Remote Lead Software Architect - Scalable Systems

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive-level compensation

Fully remote with global team

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Software Architect to spearhead scalable, resilient systems within a fully remote engineering organization. You will define technical strategy, set architectural standards, and mentor teams to build robust software solutions.

You will drive architectural integrity across projects, evaluate new technologies, and translate business needs into technical designs, while leading distributed teams in a remote setting.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a Software Architect or senior technical leadership role.
• Proven track record designing large-scale distributed, high-availability systems.
• Expertise in multiple programming languages and architectural styles (microservices, event-driven).
• Strong knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), containers (Docker, Kubernetes), and modern databases.

Responsibilities

• Define and document the overall technical architecture for new and existing systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.
• Establish and enforce architectural principles, patterns, and best practices across all software development projects.
• Lead and mentor software engineering teams, providing technical guidance and driving architectural decisions.
• Collaborate with product management, engineering leads, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into comprehensive technical solutions.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools to enhance the company's technology stack and development processes.
• Oversee the implementation of architectural designs, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and technical standards throughout the development lifecycle.

Skills

Microservices

Event-driven architecture

Distributed systems

Leadership

Design patterns

Cloud platforms

Education

Masters or PhD

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Security best practices

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking Lead Software Architect to spearhead the design of highly scalable and resilient systems within their fully remote engineering organization. This pivotal role demands a visionary leader capable of defining technical strategies, setting architectural standards, and guiding engineering teams to build robust, maintainable, and performant software solutions. You will be instrumental in driving technical innovation, ensuring architectural integrity across diverse projects, and mentoring engineers to foster a culture of technical excellence. This is an ideal position for an experienced architect who thrives in a distributed team environment and is passionate about shaping the future of enterprise-level software architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and document the overall technical architecture for new and existing systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.
• Establish and enforce architectural principles, patterns, and best practices across all software development projects.
• Lead and mentor software engineering teams, providing technical guidance and driving architectural decisions.
• Collaborate with product management, engineering leads, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into comprehensive technical solutions.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools to enhance the company's technology stack and development processes.
• Oversee the implementation of architectural designs, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and technical standards throughout the development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent extensive experience.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a Software Architect or senior technical leadership role.
• Proven track record of designing and implementing large-scale, distributed, and high-availability systems.
• Deep expertise in multiple programming languages, architectural styles (e.g., microservices, event-driven), and design patterns.
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and modern database technologies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence technical direction in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Executive-level compensation package, including salary and significant performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, wellness, and retirement benefits.
• Generous budget for professional development, conferences, and continuous learning.
• The flexibility of a fully remote position with global team collaboration.
• Opportunity to define the technical future of a growing, innovative company.