Remote Lead Cloud Architect

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

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health insurance

Remote work stipend

Training & certifications access

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Cloud Architect for a fully remote role based in South Africa. You will shape the cloud strategy, design scalable and secure infrastructure, and guide a distributed team of cloud engineers across the organization.

You will drive modernization with IaC, CI/CD, and best practices, while balancing cost, security, and reliability in a fast-moving fintech environment. A hands-on leadership style and strong communication are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in IT infrastructure and cloud architecture with leadership experience
• Designing and managing large-scale cloud environments on AWS and/or Azure
• Deep knowledge of Kubernetes, microservices and serverless computing
• IaC tools: Terraform, CloudFormation, or ARM templates
• Strong cloud security, networking and identity management
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps automation
• Excellent leadership, communication and problem solving
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; cloud certs desirable

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the cloud architecture strategy
• Lead design of scalable, secure, highly available cloud infra on AWS/Azure
• Architect solutions with microservices, Kubernetes, and serverless tech
• Establish cloud governance, security, and cost management
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to deliver cloud services
• Mentor and guide cloud engineers and architects
• Drive IaC and CI/CD adoption
• Evaluate new cloud services to enhance platform capabilities
• Troubleshoot complex cloud issues and ensure resilience
• Communicate architectural decisions and vision to stakeholders

Skills

Leadership

Team communication

Problem solving

Cloud architecture

DevOps

CI/CD

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or related field

Tools

Terraform

CloudFormation

ARM templates

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing fintech startup, is looking for an experienced and visionary Lead Cloud Architect to join their fully remote team. This is a unique opportunity to shape the cloud strategy and infrastructure for a company at the forefront of financial innovation. You will be responsible for designing scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions that power our cutting-edge platforms. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on leader with deep expertise in cloud technologies, a strong understanding of distributed systems, and a passion for building high‑performance, reliable infrastructure. This role offers complete flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa , fostering a dynamic and collaborative remote work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and implement the overall cloud architecture strategy for the organization.
• Lead the design and development of scalable, secure, and highly available cloud infrastructure on AWS and/or Azure.
• Architect solutions leveraging microservices, containerization (Kubernetes), and serverless technologies.
• Establish cloud governance, security best practices, and cost management strategies.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to deliver robust and efficient cloud-based services.
• Mentor and guide a team of cloud engineers and architects.
• Drive the adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and CI/CD best practices.
• Evaluate new cloud services and technologies to enhance platform capabilities.
• Troubleshoot complex cloud infrastructure issues and ensure system resilience.
• Communicate architectural decisions and technical vision to stakeholders.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in IT infrastructure and cloud architecture, with at least 4 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and managing large-scale cloud environments on AWS and/or Azure.
• In-depth knowledge of container orchestration (Kubernetes), microservices, and serverless computing.
• Proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or ARM templates.
• Strong understanding of cloud security principles, networking, and identity management.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps automation.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, remote startup environment.
• Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert) are highly desirable.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers a highly competitive salary, significant stock options, comprehensive health insurance, and a generous remote work stipend.
• Our client invests heavily in employee development, providing access to leading training platforms, certifications, and opportunities to attend virtual industry events.
• You will have the chance to work with a talented, globally distributed team on innovative fintech solutions, enjoying the flexibility and autonomy that comes with a remote role.
• We are committed to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.