Principal Software Architect

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 2,000,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Extensive health benefits

Executive-level salary

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Software Architect for a fully remote role, focusing on defining technical vision and standards for large-scale enterprise systems. The candidate will lead engineering teams, mentor architects, and ensure scalable, secure solutions aligned with business goals.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in software development and architecture, with expertise in distributed systems, microservices, DDD, and cloud-native patterns.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years in software development and enterprise architecture.
• Expert in distributed systems, microservices, and cloud-native designs.
• Strong knowledge of patterns, data structures, and algorithms.
• Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP and related services.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor teams remotely.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the software architecture strategy and standards.
• Lead design of high-performance, scalable systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to teams.
• Evaluate technologies, frameworks, and patterns.
• Ensure architectural integrity and best-practice adherence.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business leaders.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and dependencies.
• Drive innovation through emerging technologies.
• Develop architecture roadmaps and governance.

Skills

Architectural leadership

Microservices

Cloud platforms

DDD design

Event-driven architecture

API design

Mentoring

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Master's Degree or PhD in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Software architecture frameworks

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in digital transformation services, is seeking an exceptional Principal Software Architect for a fully remote position, with a strong emphasis on contributing to projects impacting the Vereeniging, Gauteng region. This is a highly influential role where you will define the technical vision, architectural standards, and strategic direction for complex software systems. You will be instrumental in guiding engineering teams, mentoring architects and senior engineers, and ensuring that our solutions are scalable, robust, secure, and aligned with business objectives. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in designing large-scale enterprise systems, a deep understanding of modern software architectures, and a passion for innovation. This role is critical to driving technological excellence across the organization, supporting significant digital initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the overall software architecture strategy and standards for the organization.
• Lead the design of complex, high-performance, and scalable software systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to development teams and other architects.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and design patterns.
• Ensure architectural integrity, quality, and adherence to best practices across all projects.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including product management, engineering, and business leaders, to align architectural vision with strategic goals.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and dependencies.
• Drive innovation by researching and recommending emerging technologies and architectural patterns.
• Develop architectural documentation, roadmaps, and governance frameworks.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent extensive experience.
• 15+ years of experience in software development and architecture, with a significant portion in enterprise-level systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing complex distributed systems, microservices architectures, and cloud-native solutions.
• Deep knowledge of various programming paradigms, data structures, algorithms, and design patterns.
• Proven experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and related services.
• Strong understanding of domain-driven design, event-driven architectures, and API design best practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence and guide technical decision-making at all levels.
• Experience working in a remote-first environment is essential, with an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities it presents, including supporting initiatives related to regions like Vereeniging, Gauteng.

Benefits

This role offers a highly competitive executive-level salary, performance bonuses, extensive health benefits, and significant opportunities for professional growth and impact. As a fully remote position, you gain unparalleled flexibility while contributing to a leading global technology firm. Our client fosters a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and empowers its employees to make a real difference. You'll work with a world-class team on challenging projects that shape the future of technology, with a mindful approach to supporting diverse geographic areas such as Vereeniging.