Remote Principal Systems Architect (Telecoms)

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Executive compensation

Health benefits

PTO & sabbatical

Professional development

Stock options

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Systems Architect to define and guide the architecture of large-scale telecom platforms in a remote-first setup across South Africa. You will shape the future technology direction, ensuring scalable, secure, and resilient systems while guiding cross-functional teams through architecture decisions.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience in telecom systems architecture, expertise in 5G, SDN/NFV, cloud-native patterns, and TOGAF.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in systems architecture, with a strong emphasis on telecommunications infrastructure and services.
• Deep expertise in designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systems and complex network architectures.
• Experience with 5G, SDN/NFV, cloud-native architectures, microservices, and data analytics in a telecom context.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF) and design patterns.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives and influence decision-making.
• Experience working effectively in a fully remote, collaborative environment.
• Publications or contributions to industry standards are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the high-level architecture for core telecommunications systems and platforms.
• Lead the technical strategy and roadmap for new technology adoption and integration.
• Develop architectural blueprints, standards, and guidelines to ensure consistency and quality across projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into robust technical solutions.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, platforms, and frameworks for implementation.
• Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams.
• Identify and mitigate architectural risks and dependencies.
• Ensure the scalability, performance, security, and reliability of system designs.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices in telecommunications and systems architecture.
• Present architectural proposals and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders.

Skills

5G technologies

SDN/NFV

Cloud-native

Microservices

TOGAF

EA frameworks

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

Master's degree in CS/EE/Telecom

PhD in related field

Tools

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

Docker/Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a visionary leader in the Telecoms sector, is seeking a highly experienced and visionary Principal Systems Architect to join their dynamic, fully remote team. This strategic role is responsible for defining and guiding the architecture of complex, large-scale telecommunications systems and platforms. You will be instrumental in shaping the future technological direction, ensuring our infrastructure is scalable, resilient, secure, and adaptable to emerging trends. As a remote-first organization, we empower our employees with the autonomy to excel from any location within South Africa. The ideal candidate will possess a profound understanding of telecommunications technologies, enterprise architecture principles, and a proven ability to design innovative solutions for challenging problems. This is a unique opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the technological foundation of a major industry player and contribute to transformative projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the high-level architecture for core telecommunications systems and platforms.
• Lead the technical strategy and roadmap for new technology adoption and integration.
• Develop architectural blueprints, standards, and guidelines to ensure consistency and quality across projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, product, operations) to translate business requirements into robust technical solutions.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, platforms, and frameworks for implementation.
• Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams.
• Identify and mitigate architectural risks and dependencies.
• Ensure the scalability, performance, security, and reliability of system designs.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in telecommunications and systems architecture.
• Present architectural proposals and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in systems architecture, with a strong emphasis on telecommunications infrastructure and services.
• Deep expertise in designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systems and complex network architectures.
• Proven experience with technologies such as 5G, SDN/NFV, cloud-native architectures, microservices, and data analytics in a telecom context.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF) and design patterns.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives and influence decision-making.
• Experience working effectively in a fully remote, collaborative environment.
• Publications or contributions to industry standards are a plus.

Benefits

• Fully remote work arrangement with significant autonomy and flexibility.
• Highly competitive executive-level compensation package, including significant bonuses and stock options.
• Comprehensive executive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous paid time off and sabbatical opportunities.
• Annual budget for professional development, conferences, and advanced training.
• Opportunity to shape the future of telecommunications technology.
• Work with a highly talented and motivated remote team.
• Supportive culture that values innovation and thought leadership.