Principal Solutions Architect

Vitality; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,400,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Pension match (up to 6%)

Vitality health insurance

Life Assurance

Job summary

Vitality is seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to lead solution architecture across its Global Markets technology portfolio. The role provides architectural leadership for complex initiatives, ensuring solutions align with enterprise standards and engineering best practice across multiple markets.

The candidate will shape technology direction, drive consistency and support the delivery of scalable, high-quality solutions, while mentoring architects and collaborating with cross-functional

Qualifications

• Senior-level enterprise architecture leadership experience.
• Ability to design scalable and secure solutions across markets.
• Experience influencing architectural decisions at a senior level.

Responsibilities

• Lead solution architecture across Global Markets, setting direction and standards.
• Provide architectural leadership across complex programmes, products, platforms and domains.
• Design scalable, secure solutions aligned to enterprise objectives.
• Act as senior escalation point for architectural decisions, risks, and direction.
• Establish and govern architecture review processes in line with enterprise standards.
• Provide leadership and quality oversight to Solution Architects.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architects, Product Managers, Engineers, Business Analysts and UX teams.
• Own and govern solution design documentation and artefacts.
• Drive technology decision-making, promoting reuse and long-term sustainability.
• Support delivery teams across the software development lifecycle.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Solution design

Technology strategy

Governance

Java

JavaScript

.NET

Cloud technologies

Microservices

APIs

Tools

Cloud platforms

Architectural frameworks

Job description

Team - Vitality Programme - EMEA and LATAM Product

Working Pattern -

Hybrid - 2 days per week in the Vitality Sandton Office. Full time, 37.5 hours per week.

We are happy to discuss flexible working!

Top 3 skills needed for this role:

• Highly Credible Enterprise Architecture Leadership
• Extensive Global Solution Design Expertise
• Advanced Technology Strategy & Governance Capability

What this role is all about:

We're looking for a Principal Solutions Architect to lead solution architecture across Vitality's Global Markets technology portfolio. This role will provide architectural leadership across complex business and technology initiatives, ensuring solutions are aligned to enterprise standards, strategic objectives and engineering best practice. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping technology direction, driving architectural consistency and supporting the delivery of scalable, high-quality solutions across multiple markets.

Key Actions

• Lead solution architecture across Global Markets, setting direction, standards and best practice for solution design
• Provide architectural leadership across complex programmes, products, platforms and business domains
• Design scalable, secure and strategically aligned solutions that support enterprise objectives and business growth
• Act as the senior point of escalation for architectural decisions, risks, challenges and technology direction
• Establish and govern architecture review processes, ensuring compliance with enterprise standards and engineering principles
• Provide leadership, coaching and quality oversight to Solution Architects across the function
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architects, Product Managers, Engineers, Business Analysts and UX teams to shape solution outcomes
• Own and govern solution design documentation, architecture artefacts and approval processes
• Drive technology decision-making, promoting reuse, shared capabilities and long-term sustainability across markets
• Support delivery teams throughout the software development lifecycle, ensuring solutions are implemented as designed

What do you need to thrive?

• Extensive experience operating as a senior Solution Architect within large-scale enterprise environments
• Proven ability to lead architecture across multiple products, platforms, technologies and business domains
• Strong expertise in modern technology ecosystems, including cloud technologies, microservices, APIs, Java, .NET and JavaScript
• Demonstrable experience defining architecture standards, governance frameworks and solution design best practices
• Track record of shaping technology strategy and influencing complex architectural decisions at a senior level
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing Solution Architects while building architecture capability across an organisation
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, delivery methodologies and the full software development lifecycle
• Experience working within Agile environments and collaborating closely with cross-functional technology teams
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and commercial decision-making skills

So, what’s in it for you?

• Bonus Schemes - A bonus that regularly rewards you for your performance
• A pension of up to 12%- We will match your contributions up to 6% of your salary
• Our award-winning Vitality health insurance - With its own set of rewards and benefits
• Life Assurance - Four times annual salary

These are just some of the many perks that we offer! To view the extensive range of benefits we offer, please visit our careers page.

Fantastic Benefits. Exciting rewards. Great career opportunities!

If you are successful in your application and join us at Vitality, this is our promise to you, we will:

• Help you to be the healthiest you’ve ever been
• Create an environment that embraces you as you are and enables you to be your best self
• Give you flexibility on how, where and when you work
• Help you advance your career by playing you to your strengths
• Give you a voice to help our business grow and make Vitality a great place to be
• Give you the space to try, fail and learn
• Provide a healthy balance of challenge and support
• Recognise and reward you with a competitive salary and amazing benefits
• Be there for you when you need us
• Provide opportunities for you to be a force for good in society

We commit to all these things because we want you to feel that you belong, and are supported to be happy and healthy.