Senior Software Architect - Microservices & APIs

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Software Architect to join a rapidly expanding SaaS provider. This remote-first role offers autonomy to shape the architectural vision for a high-performance microservices and APIs platform, with a focus on scalability, reliability, and security.

You will mentor engineers, define standards, review architectures, and work closely with product management to translate requirements into robust technical solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years in a senior architectural role.
• Proven experience designing and implementing complex microservices architectures.
• Deep understanding of RESTful API design principles, standards, and best practices.
• Experience with one of more programming languages (Java, Go, Python, Node.js).
• Familiarity with Kafka or RabbitMQ and event-driven architectures.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Strong understanding of SQL and NoSQL databases and data modeling.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Experience in fully remote team settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and architecture of distributed systems (microservices, event-driven, RESTful APIs).
• Define architectural standards, patterns and best practices.
• Guide implementation and ensure adherence to principles.
• Evaluate technologies and tools for scalable systems.
• Mentor engineers and architects, promoting technical excellence.
• Conduct architectural reviews and performance analyses.
• Address technical debt and performance bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with product management to translate requirements to strategy.
• Ensure security, reliability, and efficiency of architecture.
• Contribute to development processes and tooling improvements.

Skills

REST API design

Microservices architecture

Cloud platforms

Kubernetes

Docker

Messaging systems

SQL/NoSQL

Mentoring

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly expanding SaaS provider, is seeking an accomplished Senior Software Architect to join their innovative product development team. This role is entirely remote , offering the flexibility and autonomy to work from anywhere. You will be a key player in defining the architectural vision and strategy for our next-generation platform, focusing on building resilient, scalable, and high-performance microservices and APIs. As a remote-first company, we thrive on asynchronous communication, trust, and delivering exceptional value to our global customer base. You will collaborate closely with engineering leads, product managers, and other architects to translate business needs into robust technical solutions. This is an exceptional opportunity for a motivated architect to influence the technical direction of a cutting-edge technology product.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and architecture of distributed systems, focusing on microservices, event-driven architectures, and RESTful APIs.
• Define architectural standards, best practices, and patterns for software development.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to guide implementation and ensure adherence to architectural principles.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools for building scalable and maintainable systems.
• Mentor junior engineers and architects, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
• Conduct architectural reviews, code reviews, and performance analyses.
• Identify and address technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and potential scalability issues.
• Work closely with product management to understand requirements and translate them into technical strategies.
• Ensure the security, reliability, and efficiency of the software architecture.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes and tooling.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years in a senior architectural role.
• Proven experience designing and implementing complex microservices architectures.
• Deep understanding of RESTful API design principles, standards, and best practices.
• Expertise in one or more programming languages commonly used in microservices (e.g., Java, Go, Python, Node.js).
• Familiarity with message queuing systems (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ) and event-driven architectures.
• Experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Strong understanding of database technologies (SQL and NoSQL) and data modeling.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience in fully remote team settings.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous stock options package.
• Unlimited paid time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Professional development budget for conferences, training, and certifications.
• Cutting-edge technology stack and challenging projects.
• A vibrant and supportive remote-first culture.