Principal Software Architect

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 2,285,000 - 3,591,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Performance bonuses

Health/dental/vision insurance

Learning budget

Remote-friendly culture

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Software Architect to define the technical vision for large-scale, distributed systems in a fully remote engineering organization. You will guide teams, set standards, and mentor senior engineers to build scalable, secure, and maintainable software across business domains.

You will lead architectural decisions, evaluate new technologies, and collaborate with product management to translate requirements into robust technical solutions, while enjoying flexible work

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent extensive experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with a significant focus on architectural design.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale, complex software systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the overall software architecture, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technical strategy.
• Lead the design of complex, distributed systems, microservices, and APIs, focusing on scalability, performance, and reliability.
• Establish technical standards, patterns, and best practices for software development across the organization.
• Mentor and guide engineering teams, providing technical leadership and architectural oversight.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and make recommendations for adoption to drive innovation.
• Collaborate with product management and stakeholders to translate requirements into robust technical solutions.

Skills

Architectural design

Distributed systems

Microservices

Event-driven architecture

Cloud platforms

DevOps practices

Mentoring

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science

PhD in Computer Science

Tools

APIs

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an exceptional Principal Software Architect to join their world-class, fully remote engineering organization. In this strategic role, you will define the technical vision and architectural direction for major software systems, ensuring they are scalable, resilient, secure, and maintainable. You will guide engineering teams through complex design challenges, establish best practices, and mentor senior technical talent. This is a unique opportunity to have a significant impact on the technological foundation of our company, working on challenging problems with a team of highly skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds, all from the comfort of your chosen location.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the overall software architecture, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technical strategy.
• Lead the design of complex, distributed systems, microservices, and APIs, focusing on scalability, performance, and reliability.
• Establish technical standards, patterns, and best practices for software development across the organization.
• Mentor and guide engineering teams, providing technical leadership and architectural oversight.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and make recommendations for adoption to drive innovation.
• Collaborate with product management and stakeholders to translate requirements into robust technical solutions.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent extensive experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with a significant focus on architectural design.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale, complex software systems.
• Deep understanding of various architectural patterns (e.g., microservices, event-driven architecture), design principles, and programming paradigms.
• Expertise in multiple programming languages, databases, cloud platforms, and DevOps practices.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to influence technical decision‑making.

Benefits

• Highly lucrative compensation package including base salary, stock options, and significant performance bonuses.
• Fully remote position with complete flexibility in work location and hours.
• Top-tier health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous budget for professional development, conferences, and continuous learning.
• Opportunity to shape the future of technology at a leading innovative company.
• A highly collaborative, intellectually stimulating, and supportive remote work culture.