Systems Architect - Discovery Life at Discovery Limited

Key Purpose

• The Systems Architect will lead the design and implementation of complex IT systems, ensuring they meet the company's strategic goals and technical requirements.
• Success in this role involves delivering robust, scalable, secure, and high-performance systems that enhance operational efficiency and support business growth.
• This position is crucial for enabling innovation and maintaining the technological edge of the organization, as well as supporting the operational efficiency of the business unit. The Senior Systems Architect will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to align IT architecture with business objectives.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

• Lead the architecture and design of complex IT systems, ensuring they align with business goals and technical requirements. This involves making critical decisions on system architecture that impact the overall efficiency and scalability of the organization’s systems.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to development teams, ensuring best practices and high standards are maintained. This role influences the technical direction and quality of the projects.
• Advise the Chief Information Officer on all matters relating to systems architecture, performance, security, maintainability, etc.
• Ensure the seamless integration of various systems and technologies, facilitating smooth operation and interoperability. Decisions here affect the reliability and functionality of the integrated systems.
• Continuously monitor and optimize system performance, scalability, and security. This impacts the system’s ability to handle growth and protect against vulnerabilities.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders, including senior management and external partners, to ensure that technical solutions solve the relevant business needs as expressed through requirements documents in a sustainable manner. This role requires effective communication and negotiation skills to align technical solutions with business objectives.
• Create and uphold architectural documentation, standards, and guidelines. This ensures consistency and clarity in the system architecture. Collaborate with other senior architects where appropriate to ensure a sensible level of consistency.
• Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies, driving innovation within the organization. Balance this against prudence, ensuring that trends are not adopted simply because they are trendy, but rather because of the value they will provide. This role impacts the company’s competitive edge and technological advancements, but also forms a crucial role in preventing unnecessary expenditure.
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure system reliability and security. Decisions here are crucial for maintaining system integrity and protecting data.

Education and Experience

Essential

• Matric
• 8+ years’ total experience in the development of software
• At least 2 years in a systems analyst or team lead role

Advantageous

• Degree or Diploma in Computer Science or Information Technology (or equivalent).
• Experience being responsible for a large-scale system area, including designing new functionality, overseeing developers in that area, and supporting it in production over an extended period of time

Technical Skills or Knowledge

Essential

• Java EE Development
• Systems Analysis & Design
• Technical Documentation

Advantageous

• Production Troubleshooting
• Database Development