Principal Solutions Architect

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 2,964,000 - 4,281,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive-level compensation with base

Global health, dental, vision

Generous time off

Professional development budget

Home office setup allowance

Stock options

Fully remote work environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Solutions Architect for a remote-first, globally distributed team shaping the architectural direction of sophisticated analytics and AI platforms. You will drive cloud-native designs, data pipelines, and scalable architectures across AWS/Azure/GCP, partnering with engineers and researchers to translate business needs into robust technical solutions.

The ideal candidate has 12+ years in software architecture with 5+ years in big data, AI/ML, and cloud solutions, and

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 12+ years of experience in software architecture and design, with at least 5 years on big data, AI/ML, and cloud solutions.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems and scalable data architectures.
• Proficiency with AWS, Azure, and GCP data/AI services.
• Experience with Spark, Hadoop, Kafka; ML frameworks like TensorFlow/PyTorch.
• Programming in Python, Scala, or Java; strong CI/CD and containerization (Docker/Kubernetes).

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and strategy for large-scale data analytics and AI platforms.
• Define best practices for cloud-native architectures, microservices, and data pipelines.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and research to translate business needs into robust solutions.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and architectural guidance to teams.
• Evaluate technologies and tools for data-intensive applications.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective across clouds.
• Drive innovation by integrating emerging AI and big data tech.
• Develop architectural blueprints, documentation, and standards.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to articulate technology strategy.

Skills

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Big data technologies

Python

Java

Scala

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science/Data Science or related

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Kafka

Terraform

Airflow

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in advanced analytics and AI solutions, is actively seeking a highly accomplished Principal Solutions Architect to join their innovative, fully remote workforce. This senior role is pivotal in shaping the architectural direction of complex, cutting-edge projects, driving the design of sophisticated solutions that leverage data science and cloud technologies. You will collaborate with a world-class team of engineers and data scientists, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. This is a remote-first position, offering unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to contribute from anywhere. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a profound understanding of distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and big data technologies, coupled with exceptional leadership and communication skills. Join us to architect the future of AI and analytics in a dynamic and intellectually stimulating remote environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design and strategy for large-scale, complex data analytics and AI platforms.
• Define best practices for cloud-native architectures, microservices, and data processing pipelines.
• Collaborate with product management, engineering, and research teams to translate business needs into robust technical solutions.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and architectural guidance to engineering teams.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools for data-intensive applications.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective across major cloud platforms.
• Drive innovation by exploring and integrating emerging technologies in AI, machine learning, and big data.
• Develop architectural blueprints, documentation, and standards.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to articulate technical strategy and solutions.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 12+ years of experience in software architecture and design, with at least 5 years focused on big data, AI/ML, and cloud solutions.
• Deep expertise in designing and implementing distributed systems and scalable data architectures.
• Proficiency with major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their data/AI services.
• Strong experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop ecosystem, Kafka) and ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python, Scala, or Java.
• Excellent understanding of containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD practices.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Superb communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence technical and business leaders in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Executive-level compensation package including base salary, bonus, and stock options.
• Comprehensive global health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous time off and sabbatical programs.
• Significant budget for professional development, conferences, and training.
• Home office setup allowance and technology stipend.
• Fully remote work environment with a strong focus on work-life balance.
• Opportunity to work on groundbreaking AI and data science projects.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and collaborative global teams.