Remote Principal Industrial Systems Architect

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement contributions

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Principal Industrial Systems Architect to lead the design and deployment of integrated industrial systems for clients worldwide. This fully remote role requires deep expertise in industrial control, IIoT, data architecture, and secure, scalable enterprise solutions.

You will define technical vision, guide engineering teams, ensure standards and regulatory compliance, and drive architectural decisions across the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in designing and implementing complex industrial systems, with a significant focus on architecture.
• Extensive knowledge of industrial control systems (PLCs, DCS), SCADA, HMI, and industrial networking protocols (e.g., Modbus, OPC UA, Profinet).
• Deep understanding of IIoT concepts, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS IoT, Azure IoT), and data analytics in industrial contexts.
• Proven experience in cybersecurity principles for industrial environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and influence architectural decisions.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design scalable, secure, and resilient industrial systems, encompassing hardware, software, networking, and data integration.
• Define the technical roadmap and standards for industrial IoT (IIoT) platforms, including sensor integration, data acquisition, and cloud connectivity.
• Lead the technical design and specification of complex automation solutions for diverse industrial applications.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, platforms, and vendors to meet system requirements and business objectives.
• Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to engineering teams throughout the system development lifecycle.
• Ensure systems comply with industry-specific standards, cybersecurity best practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive architectural documentation, including diagrams, specifications, and technical guidelines.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including clients, project managers, and development teams, to understand requirements and translate them into effective system designs.
• Identify emerging technologies and trends in industrial automation and IIoT, assessing their potential impact and applicability.
• Oversee proof-of-concept initiatives and pilot projects to validate architectural approaches and new technologies.

Skills

Systems architecture

IIoT concepts

Cloud platforms

Technical leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

Master's degree or PhD in CS/EE/Industrial Eng

Tools

SCADA

PLCs/DCS

OPC UA/Profinet

Industrial cybersecurity

Job description

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Principal Industrial Systems Architect to lead the design and deployment of integrated industrial systems for clients worldwide. This fully remote role requires deep expertise in industrial control, IIoT, data architecture, and secure, scalable enterprise solutions.

You will define technical vision, guide engineering teams, ensure standards and regulatory compliance, and drive architectural decisions across the lifecycle.