Their proficiency lies in designing, implementing, and troubleshooting within their domain of expertise. The Technical Architect’s role is more granular, working within the framework laid down by the Enterprise Architect, focusing on how specific technologies can be applied to achieve that overarching vision. In general, senior technical consultants hold lower degree levels compared to solutions architects. Senior technical consultants are 5.7% less likely to earn their Master’s Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree. Senior system administrators earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $104,418. Comparatively, solutions architects have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $122,080.
A solution architect is the most general and broad role in solution architecture. A solution architect oversees the entire solution lifecycle, from the initial analysis and design to the implementation and testing. A solution architect needs to have a solid understanding of the business domain, the technical domain, and the best practices and methodologies for solution design and delivery.
Solutions Architect Responsibilities
The solution architect’s role is to analyze all non-functional requirements and ensure that further product engineering will meet them. Unlike the solution architect, the software architect typically doesn’t deal with financial and organizational issues. This person focuses on all the aspects related to software engineering on a particular project, i.e., development, implementation, maintenance, support, and evolution. Software architects closely collaborate with development teams and control the entire development process.
- Working as a solution architect is lucrative and continues to remain in high demand.
- He is responsible for ensuring that all layers of the software are in alignment with the business requirements and strategic direction.
- These professionals need all their knowledge to oversee the successful delivery of a quality end product to its end users.
- There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role.
- Vermont Technical College, for example, has a program in computer engineering technology, which can help you get the ball rolling on a career as a solutions architect.
- If you want to learn more about the solutions we have already delivered, we welcome you to check our top client cases and see the level of our expertise in various industries, including yours.
You need to approach your career with a vision of what you want to do in the next 5 to 10 years. In your free time, read books on modern computing approaches, say, edge computing, chaos monkey, and service mesh technologies, for example. The reason I’m saying to do this is because you’re going what does solution architect do to open your mind to other people’s conversation towards the advancement of their technology adoptions. On the customer side, there will be different types of architects that you’re talking to, including me, and some mid-level managers to c-levels that are — we can call them agents of change.
When Do You Need Solution Architecture Consulting?
Here’s what to know about a solutions architect’s salary, needed skills and how to become one. The average annual base pay for a solutions architect in the US is $197,854, although it ranges from about $99,000 to $172,000, according to Glassdoor [1]. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for computer network architects are expected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031 [2]. Most of the time, the project https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ involves both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and the solutions architect must make sure that each party’s needs are considered and factored into the project’s scope. After just a few months of using new software, the business was capable of providing better care for their patients. The savings of $350,000+ yearly in only one of their facilities proved how great an investment solution architecture was for the company.
You might also need specialized experience in networking administration, business development, or customer service. According to BLS, employment for computer network architects, a subclass of solutions architects, will grow by five percent over the next decade. The positive job outlook is due in large part to firms expanding their digital capabilities.
Top Reasons to Become a Solutions Architect in 2021
These details about the business process illustrate how the process is managed at a higher level. A “workflow description” describes how the business operation is managed, in what order, and why. Each level plays an important role in architecting a proper, efficient solution that yields business value. An architect must be capable of analyzing and identifying potential short and long-term risks that may cause technical issues and impede business operations in the future.
However, solution architects don’t just hand out instructions and then leave the scene. They work closely with technical architects and manage all the tasks that are needed for the project to succeed. This involves overseeing time schedules, monitoring technological risks, and ensuring that each activity aligns with the business requirements described in the solution. Therefore, the role of a solution architect can be compared to a technical project manager who keeps track of the project throughout all phases.
Tech Stacks: Insights on the Building Blocks of the Digital World
It is about understanding the current state, its impact on the overall architecture, and defining new blocks and their interfaces. The initial high-level design will need to be monitored to confirm that it is consistent and compared with the solution’s overall design. Still, he/she is focused on the highest quality result and that everything is completed on time. Therefore, they have to decide which decisions are beneficial and which are useless in a particular situation. The solution architect works directly on the project while the business analyst develops the requirements.
An example of an already successful business investing in a software system to help run it is the software system I built for an assisted living company. With four facilities and over 600+ bedrooms, they provided care for 1000+ patients. There was an extensive number of personnel, all of whom were trying to keep track of all details required and regulated by government rules and HIPAA compliance.
Technical Skills
Even though this might seem quite basic, it illustrates why solution architecture is one of the most important processes when re-designing your IT landscape. In the corporate world, this means evaluating client needs or problems and addressing them with systems that replace or improve the existing system. As a rule, this person has industry-specific expertise, so he or she understands what stakeholders want and why they want it.
Get hand-selected expert engineers to supplement your team or build a high-quality mobile/web app from scratch. Understanding these scenarios’ complexity and potential impact makes it clear why and when an organization might need to hire an IT Solution Architect. We calculated that 11% of Solutions Architects are proficient in Cloud, Java, and AWS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.
Enterprise architect vs solution architect vs technical architect
Vermont Technical College, for example, has a program in computer engineering technology, which can help you get the ball rolling on a career as a solutions architect. Yes, a coding bootcamp can be a great pathway to a career in solutions architecture. They lead the process of integrating a new IT system with existing infrastructure.