Senior Software Architect

Qualifications & Demographic Details

Cobus is a White male based in Gauteng and holds a National Diploma in Computer Engineering from Technikon Pretoria. With over 24 years of full stack development experience, he has built an impressive career specialising in Microsoft technologies, focusing on .NET (Core and Framework), C#, and SQL Server. Cobus also holds extensive experience in software architecture, enterprise system design, and team leadership, making him a well-rounded and technically accomplished software professional.

Development Experience

Cobus has over 24 years of experience as a software developer, with a core strength in full stack development, specialising in backend development and enterprise software architecture. His experience includes designing, developing, and maintaining large-scale, mission-critical applications in the financial services and banking sectors, focusing on system reliability, scalability, and performance.

He has led numerous system modernisation initiatives, transforming legacy monolithic systems into microservices-based architectures while ensuring compliance, security, and cost optimisation. Cobus is proficient in building and integrating RESTful and SOAP APIs, managing third-party system integrations, and developing high-performance systems with .NET Core, SQL Server, and WCF technologies.

His work includes developing core banking systems, card transaction engines, workflow platforms, and content management systems. He also has experience with containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes), Azure DevOps, and AWS sandbox environments. As a technical lead and software architect, Cobus mentors developers, enforces coding standards, and ensures architectural consistency across projects.

He is known for delivering robust, production-ready software solutions that balance innovation with stability, following SOLID principles and design patterns such as Repository, Factory, and Strategy.

Technical Stack

He has commercial experience in the following technologies and tools:

Languages & Frameworks:
C#, VB.NET, .NET Framework, .NET Core, ASP.NET, MVC, Blazor, Angular, Node.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, JQuery, AJAX, WPF, WinForms

Databases:
SQL Server, Redis, Oracle

Web Services & Integration:
REST APIs, SOAP, XML, JSON, RPC, WCF, RabbitMQ, HSM Integration, EMV, API Design

Tools & Platforms:
Azure DevOps, Docker, Kubernetes, GIT, IIS, AWS (sandbox environments), Windows Server, Visual Studio

Reporting & Data:
SSRS, SSIS, Data Modelling, T-SQL Stored Procedures, Performance Tuning, SQL Optimisation

Key Projects & Applications Developed

• Led the re-architecture of a legacy monolithic banking platform into a microservices-based architecture with enhanced scalability and performance.
• Designed and developed a PCI-DSS compliant card transaction engine for secure card authorisation and EMV authentication.
• Created an integration layer for third-party services, enabling REST, SOAP, RPC, and custom file-based communication between multiple financial systems.
• Built a web service layer on legacy systems, extending compatibility to modern RESTful APIs.
• Developed an automated file handling system that manages ACK/NAC messages and routes files securely between internal and external systems.
• Designed an in-house workflow and content management system featuring a graphical rules engine for non-developers and document indexing for national-level deployments.
• Implemented a low-code front-end framework that converts XML data to styled HTML and back to XML for third-party integration.
• Built a Change of Control system to manage versioning, sprint tracking, and automated builds from Visual SourceSafe.
• Developed a barcode-based physical file tracking system integrated with handheld scanners for document storage optimisation.

Strengths & Competencies

• Strong expertise in full stack and backend development using Microsoft technologies.
• Proven experience designing and architecting large-scale enterprise systems.
• Skilled in system integration, API development, and cloud-based architecture.
• Deep understanding of design patterns, SOLID principles, and clean code practices.
• Experienced in refactoring and modernising legacy applications into microservices.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with attention to performance and security.
• Exposure to containerisation, cloud environments, and DevOps pipelines.
• Highly dependable, standards-driven, and detail-oriented developer committed to quality and long-term system sustainability.

Career Summary & Highlights

Position 1:

Banking Software Development Sector / Senior Software Architect : 2005 – Current
Cobus leads architecture and development for enterprise banking systems, overseeing the transformation of legacy monolithic applications into microservices. He has driven multiple projects involving core banking solutions, third-party system integrations, and secure financial transaction processing while mentoring a team of developers and architects.

Technologies: C#, .NET Core, .NET Framework, SQL Server, REST APIs, SOAP, RabbitMQ, Docker, Kubernetes, Azure DevOps, XML, WCF, Redis

Position 2:

Financial Services Sector/ Developer : 2000 – 2005
Developed and maintained software systems for pension fund administration, integrating core systems with workflow and content management solutions. He implemented design patterns for scalability, participated in code reviews, and provided mentorship to fellow developers.

Technologies: C#, VB.NET, SQL Server, XML, Web Services, ASP.NET

Availability & Salary

Notice Period: 1 Calendar Month
Salary Expectations: +/- R120 000 gross pm

Like What You See? Here Are Your Next Steps:

1. Request a Full CV
   Email natasha@skillzpage.com and we’ll send you Cobus's full CV straight to your inbox. ( use subject line: Cobus)

2. Want to Speed Up Your Hiring Process?
   Email us up to 10 questions you would usually ask during a first-round interview. ( use subject line: Cobus)
   We’ll record a tailored video interview with Cobus answering your questions and send it to you along with his full CV — all within a few days.

3. Book a Direct Interview
   Prefer a live interview? We’ll schedule a face-to-face or Microsoft Teams interview at your convenience. ( use subject line: Cobus)
   No upfront costs — you only pay if you hire.
   Flexible rates — we’ll agree on pricing before you proceed.

At Skillzpage, we represent senior software architects and full-stack developers like Cobus — professionals with over two decades of experience in C#, .NET Core, SQL Server, microservices architecture, and enterprise-scale banking and financial systems.

As one of South Africa’s leading IT recruitment agencies and technical headhunters, we specialise in sourcing senior developers, software engineers, and solution architects for mission-critical projects across finance, banking, healthcare, and technology sectors.

Whether you’re seeking specialist recruitment partners to fill complex Microsoft technology roles, or need long-term support for IT talent acquisition and executive technical placements, Skillzpage connects top-tier developers with forward-thinking companies throughout South Africa — delivering expertise, precision, and results.