Senior Solutions Architect – FTC

Join our client’s ICT & Enterprise Architecture team as a Senior Solutions Architect. You’ll design and assure end-to-end technology solutions that are scalable, secure, and sustainable—enabling the organisation to meet its business objectives across the full solution lifecycle, from concept and design through implementation and transition into operations.

** Please note this is a 12 month fixed-term contract

Where You’ll Add Value

• Define end-to-end solution architectures aligned to business strategy, enterprise standards, and technology roadmaps.

• Translate business requirements into practical, scalable, and maintainable solution designs.

• Evaluate technology options and provide clear architectural recommendations.

• Ensure solutions meet requirements for performance, security, resilience, and compliance.

• Take ownership of architecture across the entire solution delivery lifecycle and ensure architectural integrity throughout implementation.

• Ensure third-party service providers build technical solutions in accordance with infrastructure/solutions design standards.

• Provide architectural guidance and decision-making support to delivery teams; facilitate design workshops, architecture reviews, and decision forums.

• Identify and proactively manage technical risks, dependencies, constraints, and opportunities to improve architecture practices and delivery approaches.

• Engage proactively with business stakeholders to understand needs, shape solution direction, and build trusted relationships across business and technology teams.

• Support successful transition of solutions into operational support.

• Document architecture decisions, assumptions, solution designs, and integration designs (written and diagrammatic).

• Mentor and guide other architects and technical team members where required.

What Sets You Apart

• Broad technical background across multiple domains (applications, integration, data, infrastructure, cloud, security).

• Strong understanding of solution architecture principles, system integration patterns, and distributed architectures.

• Ability to assess and select appropriate technologies and platforms; familiarity with cloud platforms and modern application architectures.

• Working knowledge of software development practices and methodologies.

• Prior hands-on technical experience (development and infrastructure) is required—active coding not expected.

• Strong ownership mindset and accountability for end-to-end solution outcomes; proactive and forward-thinking risk management.

• Strong facilitation, decision-making, communication (written/verbal), and stakeholder influence skills.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery realities; collaborative leadership style.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Degree in IT, Computer Engineering, or Information Systems.

• 8+ years’ proven experience as a Solutions Architect.

• Experience with hybrid architectures and on-prem/cloud integration.

• Demonstrated experience assessing and leading cloud migration initiatives (workload suitability analysis, high-level cost modelling, risk identification, and evaluation of migration strategies – 7Rs).

• Experience delivering enterprise applications in financial services and/or banking environments.

• Strong understanding of API-based integration.

• Exceptional problem-solving, organisational and interpersonal skills; able to simplify complex problems and pitch solutions at the right level.

• Proven team leadership and/or mentoring experience.

Your Toolkit

• Technical knowledge in .NET, C#, SQL Server, AWS, Azure, GCP, Windows, and containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes) is beneficial.

• Hands-on technical understanding, with prior experience in development (though active coding not expected).

• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks like POPIA and PCI/DSS, as well as security best practices (OWASP).

• Working knowledge of architectural diagramming, solution documentation, and workshop facilitation.

Success Measures

• Solutions delivered that meet business objectives and architectural standards.

• Reduced technical risk and improved delivery outcomes.

• Positive stakeholder engagement and trust.

• Clear, well-governed, and sustainable solution designs.

What’s In It For You

• Earn what you deserve: Enjoy competitive pay that grows with you through annual increases.

• Recharge fully: Benefit from 20 days of annual leave, with more time for rest, travel, or personal projects.

• Earn rewards for successful referrals: Employee referral program for bringing talented people into the team.

• Work with purpose: Gain hands-on experience on exciting projects across industries, collaborating with top South African and international clients.

• Advance your career: Receive mentorship and structured leadership training to accelerate your professional development.

Who We Are

Get to know the team, the tech, and the impact we create at https://saratogasoftware.com