Senior Specialist: Enterprise Architect

When it comes to putting people first, we're number 1.

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

Role Purpose/Business Unit:

• The role of the Enterprise Architect is to define and govern the enterprise architecture across business and technology domains, ensuring strategic alignment between business objectives and technology capabilities. Drive architecture roadmaps, standards, governance, and transformation initiatives while enabling scalable, secure, and future-ready digital platforms.
• The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of architectural principles, emerging technologies, and a proven track record of successfully leading complex IT initiatives.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and maintain the enterprise architecture strategy aligned to business priorities.
• Define target-state business, application, data, technology, and integration architectures.
• Produce enterprise architecture roadmaps, transition states, and investment plans.
• Establish and govern architecture principles, standards, policies, and reference architectures.
• Lead architecture governance through architecture review boards and design assurance.
• Drive capability-based planning and technology rationalisation across the enterprise.
• Ensure alignment between solution architectures and enterprise architecture standards.
• Collaborate with business executives, product teams, security, infrastructure, and delivery organisations.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide strategic technology recommendations.
• Identify technology risks, technical debt, and architecture improvement opportunities.

AI Skills & Experience

• Develop enterprise AI strategies aligned to business objectives and digital transformation priorities.
• Define AI reference architectures, standards & enterprise design principles.
• Architect AI-enabled business capabilities using Generative AI, Agentic AI, Machine Learning, and Predictive Analytics.
• Design AI solutions leveraging Large Language Models, RAG, AI agents & enterprise knowledge platforms.
• Establish AI governance frameworks covering Responsible AI, ethics, explainability, bias mitigation, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Integrate AI capabilities into enterprise architecture using APIs, event-driven architectures, microservices, and cloud-native platforms.
• Evaluate enterprise AI platforms including Azure AI, OpenAI, AWS AI, Google Vertex AI, and open-source AI technologies.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• 3 years Bachelor's, Honours or Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (advantageous).
• Minimum 5+ years in enterprise architecture, solution design, and IT leadership roles.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., TOGAF, AWS/Azure/GCP certifications) are a plus.

Core competencies, knowledge and experience:

• Cloud Architecture: Deep expertise in AWS, Azure, or GCP
• Microservices & APIs: Strong understanding of microservices patterns, REST, GraphQL, and API management platforms
• DevOps & Automation: Proficient with CI/CD pipelines, containers & observability.
• Security: Familiar with app. security, identity management and secure-by-design principles.
• Data & Integration: Understanding of modern data platforms, event streaming, ETL patterns, and real-time analytics.
• Strong expertise in architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman, etc.) and methodologies.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to address complex technical challenges.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, capable of collaborating effectively with diverse teams.
• Experience with a variety of technologies, such as databases, networking, security, and integration.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies & industry trends
• Capable of articulating the business value of IT investments/projects and collaborating with partners and cross-functional groups during implementation
• Adeptness to engage as a consultative face of IT to the Business and enable technology to address business challenges and improve operational efficiency
• Skill to integrate new technologies with existing business initiatives and understanding the business processes and customer needs
• Good understanding of governance framework (roles and responsibilities, escalation and communication process, handoffs and control points)
• Ability to make recommendations as they pertain to improvements in support/development initiatives and facilitate implementation with partners, IT and cross-functional groups within the Business
• Capacity to manage conflict with partners and cross-functional groups within the Business and IT
• Ability to work with multi-national teams, understand and respect cultural diversity and develop messages that help achieve objectives with diverse audiences

We make an impact by offering:

• 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

Closing date for Applications: 15 July 2026

The base location for this role is Midrand, Vodacom Campus.

The company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.
Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates, and values diversity & inclusion.