Principal Systems Architect

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 1,600,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Pension fund

Performance incentives

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Systems Architect for a leading mining and resources organization in Upington, Northern Cape. You will define enterprise-wide architecture, guide solution architects, and ensure scalable, secure systems aligned with business objectives.

You will lead technology selection, drive architectural reviews, mentor teams, manage risk, and push innovation across the IT landscape while staying abreast of industry trends.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in systems architecture, design, and implementation.
• Proven experience architecting large-scale, complex enterprise systems.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure, virtualization and operating systems.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid cloud architectures.
• Knowledge of enterprise software integration patterns and technologies (ESB, APIs).
• Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and secure system design.
• Experience with project management methodologies and SDLC.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in the mining or industrial sector is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Define and oversee the enterprise-wide systems architecture strategy.
• Lead the design of scalable, highly available systems.
• Establish architectural principles, standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with business leaders and IT stakeholders to understand requirements.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, platforms and solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to architects and engineering teams.
• Conduct architectural reviews and ensure security and operational compliance.
• Identify and manage technical risks and dependencies.
• Oversee integration of various systems and applications.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends.

Skills

Leadership

Enterprise architecture

Cloud platforms

Security by design

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

ESB

APIs

Enterprise integration

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent organization in the mining and resources sector, is seeking a highly experienced Principal Systems Architect to join their advanced technology division in Upington, Northern Cape . This senior role is responsible for defining the overarching architecture of complex, mission-critical systems that support the company's extensive operations. You will provide strategic technical leadership, guide solution architects and engineering teams, and ensure that systems are scalable, reliable, secure, and aligned with business objectives. The Principal Systems Architect will play a key role in technology selection, architectural reviews, and driving innovation across the IT landscape. This position demands a deep understanding of enterprise architecture, infrastructure, software integration, and operational best practices. This is an exceptional opportunity to influence the technological direction of a major industry player.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and oversee the enterprise-wide systems architecture strategy.
• Lead the design of complex, scalable, and highly available systems.
• Establish architectural principles, standards, and best practices for system design and implementation.
• Collaborate with business leaders and IT stakeholders to understand strategic requirements.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, platforms, and solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to architects and engineering teams.
• Conduct architectural reviews and ensure compliance with security and operational standards.
• Identify and manage technical risks and dependencies.
• Oversee the integration of various systems and applications.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends in systems architecture.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in systems architecture, design, and implementation.
• Proven experience architecting large-scale, complex enterprise systems.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure (servers, storage, networking), operating systems, and virtualization.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid cloud architectures.
• Knowledge of enterprise software integration patterns and technologies (e.g., ESB, APIs).
• Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and secure system design.
• Experience with project management methodologies and SDLC.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in the mining or industrial sector is highly desirable.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and pension fund, performance-based incentives, and significant opportunities for professional development, training, and advanced certifications. Employees will have the chance to work on large-scale, impactful projects within a stable and well-respected organization, with opportunities for career progression.