What Is a Solutions Architect and How Do I Become One?

Also, the architect may sometimes propose technical standards, including coding standards, tools, or platforms. Software architects may also be engaged in the design of the architecture of the hardware environment. Even the most sophisticated software product is worth investing in only if it can bring real business value. A software architect is a person who ensures that you spend money on tech solutions wisely instead of taking a shot in the dark.

• It also requires a breadth of knowledge in the technical and business inner workings of the company.
• Since a solutions architect works closely with many different segments of your organization, project management, and communication skills are vital to the position.
• They provide technical leadership and make decisions regarding the most crucial elements of a system being created.
• What is a solutions architect, their roles and responsibilities, and how they’re different from software engineers and Project managers — find out in this article.
• Stacked up on each other, it encourages discussion, “this is what we’re trying to achieve.
• This understanding equips them with the ability to structure and design robust, scalable, and sustainable solutions.

You make a good point that to find a solution architecture function to see what’s best for the building you’ll need technology assessment and comparison. This is why it’s good to hire an architect since they can either do that before constriction or even check a building before adding on to it. If what does solution architect do a company is not sure whether their building is structurally sound, it would be good to hire a property condition assessment service as well to see what they need to work on. We’d recommend choosing the second option as solution architects and enterprise architects mostly focus on different goals.

Requirements and skills

Solution architects typically work in collaboration with other IT professionals, such as project managers, developers, engineers, and analysts. They may also work closely with business stakeholders, such as executives, department managers, and end-users. As such, solution architects may spend a significant portion of their time in meetings, discussions, and brainstorming sessions, both with their colleagues and with external stakeholders. You’ll also find solution architects within tech firms who need to position their software with customers during the sales cycle and aid implementation through ad-hoc projects.

Based on strategic plans, an enterprise architect designs complex enterprise ecosystems. Overall, the work of these specialists is much more business-oriented than the tasks of their solution and technical counterparts. Typically, solutions architects have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or network administration. Many solutions architects even have advanced degrees like a master’s in information systems.

Technical Architect

As for the business owners, it allows them to assess candidates’ tech knowledge and to define if they’re experienced enough to be involved in your project. Certifications are aimed to confirm the skills and expertise of solution architects. So, having one or more credentials demonstrates the candidate’s proficiency in particular skills. It’s like hiring a super-senior developer but with deep expertise in a specific field — healthcare, education, traveling, or any other.

So, no, I do not think in my situation specifically, my role is undervalued. You will also need at least five years of experience working in software development and project management. On the other hand, a cloud architect will adopt plans, develop cloud application designs, and monitor cloud management.

Solution Architect

A Solutions Architect is like water — you’ve got to mold yourself and your skillset into whatever situation you’re presented with. If you enjoy good conversation and know how to talk to people, and tailor the conversation to their specific needs, cool. If you understand operating systems, programming, networking, and the latest and greatest in technology, even better. If you’re authentic and strive to act as an advocate for the change your customer is wanting to achieve, that’s a nice touch, too.

They have a clear vision of a product and understand how this product should benefit a business. A solution architect also translates this vision to a coding team to build a highly tailored product to the enterprise’s needs and requirements. It also requires clear communication skills and the ability to translate technical details of the project into simple language that will be easy for non-technical stakeholders to understand.

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There could be people in the room that have no idea about what particular marketing terminology, so you must simplify by using frameworks that make concepts easy to explain. Every project has a constraint that keeps varying from one type of project to the other. The most common project constraints incorporate – Money, time, risk, limitation, and licensing. Get hand-selected expert engineers to supplement your team or build a high-quality mobile/web app from scratch. In terms of organization structure, would you think Solution Architecture team should be under Enterprise Architecture or as a standalone unit in par with Enterprise Architecture? Next, they propose a combination of building blocks that provides the best possible solution.

You will likely need a bachelor’s degree or higher in information technology, computer science, software engineering, or a related field. For more senior roles, you may need more experience or education, including a master’s degree. Depending on the role, you might also need experience in specific IT areas, such as networking administration, development, customer service, or other relevant areas. Solutions architects are a vital role in any organization that wants to align its business goals and needs with IT services, products, software, and infrastructure. The ITIL Expert certificate is a prerequisite for gaining this credential. The candidate is also required to have over 5 years of experience in leadership, managerial, or high-level advisory roles.

Risk Identification and Management

A solution architect should be working and collaborating with leaders across every segment of your organization. In addition, a solutions architect must also work closely with clients and key stakeholders. The salary range for Solutions Architects varies based on several factors, including experience, geographic location, industry, and the complexity of projects they undertake. However, it is noteworthy that Solutions Architects are often among the highest-compensated professionals in the IT industry. As the bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders, strong communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for a Solutions Architect. They must effectively articulate technical complexities to non-technical personnel and facilitate discussions to drive consensus and decision-making.

For example, protecting customer data under GDPR and other privacy regulations is a business-level problem. Solution architecture defines how those requirements would translate into the way a given software operates. A solution architect is sometimes confused with enterprise architect and software architect. This is because their positions sound similar and the responsibilities overlap partially. Yet, each role is essential for a project’s success and cannot be substituted by another position.

What Is Solution Architecture?

They also have to provide a clear strategy throughout the whole software development process. As the name suggests, a technical architect focuses on engineering aspects of architecture and usually does not make financial or strategic decisions, unlike infrastructure or enterprise architects. These specialists determine how exactly software technologies should be used to meet the customer’s demands. So, if enterprise architects use strategic thinking and decide what needs to be done, then technical architects are tacticians who decide how things should be done. Enterprise architecture is becoming more critical as businesses expand their technical footprint and rely on an array of technologies to run business processes.

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM): Everything You Need to Know

My experience as a sysadmin taught me that gaining trust and exemplifying integrity in front of the people you’re dealing with is the way to go in every kind of conversation, sales-related or not. In reference to my role, the customer can bring me a long way in the conversation. Looking back at my most successful implementations, I had some level of a great friendship with that customer.

Solutions Architects Within a Company

Most solutions architects have spent at least a few years in software development. This gives them a strong understanding of the tools and technologies involved in designing solutions. Five to 10 years of hands-on experience in network administration or information technology systems is common, but it varies based on what a specific company is looking for. It also requires clear communication skills and the ability to translate the technical details of the project into simple language that will be easy for non-technical stakeholders to understand. Successful solutions architects are usually curious, rational, analytical, and methodical—all of which are important traits for this job.