Principal Software Architect - Cloud Native Solutions

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off and flexible hours

Full remote work setup with equipment

Learning, training and certifications

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Software Architect for a remote-first role, leading cloud-native architectures and mentoring distributed teams to build scalable cloud platforms.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in software development, 5+ years in senior architecture, and deep expertise in AWS/Azure/GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD with Jenkins or GitLab. This role offers stock options and a collaborative remote culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years in software development with 5+ years in a senior architectural role.
• Proven cloud-native architecture design on AWS/Azure/GCP.

Responsibilities

• Define architectural vision and strategy for cloud-native apps and services.
• Design scalable, highly available distributed systems.
• Lead development of microservices with loose coupling and independent deployability.
• Champion containerization and best practices (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Establish robust CI/CD pipelines for automated builds and deployments.
• Evaluate cloud services to meet project requirements.
• Provide technical leadership to engineering teams.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and operations for delivery.
• Develop architectural documentation and standards.
• Conduct reviews on security, performance, reliability.

Skills

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Communication

Remote leadership

Cloud-native

Microservices

REST APIs

Event-driven

Programming languages (Java, Go, Py,JS

Education

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

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Jenkins

GitLab CI

Azure DevOps

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized leader in cloud infrastructure and services, is seeking a Principal Software Architect with extensive experience in cloud-native solutions to join their elite, fully remote architecture team. This is a remote-first opportunity, allowing you to leverage your expertise from anywhere in the world while contributing to the design of scalable, resilient, and innovative cloud platforms. You will be responsible for defining architectural strategies, setting technical direction, and mentoring engineering teams to build best-in-class cloud-native applications and services. This role demands a deep understanding of microservices, containerization, CI/CD pipelines, and various cloud services. As a remote-first company, we champion asynchronous communication, collaboration, and provide the autonomy needed for our engineers to excel. Join us to architect the future of cloud computing.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the architectural vision and strategy for cloud-native applications and services.
• Design scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant distributed systems.
• Lead the development of microservices architectures, ensuring loose coupling and independent deployability.
• Champion the adoption of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and best practices.
• Establish and guide the implementation of robust CI/CD pipelines for automated builds, testing, and deployments.
• Evaluate and select appropriate cloud services and technologies to meet project requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to software engineering teams.
• Collaborate with product management, engineering, and operations teams to ensure successful delivery of cloud solutions.
• Develop and maintain architectural documentation, standards, and guidelines.
• Conduct architectural reviews and provide guidance on security, performance, and reliability best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a senior architectural role.
• Proven expertise in designing and implementing cloud-native architectures on major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Deep understanding of microservices design patterns, RESTful APIs, and event-driven architectures.
• Extensive experience with containerization technologies (Docker) and orchestration platforms (Kubernetes).
• Proficiency in building and managing CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or Azure DevOps.
• Strong knowledge of programming languages such as Java, Go, Python, or Node.js.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to lead and influence technical teams in a remote, distributed environment.
• Experience with cloud security best practices and data management strategies.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and stock options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Full remote work setup with equipment and home office support.
• Opportunities for continuous learning, advanced training, and certifications.
• Exposure to cutting-edge cloud technologies and large-scale projects.
• Career advancement opportunities within a leading technology company.
• A collaborative and innovative remote-first culture.