Principal Architect Systems & Enablement

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 Principal Architect: Systems and Business Enablement serve as the senior authority responsible for shaping and integrating the organisation’s technology, processes, and data into a unified operating model. The role drives the design, governance, and assurance of end to end architecture across VBTS OSS, ITSM (ServiceNow), and analytical platforms.

• Functionally, the role ensures that systems, processes, and data are aligned and operate as a cohesive, standards driven ecosystem. It enables scalability, automation, and data led decision-making by establishing robust architectural frameworks, enforcing best practices, and guiding the evolution of platforms and capabilities. The position ultimately underpins consistent, efficient delivery and business performance across VBTS.

Your responsibilities will include:

Enterprise Architecture & Design Authority

• Define and maintain current‑state and target‑state architectures across:
  
  • OSS platforms (assurance, provisioning, inventory, activation)
  • ITSM / ServiceNow ecosystem
  • Data and analytics platforms
• Act as the design authority for all significant system and integration changes
• Review and approve solution designs to ensure alignment with architectural standards and strategic intent
• Reduce architectural complexity, technical debt and duplicated capability

Process Architecture & Standardisation

• Define and govern end‑to‑end process architectures spanning assurance, fulfilment, service management and reporting
• Ensure process designs are:
  
  • Digitally enabled
  • Automation‑ready
  • Consistent with ITIL, TMF and enterprise process frameworks
• Work with business analysts and enablement teams to translate operational needs into executable process models

Data Architecture & Governance

• Own the VBTS data architecture, including:
  
  • Canonical data models
  • System‑of‑record definitions
  • Data flow and lineage models
• Establish and enforce data governance standards, covering:
  
  • Data ownership and stewardship
  • Data quality, integrity and consistency
  • Master and reference data management
• Ensure reliable, auditable and reusable data across OSS, ITSM and analytics platforms

Integration & Automation Architecture

• Define standards for:
  
  • System integrations and APIs
  • Event‑driven and orchestration‑based automation
  • Workflow and rules‑based processing
• Ensure integrations are resilient, secure and scalable
• Drive architectural patterns that enable proactive, predictive and automated operations

ServiceNow Technical & Platform Architecture

• Serve as the technical authority for ServiceNow implementations within VBTS
• Define architectural patterns for:
  
  • Module usage (TSM, TSOM, OMT, TNI, SPM)
  • Integration with OSS, field force, analytics and finance systems
  • Data and reporting enablement
• Ensure ServiceNow configurations adhere to best practice, performance and upgradability standards

Architecture Governance & Assurance

• Establish and run architecture review forums in support of the EHOD
• Participate in portfolio and PMO governance to:
  
  • Assess architectural impact of initiatives
  • Identify dependencies and risks early
  • Ensure architectural readiness before deployment
• Provide authoritative advice to the EHOD on design trade‑offs and technical risk

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide architectural leadership and mentorship to:
  
  • Domain architects
  • Solution designers
  • Senior business analysts and data specialists
• Uplift architectural maturity and documentation standards across the function

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• Matric is essential.
• Bachelor’s degree/Diploma in Computer Science, Information Systems, Electrical / Electronic Engineering, or related technical discipline (required)
• Postgraduate qualification (MSc, MEng, MBA or equivalent) (advantageous)
• Formal architecture certifications (TOGAF, TMF, ITIL, or equivalent) (advantageous)
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in architecture, OSS, ITSM or enterprise systems roles
• Proven experience as a lead or principal architect within complex enterprise or telecoms environments
• Deep hands‑on experience with:
• OSS architectures and integrations
• ITSM / ServiceNow implementations
• Data architecture and analytics enablement
• Strong track record in architectural governance and large‑scale platform evolution

Core competencies, knowledge and experience:

• Approved target and solution architectures
• Standardised process and integration models
• Clear data models and governance artefacts
• Reduced complexity and technical debt
• Architecture decisions that directly enable automation, analytics and operational scale
• Strong system and abstraction thinking
• Pragmatic, outcome‑oriented architecture
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders
• Authority without reliance on hierarchy

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: 09 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.