Senior Cloud Architect - Remote First

Placements24; Midrand; Hybrid; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive health insurance

Generous paid time off

Professional development & training

Remote work environment

Performance-based bonuses

Collaborative team culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Cloud Architect to lead the design and implementation of scalable cloud environments. This fully remote, South Africa–based role requires deep expertise in cloud platforms, security, and distributed systems.

You will guide architecture decisions, champion best practices, and mentor engineers while delivering robust, cost-efficient solutions. The ideal candidate has 7+ years in cloud architecture, strong scripting, and IaC experience, with certifications being a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS or related field.
• 7+ years of cloud architecture and infra management.
• Experience designing on AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
• Strong knowledge of microservices, containers, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Proficiency in scripting (Python, Bash) and IaC tools (Terraform, Ansible).
• In-depth cloud networking, security, and identity management knowledge.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design scalable, highly available, fault-tolerant cloud solutions on major platforms.
• Develop and maintain cloud infrastructure strategies, roadmaps, and governance.
• Collaborate with development, operations and security teams for seamless deployments.
• Define and implement IaC principles using Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Optimize cloud resource usage for cost and performance.
• Enforce cloud security policies and compliance requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to juniors.
• Troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues in production.
• Stay updated on cloud technologies and best practices.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Infrastructure management

Microservices

CI/CD

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Docker

Kubernetes

CloudFormation

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering force in digital transformation, is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Cloud Architect to join their innovative team. This is a fully remote, remote-first position, offering the flexibility and autonomy to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and managing cutting-edge cloud solutions that drive business growth and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure, security best practices, and a passion for architecting scalable and resilient systems. This role is critical to shaping the future of our client's technological landscape, ensuring they remain at the forefront of their industry. The focus is on building robust, secure, and cost-effective cloud environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and architect scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant cloud solutions on major platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Develop and maintain cloud infrastructure strategies, roadmaps, and governance frameworks.
• Collaborate with development, operations, and security teams to ensure seamless integration and deployment of cloud services.
• Define and implement infrastructure as code (IaC) principles using tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Optimize cloud resource utilization for cost efficiency and performance.
• Establish and enforce cloud security policies and compliance requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior architects and engineers.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex infrastructure issues in production environments.
• Stay abreast of the latest cloud technologies, trends, and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in cloud architecture and infrastructure management.
• Proven expertise in designing and implementing solutions on at least two major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) and Infrastructure as Code tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible).
• In-depth knowledge of cloud networking, security, and identity management principles.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Experience with hybrid cloud strategies and multi-cloud environments.
• Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert) are a significant advantage.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools.
• A fully remote work environment fostering work-life balance.
• Performance-based bonuses and incentives.
• Collaborative and supportive team culture.