

Security & governance

Education

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

Tools

Terraform

CloudFormation

ARM templates

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in digital transformation, is seeking a visionary Principal Cloud Solutions Architect to join their esteemed team in Sandton, Gauteng . This senior role is responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of complex cloud solutions that drive business strategy and innovation. You will work with stakeholders across the organization to understand their needs and translate them into scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud architectures. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in multiple cloud platforms, a strong understanding of enterprise architecture, and excellent communication skills to influence technical direction. This is a prime opportunity to shape the future of cloud infrastructure in Sandton, Gauteng , offering a hybrid work model that balances strategic in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and implement highly scalable, available, and secure cloud solutions on major platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Collaborate with business and technical leaders to define cloud strategy and roadmap.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance on cloud best practices, patterns, and emerging technologies.
• Evaluate and recommend cloud services and technologies to meet business requirements.
• Develop reference architectures and implementation blueprints for cloud deployments.
• Ensure solutions comply with security, governance, and compliance requirements.
• Lead the technical aspects of cloud adoption and migration projects.
• Mentor other engineers and architects on cloud technologies and design principles.
• Optimize cloud solutions for cost-effectiveness and performance.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and advancements in cloud computing.

Requirements

• Master's or Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of experience in IT, with a minimum of 5 years focused on cloud architecture and design.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing solutions on AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
• Deep understanding of cloud-native technologies, microservices, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and serverless computing.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and methodologies.
• Proven experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates).
• Excellent understanding of networking, security, and data management in cloud environments.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert) are highly desirable.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, a comprehensive executive benefits package, significant opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to work on impactful, large-scale projects.
• This hybrid role in Sandton, Gauteng provides a stimulating environment for innovation and collaboration.
• Join a forward-thinking organization at the forefront of cloud technology.