Solution Architect: Roles, Responsibilities, Skills, Qualifications

IT architects and their respective teams work through various aspects of a project life cycle; devising, planning, and designing the implementation of improved processes, business capabilities, and applications. Alternatively, a software architect will be involved in the solution architect performance goals build phase of the project. Their job is to define and document software structures based on known functional and non-functional requirements. This will enable software engineers to produce the solution as defined, reviewed, and approved by the solution architect.

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. To better understand the role of solution architecture in the context of software development, you first need to think about what a solution is. 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. An infrastructure architect is much like a technical architect but with a focus on a corporate on-premises server or cloud systems employed by an organization.

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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. These specialists are responsible for the project vision that underlies the solution and translates that vision into reality. Solution Architects require a combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and excellent communication skills. They need to understand not only the technology and software they are working with but also the business context and the needs of the end users.

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Find Out Which IT Architecture Role is For You with Side-by-Side Comparison

As a result, we can say that a solution architect’s work consists of analytical work, not just technical work. In a way, the solution architect’s job is to build a bridge between enterprise and technical architecture. In other words, provide the infrastructure that will make the system efficient. A solutions architect position primarily focuses on solution-level decisions and analysis of their impact on the overall business goals and their outcomes. In practice, the responsibility of a solution architect depends on the business processes in a particular company.

• Although some of the most common degrees solutions architects hold are bachelor’s degrees in information technology, computer science, or software information.
• Solution architecture is focused on details and solution technologies to address a specific business problem.
• So, there is no training course for this exam since every specialist will be tested based on their individual experience.
• 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.
• As the name already suggests, enterprise architecture paints a big picture of the enterprise that includes all business entities and their relationship to technology and applications.

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. Each of these individual systems provides a certain value while executing specific operations and completing processes in the act of driving. When we’re cold, we can turn on the heat or air conditioning if we’re hot. We can turn on the headlights at night, and when it’s raining, we can use the windshield wipers.

Enterprise architect vs solution architect vs technical architect

He must know how the architecture of each module of the system is arranged, how each element of the project works, and how everything is interconnected into a single ecosystem. This specialist is responsible for making sure the future solution will perfectly fit all business requirements and end-user needs. They are the ones who oversee the successful implementation of the quality solution. Therefore, they have to possess a clear understanding of the client’s vision and goals to achieve productive and effective outcomes.

This means that established industry patterns and standards should be used when creating conceptual models. The detailed solutions are then shared with developing teams, often in the form of a solution architecture diagram or a written document. You need to forge a link between the existing enterprise architecture and the particular project. Solution architects will guarantee the solution meets the standards of your company environment. All software projects have to meet a number of non-functional requirements that describe the characteristics of the system. The solution architect’s role is to analyze all non-functional requirements and ensure that further product engineering will meet them.

Enterprise Architect vs. Solution Architect

There are a lot of IT architect certifications available, with most of them being vendor-specific, i.e., focused on mastering a specific technology. Yes, a solutions architect is an important and senior position that is both well-compensated and highly sought-after. On the other hand, a cloud architect will adopt plans, develop cloud application designs, and monitor cloud management.

Solution architecture is one of the foundational elements of any project or organization. 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. When it comes to building from scratch, changing, or upgrading your software solution – the earlier, the better.

Enterprise Architect Vs. Technical Architect Vs. Solutions Architect

As an architect has a central role in any project and leads every team on it, ineffective communication can lead to big bottlenecks. So, this specialist should be able to clearly explain, understand everyone’s point of view, listen, advise, and influence. Usually, when someone mentions infrastructure architects, they refer to solutions architects with all the responsibilities that were described in the previous section of this article. The name “infrastructure architect” usually highlights the fact that this specialist designs and implements software solutions based on the current infrastructure of the customer’s business. Solution architecture helps visualize how different aspects of information and business and technology structures can be applied toward a particular solution.

A solution architect’s role differs from enterprise architects and technical architects. This page will explain the roles and responsibilities of a solutions architect, their career path, and how they differentiate from other IT roles. A good solution architect should excel in communication with stakeholders while having a good grasp on how to negotiate with different parties. This person should know how to handle risk situations and meet deadlines for product delivery.

Solution Architect Roles And Responsibilities

Solution architecture is the bedrock of every successful development effort. A company seeking to adopt such a framework should work toward matching their architecture, skills, resources with desired business results. Integrating such a structure is dependant upon selecting a skilled solution architect. This person should be experienced with how to orchestrate those business operations which contribute to a company’s ongoing success. Moreover, an architect should be well-informed about various technical specifications.