Senior Cybersecurity Architect

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

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development budget

Flexible working arrangements

Parental leave

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Architect in Stellenbosch, Western Cape to design and implement secure, enterprise-wide IT and cloud architectures. The role requires deep expertise in threat modeling, risk assessment and secure design patterns across hybrid environments.

The successful candidate will lead security standards, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and guide development and infrastructure teams to embed robust security into the SDLC.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Security, or related field.
• 8+ years in information security with at least 4 years in cybersecurity architecture.
• Deep understanding of security principles, protocols, and best practices.
• Experience designing secure architectures for cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid environments.
• Knowledge of threat modeling, risk assessment and secure design patterns.
• Familiar with security tools (firewalls, IDS/IPS, SIEM, WAF, encryption).
• Security certifications like CISSP, CISM, SABSA, or TOGAF desirable.
• DevSecOps experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement secure enterprise-wide IT and cloud architectures.
• Develop security standards, blueprints, and guidelines for technology adoption.
• Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments for new and existing systems.
• Evaluate and recommend security technologies and solutions to meet business needs.
• Provide architectural oversight and guidance to development and infrastructure teams.
• Lead the definition and implementation of security policies and procedures related to architecture.
• Stay current with emerging security threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure security requirements are met throughout the system development lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain documentation for security architectures and designs.
• Contribute to the overall cybersecurity strategy and roadmap.

Skills

Cybersecurity architecture

Threat modeling

Risk assessment

Secure design patterns

Cloud & on-prem architectures

Leadership

Communication

DevSecOps

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science/Engineering/Information Security

Tools

Firewalls

IDS/IPS

SIEM

WAF

Encryption

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized technology innovator, is seeking a visionary Senior Cybersecurity Architect to join their advanced security division in **Stellenbosch, Western Cape**. This critical role focuses on designing, implementing, and managing secure enterprise-level architectures that protect against sophisticated cyber threats. The ideal candidate will have a profound understanding of security principles, threat modeling, risk assessment, and secure design patterns across complex IT environments, including cloud and on-premises infrastructure. You will be responsible for defining security standards, evaluating new technologies, and guiding development teams to build secure solutions. This is an exceptional opportunity to influence the cybersecurity strategy of a forward-thinking company and contribute to shaping secure digital transformation initiatives. We are looking for a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation in security and a proven ability to architect resilient systems. Your expertise will be instrumental in maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of our client's digital assets and ensuring robust defenses against an ever-evolving threat landscape. This hybrid role offers flexibility while ensuring key collaborative efforts and strategic planning sessions can occur effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement secure enterprise-wide IT and cloud architectures.
• Develop security standards, blueprints, and guidelines for technology adoption.
• Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments for new and existing systems.
• Evaluate and recommend security technologies and solutions to meet business needs.
• Provide architectural oversight and guidance to development and infrastructure teams.
• Lead the definition and implementation of security policies and procedures related to architecture.
• Stay current with emerging security threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure security requirements are met throughout the system development lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain documentation for security architectures and designs.
• Contribute to the overall cybersecurity strategy and roadmap.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Security, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in information security, with at least 4 years focused on cybersecurity architecture.
• Deep understanding of security principles, protocols, and best practices.
• Extensive experience designing secure architectures for complex environments, including cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid setups.
• Proficiency in threat modeling, risk assessment, and secure design patterns.
• Experience with security tools and technologies such such as firewalls, IDS/IPS, SIEM, WAF, and encryption.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills.
• Relevant security certifications like CISSP, CISM, SABSA, or TOGAF are highly desirable.
• Experience with DevSecOps principles and practices is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and wellness programs.
• Generous paid time off and parental leave.
• Significant budget for professional development, conferences, and certifications.
• Opportunities for career advancement and leadership.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and innovation labs.
• Flexible working arrangements.