Architecture · Contract
Principal Solution Architect
Six-month contract. Design the system, write the hard parts, and coach seniors and juniors across cloud, backend, web, mobile, realtime, and AI.
Aug 7, 2026
- Job type
- Contract
- Location
- Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam (SEA overlap)
- Workplace
- Hybrid
- Seniority
- Principal
- Comp
- Hourly or day-rate · 6-month contract
- Opening day
- Apr 2, 2026
- Closed date
- May 4, 2026
Focus
System architecture · GCP / Terraform · TypeScript / Node.js · Rust / Python · Postgres · Distributed systems / AI
The role
HaikoTek is a small product studio. We are hiring a Principal Solution Architect for our client — real systems, not slide decks.
This is a six-month, hands-on contract. It is not a pure management seat: you design, build, review, and teach.
What you will do
- Own architecture for services and clients: boundaries, data flow, failure modes, and how pieces talk to each other
- Lead design reviews; turn vague ideas into a written plan the team can execute
- Help seniors raise the bar; unblock juniors with concrete examples, not jargon
- Strengthen our cloud and delivery path on GCP — Terraform, CI/CD, containers, and safe deploys
- Guide realtime and event paths (WebSocket, gRPC, Kafka or similar) when the product needs them
- Guide AI work where it earns its keep: RAG, on-device or edge inference, and API-based assist
- Keep docs short and useful: diagrams, ADRs, and runbooks
Stacks you should be comfortable with
You do not need to be the world’s expert in every line below. You do need breadth and judgment — enough to design, review, and jump in.
Cloud & delivery
GCP · Terraform · CI/CD (GitHub Actions or similar) · Docker · disciplined production ops
Backend & data
TypeScript / Node (Nest or similar) · Rust or strong systems languages · Python · Postgres · SQLite · solid schema and migration habits
Realtime & integration
WebSocket · gRPC · Kafka (or equivalent event buses) · HTTP/JSON services · clear service boundaries
Web & clients
Next.js / React · strong API design for web UIs · comfort with mobile or native shells (React Native, Kotlin/Swift, or a shared native core behind a thin UI)
AI
Practical AI features: RAG, embeddings, model APIs, and edge / on-device inference (e.g. ONNX) when latency or privacy needs it — not demos for demos’ sake
You will be a good fit if
- You have led architecture on production systems and still enjoy writing code
- You can explain a hard trade-off in plain English to founders and junior engineers
- You are strong on cloud (GCP preferred) and DevOps: Terraform, CI/CD, containers
- You have shipped backend and web systems; you are not afraid of mobile/native or edge work
- You have used realtime or event stacks (WebSocket, gRPC, Kafka, or close cousins)
- You have shipped or reviewed AI features (RAG, model APIs, or on-device/edge inference)
- You coach people well — seniors and juniors leave sharper after working with you
- You write and speak fluent English in design docs, reviews, and calls
Nice to have
- Rust services or native cores shared across platforms
- Kotlin Multiplatform, SwiftUI / Compose, or React Native New Architecture
- Postgres operational depth (indexes, migrations, failure recovery)
- Prior contractor or consulting work with small product teams
Engagement
- Contract · about 6 months (extension possible if both sides want it)
- Principal level · hands-on
- Hybrid or remote with strong overlap for Vietnam / SEA daytime (ICT)
- Hourly or day-rate, by experience — tell us what you need
How to apply
Use the application form below. Include LinkedIn and GitHub (or similar), a short note on one system you designed and helped build, your preferred rate, your start date, and confirmation that you can work in fluent English.