Principal Software Architect

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 2,000,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options or equity participation

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous time off and flexible work

Job summary

WhatJobs Direct is seeking a Principal Software Architect to lead the technical vision and architectural standards across a remote-first engineering team. This senior role emphasizes mentoring, strategic decision making, and overseeing large-scale software platforms.

You will shape the direction of distributed systems, drive best practices, and collaborate with product leadership to align technology with business goals. A strong communication style and remote collaboration skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in software development with a strong focus on architecture.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale distributed systems.
• Expertise in multiple programming languages (Java, Python, Go, C#).
• Deep understanding of microservices, event-driven, and SOA architectures.
• Cloud platforms experience (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong knowledge of database design (SQL/NoSQL) and data modeling.
• Excellent system design, performance tuning, and scalability skills.
• Outstanding communication and leadership in remote settings.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overall software architecture and technical strategy for the company.
• Design scalable, reliable, and maintainable software systems and platforms.
• Establish technical standards, patterns, and best practices for software development.
• Collaborate with product management and engineering leaders to align technical direction with business goals.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies to enhance system capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to engineering teams.
• Conduct architectural reviews and ensure adherence to standards.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and dependencies.
• Champion innovation and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Contribute to key design decisions across critical projects.

Skills

Software architecture

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Microservices

Java

Python

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

SQL/NoSQL design

CI/CD

Git

Job description

About the Role

WhatJobs Direct is looking for an exceptional Principal Software Architect to join our fully remote, forward-thinking engineering team. This is a senior leadership role for an individual with a deep technical background and a proven ability to design and guide the development of complex, large-scale software systems. You will be responsible for defining the technical vision, setting architectural standards, and mentoring engineering teams across the organization. This role requires a strategic mindset, excellent communication skills, and a passion for innovation. As a remote-first company, we provide the tools and support necessary for our team members to thrive, offering flexibility and autonomy while fostering a strong sense of collaboration. We are committed to building robust, scalable, and maintainable software solutions, and this role is crucial to achieving that goal. This is an opportunity to shape the technological future.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overall software architecture and technical strategy for the company.
• Design scalable, reliable, and maintainable software systems and platforms.
• Establish technical standards, patterns, and best practices for software development.
• Collaborate with product management, engineering leaders, and development teams to align technical direction with business goals.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and frameworks to enhance system capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to engineering teams.
• Conduct architectural reviews and ensure adherence to established standards.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and dependencies.
• Champion innovation and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Contribute to key design decisions and problem-solving efforts across critical projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in software development, with a significant focus on software architecture.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systems.
• Expertise in multiple programming languages and paradigms (e.g., Java, C#, Python, Go, functional programming).
• Deep understanding of various architectural styles (e.g., microservices, event-driven, SOA).
• Strong knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with database design (SQL and NoSQL) and data modeling.
• Excellent understanding of system design, performance tuning, and scalability.
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence technical teams in a remote setting.
• Must be able to work effectively in a fully remote capacity with a reliable internet connection.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive-level compensation package.
• Significant stock options or equity participation.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Annual professional development budget for conferences, courses, and certifications.
• Opportunity to shape the technical direction of a growing company.
• Remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere in South Africa .
• Pension fund and life insurance.
• Performance bonuses.
• Regular virtual team events and social gatherings.