Application Architect

We are expanding the LabourNet Platform and appointing an Application Architect to provide hands-on design and delivery support within our squads.

This role is embedded in delivery with a strong focus on solution design and practical implementation.
It is suited to candidates who combine architectural capability with a passion for building.
Level and remuneration will be aligned to the candidates experience.

 Core metrics:

• Design real solutions. Turn product and business intent into application architecture service boundaries data models events integrations and API contracts sized to the problem rather than over-engineered.
• Prove it in code. Build reference implementations and spikes on our actual stack so squads have a clear working path to follow. Contribute production code where thats the fastest way to de-risk a decision.
• Review what matters. Give concrete useful feedback on architecturally significant pull requests.
• Make governance enforceable. Capture decisions as ADRs (with clear revisit if triggers) and wire architectural standards into CI as automated fitness functions so quality is checked by the pipeline not policed by a person.
• Own the cross-cutting concerns. Security performance scalability observability reliability and cost expressed as testable expectations.
• Grow the squads. Coach engineers and tech lead and transfer architectural thinking rather than gatekeeping it.
• Shape the roadmap. Surface technical risk debt and sequencing so product and platform planning stays honest.

Minimum Requirements:

• Frontend: Angular 21
• Backend: Quarkus 3.33 (Java)
• Database: PostgreSQL 18 (Azure Postgres)
• Cloud & runtime: Azure Container Apps (primary region: South Africa North)
• Eventing & messaging: Azure Event Grid Azure Service Bus
• AI: Langchain4J Azure OpenAI
• Workspace management: NX 22
• IaC & delivery: Terraform 1.14 az CLI Azure DevOps (Repos & Pipelines)
• Testing: Playwright Vitest RestAssured JUnit Mockito

Youll also help us evolve a legacy footprint (Java 8 / Vaadin / TomEE / SQL Server) toward this stack over time.

Main Responsibilities:

Youve designed and built non-trivial application architectures (the built part matters here).

• Strong backend engineering on the JVM Quarkus Spring Boot Micronaut or similar.
• Enough modern frontend depth (Angular or comparable) to design end-to-end and review meaningfully.
• Solid performance-aware data modelling on PostgreSQL or equivalent.
• Cloud-native design on Azure (or strong AWS/GCP experience you can carry over): containers eventing messaging.
• Comfort with microservices / modular-monolith and event-driven design and the coupling trade-offs involved.
• A practical governance habit: ADRs automated architectural testing / fitness functions CI/CD.
• Clear communication and a genuine interest in growing the engineers around you.

Qualifications :

• A bachelors degree in IT or related field
• Exposure to working in an Agile methodology
• Exposure within a Payroll/HR or financial services environment would be advantageous

Additional Information :

Why Join Labournet

At Labournet youre joining more than a company - youre becoming part of a platform built to empower people and drive purpose. With over 28 years of innovation in compliance and people solutions we invest in our employees so they can grow make a national impact and help shape the future of work across South Africa.

What We Offer:

• Youll obtain a wealth of experience and knowledge at a much faster pace than you would in an internal compliance-focused role due to our national footprint across different industries.
• Youll have access to structured career paths accredited training performance coaching and mentorship to support your professional growth.
• Youll be part of a team that drives compliance and transformation across South Africa giving your work real purpose and impact.
• Youll benefit from hybrid work options and a culture that supports work-life integration because we believe wellbeing fuels performance.
• Youll enjoy competitive salaries holistic benefits and a lucrative sales commission policy.
• Youll thrive in a collaborative tech-enabled environment where we value output over hours and encourage innovation at every level.

How We Work

Gone are the days of rigid office hours and long commutes. Our hybrid working model allows teams to co-create flexible arrangements that support productivity and personal wellbeing.

Who We Are:

Labournet is a proudly South African company offering integrated solutions in Payroll Labour Law Health & Safety Transformation Training Technology and Commercial Compliance. We serve over 6500 businesses nationwide helping them stay compliant and competitive.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time