Solution Architect: Roles, Responsibilities, Skills, Qualifications Leave a comment

Their focus is on how to best implement a particular solution from the tech angle, i.e. arranging the optimal combination of programming languages, frameworks, APIs, and so on. These experts usually get to work after receiving guidance and instructions from a solution architect, and they closely consult with the engineers. The solution architect role description includes organizing a series of actions for software creation and integration with other systems so that its technical implementation corresponds with the firm’s overall goals. A lead architect is a role that leads and manages a team of architects, either within a project, a program, or a portfolio. A lead architect defines the architecture vision and strategy for the team, as well as the architecture governance and processes. A lead architect also mentors and coaches the team members, and monitors and reports on the architecture performance and quality.

If KPI targets aren’t met, a data architect would need to suggest methods, such as new technologies, that can improve the current framework. When coders create databases ad hoc, the resulting construction could become unstable over time. A data architect would analyze current requirements and design data pipelines that are versatile enough to accommodate future changes, feature additions, or any other need that may arise over time.

Solution Architect: Role Description, Responsibilities, and Processes

The skills and knowledge that you’ll need can vary depending on the role, but you can always find certifications and courses for individual skills required for the job such as Java, AWS, Azure, or Apache Kafka. Solutions architects what does solution architect do must be prepared to work with leaders, managers, and employees across every business unit. And if you’re working on a product team, you might also be expected to work with clients to understand expectations and requirements.

The solution architect accounts for choosing tools that best suit the specific project, and this demands tech proficiency to compare and access tools. The tech architect approach directly relies on the solution architect’s technology stack. Furthermore, a solution architect starts too soon in the project with a plan to achieve. Usually, he begins picking the right technology for the business issues and handling architectural concerns to ensure the outcomes are more effective and productive. A solution architect accounts for developing a complete architecture for a software solution and offering strategic direction all through the development phase. The solution architect bridges the business needs, and tech means that developers should consider meeting such demands.

When Do Companies Need a Solution Architect?

However, if you are open to new opportunities and can consider hiring a remote team member, you will increase your chances of hiring the right person. There is a wide variety of certification platforms available that offer training, access to plenty of learning materials, tests to practice the knowledge, etc. Nevertheless, the exam can be taken without any previous preparation in case a professional has a deep understanding of the architecture principles along with solid experience in the IT industry. In many cases, the necessity to fit within the existing infrastructure is a crucial requirement that determines the choices and adds certain restrictions to a project.

• While solution architecture focuses on a solution for a particular business need, enterprise architecture oversees the entire organization’s tech ecosystem and defines strategic directions that the company can take.
• Further, this professional must ensure compliance with data-related rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Define solution requirements, key features of the solution, and phases of implementation.
• Therefore, they have to decide which decisions are beneficial and which are useless in a particular situation.
• Once everything is agreed upon, he or she monitors the process of development and keeps stakeholders informed about the progress.
• The skills and knowledge that you’ll need can vary depending on the role, but you can always find certifications and courses for individual skills required for the job such as Java, AWS, Azure, or Apache Kafka.
• With their invaluable contributions, you can be confident in achieving optimal project outcomes.

You can impress your investors better if you hold complete knowledge of your product and issues to resolve. After that, they pass on their tech vision to their development team, who next starts their work. This person is responsible for figuring out the best possible way of bringing together business needs and technological solutions. Naturally, such a multitude of errands a solutions architect has to perform requires certain qualifications and competencies necessary for them.

When Do You Need Solution Architecture Consulting?

However, like analysts, a data architect can navigate between the various business layers and stakeholders. This activity aims to collect specifications and convert them into a suitable format for software development. The data architect conceptualizes the entire framework while the data engineer implements the plan.

The process of forming solution architecture, and solidifying the technical vision of the solution, is the job of a solution architect (or enterprise architect or computer network architects). In terms of software development, this is the goal behind solution architecture – to describe, design, and manage how things should be in order to achieve business goals and solve problems. An IT solution architect is a professional in charge of developing a comprehensive architecture for a future software solution. They also have to provide a clear strategy throughout the whole software development process. A solutions architect also helps in designing comprehensive solutions that help in meeting the business requirements. Here the primary responsibilities include creating architectural blueprints, diagrams, and documentation which involves the technical components alongside their workflow.

Technical background and experience

For instance, C-suite executives would want to enhance the accuracy and availability of data insights to make better decisions. They will also offer counseling or arguments if something is technically impossible. After four to five years of experience, you’re ready to apply for a data architect position. Look for work in financial markets, educational institutions, healthcare and insurance firms, and other organizations that gather and analyze massive amounts of client data. Software as a service (SaaS) and artificial intelligence companies also employ data architects to power their applications.

This process is very detail-oriented and serves as a connecting piece between enterprise architecture and technical architecture. It also requires a breadth of knowledge in the technical and business inner workings of the company. A solution architect is a specialized role providing the groundwork for software development projects by tailoring IT solutions to specific business needs.

When does a company need a solutions architect?

It guides those building large-scale IT systems as well as those building large, cyber-physical, engineered systems. Many large systems—satellites, vehicles, robotics, medical devices, and more—have both cyber-physical and large-scale IT elements. In practice, the Solution Architect role is typically filled by a small team rather than one individual. The overall need for SAs will continue to increase as the problems that the SMEs present are more complex and thus they require more complex solutions.

A solution architect should know how to analyze and identify potential short-term and long-term risks that may lead to technical issues and hinder future app business operations. The solution architect ensures the outcome fulfills all the business needs and stakeholders’ requirements. If hiring an in-house solution architect is beyond your means, Forbytes is ready to provide you with an outsourced specialist alone or as a part of a dedicated team to bring your enterprise solutions to a new level.

What are a Solution Architect’s skills & qualifications?

Now, we will know what a solution architect does and his roles and responsibilities before and throughout the development process. A solution architect helps the development team understand the project’s vision and plays an important role all through the complete system development lifecycle. This scope of work requires a particular set of skills that can make the process efficient and productive.