Technical Architect/ Tech Lead

Introduction:

We are looking for a strong, hands-on Architect / Technical Architect / Tech Lead to join a client team. This role is ideal for an experienced engineering leader who combines strong technical fundamentals with practical problem-solving, solution design, hands-on coding, and end-to-end ownership. The client is open to considering strong Lead candidates as well who demonstrate Architect-level thinking, technical depth, and the ability to independently own and drive solutions. The focus is on the candidate's capabilities, variety of experience, and ability to smartly solve problems.

Responsibilities:

• Own and drive end-to-end technical solutions, from problem understanding through design and implementation.
• Design scalable, maintainable, and practical software solutions aligned with business requirements.
• Participate in and lead system architecture and solution design discussions.
• Demonstrate strong hands-on engineering skills and participate in coding and whiteboard coding exercises.
• Analyze complex technical problems, identify root causes, and propose practical solutions.
• Ask the right questions to clarify requirements, constraints, and trade-offs before proposing solutions.
• Evaluate technical alternatives and clearly articulate architectural decisions and their rationale.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the engineering team.
• Collaborate effectively with technical and business stakeholders.
• Take ownership of technical outcomes rather than limiting responsibility to a specific component or layer.
• Present technical solutions, architecture, and recommendations clearly and confidently to stakeholders.

Requirements:

Required Technical Skills:

• Strong understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms.
• Ability to reason through problems and explain the selected approach.
• Comfortable solving technical problems through whiteboard coding.

Database Concepts:

• Data modelling
• Relational database concepts
• Query optimization fundamentals
• Indexing
• Transactions and concurrency
• Data consistency and integrity
• Performance considerations

Core Engineering Fundamentals:

• Object-oriented design and programming principles
• Design patterns
• SOLID principles
• Clean and maintainable code
• API and service design
• Scalability and performance
• Reliability and fault tolerance
• Security fundamentals

Architecture & System Design:

• Scalability
• Performance
• Availability
• Maintainability
• Security
• Integration
• Data management
• Operational considerations
• Ability to explain architectural trade-offs and justify design decisions.

Problem-Solving & Engineering Mindset:

• Understand and decompose ambiguous problems.
• Identify assumptions, constraints, and dependencies.
• Evaluate multiple approaches.
• Explain trade-offs clearly.
• Arrive at practical and implementable solutions.
• Think independently rather than relying solely on predefined processes or instructions.
• Take ownership of the outcome from problem definition through implementation.

Communication & Leadership:

• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong presentation and storytelling skills.
• Confidence when communicating with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Clear and structured thinking.
• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts in a simple and understandable manner.
• Ability to explain and defend technical and architectural decisions.
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to influence technical direction through sound reasoning and technical credibility.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

• Worked across multiple layers of a technology stack.
• Personally contributed to architecture and implementation.
• Taken ownership of complete solutions rather than only individual components.
• Worked in environments requiring independent decision-making.
• Demonstrated the ability to move between architecture, design, coding, troubleshooting, and technical leadership.
• Candidates whose experience is primarily limited to large-enterprise environments with narrowly defined responsibilities may not be the best fit.

Level Flexibility:

• Architect-level technical thinking.
• Strong system-design capabilities.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• End-to-end ownership.
• Strong communication and stakeholder presence.
• Ability to make and defend architectural decisions.
• Architect title/previous designation is not the primary consideration; demonstrated capability is.

Client Environment:

• The client is currently in an experimental/trial phase and is evaluating the right technical profile and scope for the role. Therefore, the exact responsibilities may evolve based on the candidate's strengths and the needs of the team.
• The successful candidate should be comfortable operating in an environment where priorities and responsibilities may be flexible and where ownership, adaptability, and technical judgment are highly valued.

Ideal Candidate at a Glance:

• The strongest candidates will demonstrate a combination of technical fundamentals, hands-on coding ability, system-design skills, practical problem-solving, end-to-end ownership, independent thinking, strong communication and presentation skills, architect-level technical judgment, and ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment.

Interview Focus:

• Data Structures & Algorithms
• Database Fundamentals
• Core Software Engineering Concepts
• Hands-on / Whiteboard Coding
• System & Solution Design
• Architecture Trade-offs
• Real-world Problem Solving
• Technical Communication & Presentation
• Ownership and Leadership Scenarios

This is a hands-on Architect role—not a purely conceptual architecture or management position.