Principal Specialist: Solutions Architect

About the Role

The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa. Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2026.

Responsibilities

• Your strong technical skills, combined with your ability to think strategically and solve complex problems, will contribute to the successful implementation of our Vodacom Business TechCo strategy.
• Oversee the work of solution architects to identify key end to end functional requirements and support shaping of the end-to-end solution design approach.
• Oversee end to end solutions for complex and multi tower solutions that align with business objectives and our architecture standards, taking into consideration scalability, performance, security and maintainability.
• Capture and drive programmes than enable interconnected offers to enable customers to have a joined up and more effortless experience when consuming beyond mobile products.
• Create and adopt the architectural frameworks and principles to protect the integrity and reusability of the solution throughout the lifecycle, keeping it as simple as possible.
• Collaborate with product architects to define architectural guardrails, product teams for refinement of product features, and with engineering teams and project managers for high level delivery planning.
• Ensure root cause analysis and identifying solution options for complex issues found during delivery or on live services when required.
• Maintain alignment with Enterprise and Integration Architecture standards across all work.
• Definition and enforcement of architecture guidelines, standards and controls.
• Ensure consistency in application architecture and alignment with Vodacom Business architectural standards.
• Assure solution architecture, documentation and ways of working improvement initiatives contributing to the department’s continuous improvement goals.
• Maintain optimal utilisation of the solution architecture teams by matching cross-team resourcing with demand.
• Hold a relevant degree in Computer Science, Engineering or IT.
• Postgraduate qualifications (Desirable).
• 7+ years’ experience in Technology architecture and Systems.
• Extensive experience in managing an architecture team.
• Extensive with Domain Architecture and Design.
• Extensive Understanding of TOGAF Framework.
• Extensive Knowledge of: Fixed data communication technologies [including SD-WAN, MPLS, IP VPN technologies] Voice communication technologies [including IPT, NGN, IN, SIP etc…] Mobile data communication technologies [All available Spectrums including 5G, Managed/Secure Mobility] Cloud, Cyber Security & Managed Services Unified Communications solutions IOT
• 3+ years management experience.
• Business development skills
• unlocking the opportunity based on customers’ business requirements.
• Extensive experience in telecoms/IT design with proven technical co-ordination.
• Experience in change management in a technological context.
• Team player, strong influence and relationship management skills.
• A self-starter with a determination to succeed, balanced with appropriate tact and diplomacy.
• Fluent in English.
• Ability to lead in high-growth, high-uncertainty environments.
• Ability to work in an international and distributed virtual team.
• Excellent Customer relationship management skills with ability to interact at Director level.
• Strong communication and decision-making skills
• ability to balance conflicting interests.

Requirements

• Customer Focus: Prioritizing customer needs and delivering excellent service
• Accountability: seeks feedback and identifies opportunities for improvement or innovation
• Collaboration: Actively fosters collaboration, seeks input and effectively partners
• Resilience: Actively seeks opportunities for growth, demonstrates a strong commitment to self-improvement and has a growth mindset
• Flexibility: uses various techniques to influence others (lobbies, approaches decision makers, finds sponsors)
• People Management: Ensure team work together to deliver on their responsibilities creating accountability and ownership
• Organizational Savvy: Demonstrates strong understanding of assigned strategy for the Business/ Function and creates strong team alignment to the strategy.
• Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages
• Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits
• Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies