Remote Principal Software Engineer

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top-tier compensation

Fully remote

Health coverage (global)

Professional development budget

Groundbreaking projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Principal Software Engineer to join its elite engineering team in South Africa. You will lead architectural design, technical strategy, and the implementation of complex software solutions from anywhere in SA.

The role demands mentoring, strategic thinking, and strong communication to drive product innovation while maintaining high standards of quality across distributed systems and cloud deployments.

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in Computer Science or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in software engineering with principal/architectural focus.
• Expertise in multiple languages and large-scale distributed systems.
• Strong knowledge of cloud platforms and infrastructure-as-code.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical vision and architectural roadmap.
• Design and implement scalable, high-performance systems.
• Mentor engineers and promote best practices.
• Lead technical discussions with product, design, and other teams.
• Address technical debt and performance bottlenecks.
• Contribute to high-quality, reliable, maintainable code.

Skills

Architectural/Principal leadership

Java

C++

Python

Go

Distributed systems design

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

IaC

Communication skills

Education

Masters/PhD in Computer Science

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced and influential Remote Principal Software Engineer to join their elite engineering team. This is a fully remote position, empowering you to work from any location within South Africa. You will take a leading role in architectural design, technical strategy, and the implementation of complex, high-impact software solutions. This role is for an individual who can drive technical excellence, mentor other engineers, and tackle the most challenging problems in software engineering, contributing significantly to the company's long-term vision and product innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical vision and architectural roadmap for key product areas.
• Design and implement complex, scalable, and high-performance software systems.
• Mentor and guide other engineers, fostering best practices in software design and development.
• Lead technical discussions and collaborate effectively with product management, design, and other engineering teams.
• Identify and address technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and areas for system improvement.
• Contribute to critical code development, ensuring the highest standards of quality, reliability, and maintainability.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering , with a significant portion in architectural or principal roles.
• Expertise in multiple programming languages (e.g., Java , C++ , Python , Go ) and deep understanding of system design patterns.
• Proven experience designing and building large-scale distributed systems and microservices architectures .
• Extensive knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and infrastructure-as-code principles.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and outstanding communication abilities.

Benefits

• Top-tier compensation package including base salary, bonus, and stock options.
• Fully remote work environment with a focus on work-life balance.
• Comprehensive global health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous budget for professional development, conferences, and continuous learning.
• Opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects with a world-class team.