Lead Software Architect

About the role

Sliema Tech Labs is a Malta-based technology company specialising in SaaS platforms for fintech and iGaming clients across Europe. We are a fast-growing SME with an international client base and a collaborative engineering culture based in Sliema with hybrid working arrangements.

The Lead Software Architect will own the technical vision and architecture across our core products, partnering closely with product managers, engineering managers and DevOps to deliver scalable, secure systems. You will design microservices, shape cloud and CI/CD standards, conduct reviews, and mentor senior engineers while keeping a hands-on role for key technical deliveries.

This is a strategic role with direct influence on product roadmap, technical debt reduction and hiring for the engineering team. The position offers exposure to cross-border projects, opportunities for technical leadership development and competitive compensation with benefits suited to experienced tech leaders in Malta.

Candidates should expect a pragmatic, delivery-focused environment typical of Maltese tech companies — small teams, fast decision cycles and regular collaboration with stakeholders across Valletta, Sliema and international partners.

About Sliema Tech Labs

Sliema Tech Labs is a Maltese-owned software house providing cloud-native solutions to clients in fintech and iGaming. Our teams combine local knowledge with international delivery, offering engineering, product design and managed services from our Sliema office.

What you can expect

• Hybrid work model with modern seafront office in Sliema/Gżira
• Competitive salary and annual performance bonus
• Training and certification budget for technical development
• Clear leadership path and opportunity to shape engineering practices

Key responsibilities

• Define and own the technical architecture and roadmap for core product lines, ensuring scalability, security and maintainability.
• Design and review microservice boundaries, API contracts and integration patterns.
• Lead technical decision-making across teams, producing architecture artefacts and technical guidelines.
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering Managers to align technical strategy with business priorities.
• Mentor senior engineers and perform regular architecture and code reviews to improve code quality and delivery practices.
• Drive cloud architecture (AWS/Azure) best practices, cost optimisation and observability standards.
• Shape CI/CD pipelines, deployment strategies (containers, IaC) and disaster recovery planning.
• Identify technical debt, propose pragmatic remediation plans and lead their execution alongside delivery schedules.

Requirements

• Minimum 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 3 years in an architectural or technical lead role.
• Proven experience designing distributed systems and microservices in production.
• Strong practical knowledge of one or more backend stacks such as Java, .NET Core, Node.js or Go.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS or Azure), containers (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with relational and NoSQL databases, API design (REST/GraphQL) and messaging patterns.
• Experience with CI/CD tools (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins) and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, ARM).
• Excellent communication skills in English for stakeholder engagement and documentation.
• Eligible to work in Malta or able to provide right-to-work documentation in line with local hiring processes.

How to apply

Email your CV, a short cover note and links to any relevant architecture diagrams or GitHub/portfolio to the contact email below. Indicate your notice period and preferred start date.