Remote Lead Architect - Digital Transformation

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Medical & dental insurance

Retirement plan

Stock options

Learning & conferences

Home office allowance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Lead Architect to drive a digital transformation for a global technology leader, with a remote-first setup across South Africa. You will define the architectural blueprint for next-gen platforms, services, and infrastructure, focusing on cloud-native scalability, security, and data strategy.

You will collaborate with engineering, product, and business teams to shape architecture and guide deployment of new digital offerings, APIs, and data platforms, while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of software architecture experience, with large-scale distributed systems.
• Extensive cloud experience (AWS/Azure/GCP) and containers (Docker/Kubernetes).
• Deep understanding of microservices, event-driven systems, and API design.
• Proficiency in Java or Python.
• Experience with SQL/NoSQL data stores and data streaming.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication and ability to lead remote teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the enterprise-wide architectural strategy and roadmap for digital transformation initiatives.
• Design and oversee scalable, reliable, and secure cloud-native architectures (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Establish architectural principles, patterns, and standards for microservices, APIs, and data platforms.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to guide development and deployment of new digital products and services.
• Evaluate and select technologies to meet business and technical requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to architecture and engineering teams.
• Conduct architectural reviews, identify risks, and propose mitigations.
• Ensure architectural alignment across business units and tech domains.
• Drive innovation by exploring emerging technologies and applications.
• Communicate complex concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Cloud platforms

Microservices

API design

Data architecture

Docker

Kubernetes

Java

Python

Remote leadership

DevOps practices

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a global technology leader embarking on a significant digital transformation journey, and we are seeking a visionary Lead Architect to drive this initiative. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to contribute from anywhere within **South Africa**. You will be responsible for defining the architectural blueprint for our next-generation digital platforms, services, and infrastructure. This role demands a deep understanding of cloud technologies, microservices, data architecture, and modern software development practices. You will collaborate closely with engineering, product, and business teams to ensure our architecture is scalable, resilient, secure, and aligned with our strategic goals. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the technological future of a major enterprise and lead architectural strategy in a remote-first environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the enterprise-wide architectural strategy and roadmap for digital transformation initiatives.


• Design and oversee the implementation of scalable, reliable, and secure cloud-native architectures (AWS, Azure, GCP).


• Establish architectural principles, patterns, and standards for microservices, APIs, and data platforms.


• Collaborate with engineering teams to guide the development and deployment of new digital products and services.


• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies and frameworks to meet business and technical requirements.


• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to architecture and engineering teams.


• Conduct architectural reviews, identify risks, and propose mitigation strategies.


• Ensure architectural alignment across various business units and technology domains.


• Drive innovation by exploring emerging technologies and their potential application.


• Communicate complex architectural concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.


• 10+ years of experience in software architecture, with a strong focus on designing and implementing large-scale distributed systems.


• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).


• Deep understanding of microservices architecture, event-driven systems, and API design.


• Proficiency in at least one major programming language (e.g., Java, Python, Go).


• Experience with data architecture, databases (SQL/NoSQL), and data streaming technologies.


• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and lead remote teams.


• Experience with Agile methodologies and DevOps practices.


• Proven ability to drive technical change and architectural adoption in complex organizations.

Benefits

• A leading annual salary of R, commensurate with your expertise and impact.


• Fully remote position offering complete work flexibility, accessible from anywhere in **South Africa**.


• Comprehensive private medical and dental insurance plans.


• Generous contribution to a retirement savings fund.


• Annual performance bonuses and stock options.


• Opportunities for continuous learning, certifications, and attending virtual conferences.


• A highly collaborative and inclusive remote work culture.


• Allowance for home office setup and internet connectivity.