Senior Systems Architect

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 1,116,000 - 1,786,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High visibility projects

Office-based role in Bloemfontein

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein seeks a Senior Systems Architect for a contract position. You will lead the architecture of complex enterprise systems, ensuring security, performance, and reliability while coordinating with developers, network engineers, and operations staff.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of IT architecture experience, strong server, storage, and virtualization expertise, and a background in financial services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in IT systems design, architecture, and implementation.
• Proven expertise in designing and managing large-scale, mission-critical systems.
• Strong understanding of server infrastructure, networking, storage, and virtualization technologies.
• Experience with enterprise databases (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server) and application servers.
• Familiarity with security principles and best practices for system design.
• Experience in the financial services industry is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and document the architecture for complex enterprise systems, ensuring alignment with business requirements.
• Oversee the implementation and integration of various hardware and software components.
• Develop technical standards, guidelines, and best practices for system design and deployment.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and solutions to improve system performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, network engineers, and operations staff.
• Ensure system security, compliance, and disaster recovery capabilities are robustly implemented.
• Troubleshoot complex system issues and provide technical leadership during resolution.
• Conduct architectural reviews and provide recommendations for system improvements.
• Mentor junior system engineers and technical staff.

Skills

Systems architecture

Server infrastructure

Networking

Virtualization

Enterprise databases

Security principles

Technical leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Oracle DB

SQL Server

Application servers

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent financial services institution, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Systems Architect for a contract position based in Bloemfontein, Free State. This role is essential for designing and implementing robust and scalable IT systems that underpin the company's critical operations. You will be responsible for the overall technical architecture of various systems, ensuring their integrity, performance, and security. This is an office-based role, requiring a strong presence and ability to collaborate directly with diverse technical teams and business stakeholders. The ideal candidate will bring a wealth of experience in system design, infrastructure, and integration, with a proven track record of delivering complex solutions within demanding environments. This is a significant opportunity to apply your expertise to pivotal projects within the financial sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and document the architecture for complex enterprise systems, ensuring alignment with business requirements.
• Oversee the implementation and integration of various hardware and software components.
• Develop technical standards, guidelines, and best practices for system design and deployment.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and solutions to improve system performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, network engineers, and operations staff.
• Ensure system security, compliance, and disaster recovery capabilities are robustly implemented.
• Troubleshoot complex system issues and provide technical leadership during resolution.
• Conduct architectural reviews and provide recommendations for system improvements.
• Mentor junior system engineers and technical staff.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in IT systems design, architecture, and implementation.
• Proven expertise in designing and managing large-scale, mission-critical systems.
• Strong understanding of server infrastructure, networking, storage, and virtualization technologies.
• Experience with enterprise databases (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server) and application servers.
• Familiarity with security principles and best practices for system design.
• Experience in the financial services industry is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and diagnostic skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Must be able to work on-site in Bloemfontein, Free State.

Benefits

• Attractive contract rate commensurate with experience.
• Opportunity to work on high-visibility, mission-critical projects.
• Gain valuable experience within the financial services sector.
• Potential for contract extension based on performance and project needs.
• Professional development opportunities.