What Is a Solutions Architect? How to Become One, Salary, Skills

Solution architects position appeared in сompanies that create software on an industrial scale. They needed someone who could communicate with their clients while the contract is being prepared (solution architecture as a service). These limitations may change the product a lot — and thus change its cost and time to market.

”, and marketing chimes in, “we didn’t know you needed XYZ, we can easily put that data into our marketing automation platform”. Sales could approach the conversation by remarking on a particular field of interest to them that would support their qualification efforts (e.g grading). Back in time, we worked with one individual, who had the MarTech Architect role.

What Does a Solutions Architect Do?

For instance, if you want to create a simple one-page website, a coding team and a project manager will be able to do this without additional guidance from a solution architect’s side. Consider a course in software architecture to better familiarize yourself with the most common solution architectures. Or consider a specialization such as IBM’s for DevOps, Cloud, and Agile Foundations to learn some of the most popular concepts and methodologies for managing the development process. The solution architect, on the other hand, is focused on the business needs of an organization. Their primary job is to make sure that the solution being developed will meet all of those requirements while also ensuring that it is efficient and cost-effective. A solutions architect position primarily focuses on solution-level decisions and analysis of their impact on the overall business goals and their outcomes.

The solution architect works very closely with the product manager, and in some teams, these roles may even be combined in one person. In other situations, the architect is more responsible for the engineering side of the issue. Most solutions architects have spent at least a few years in software development.

Develop career skills and credentials to stand out

Also, having a Master’s Degree is beneficial when specializing in IT architecture. Training and certification for specific areas like customer service or development is definitely a plus. A Solution Architect professional usually requires a degree in Computer Science or a related field, supplemented by several years of experience in IT or a related field.

In order to do this well, you need good communication skills and creativity. A solution architect does not need to be a developer or a coder to do their job, but they do need to have some technical knowledge and skills. In general, solution architects design solutions that can be implemented by developers and coders.

How Solution Architects Affect Company Success

Business operations gather and employ the data, while IT obtains, stores, and derives that information from varied database resources. In other words, they answer for determining procedures and technologies to be applied in collecting, structuring, storing, and accessing enterprise information. Business owners often think about effectiveness, productivity, cutting costs, optimization, etc, while software engineers worry more about specific engineering challenges. To ensure that the future solution is built as efficiently as possible, architects study the current system architecture and work with the commercial and technical staff.

For me, I come in there, understand their problem, and have those big conversations. We still need to collaborate and integrate with other vendors, at the end of the day. But our aim is to make sure that who we’re talking to has the best solution and we are there every step of the way in that decision-making process. Of course, all architect roles are crossed with other architect roles, but network SA should concentrate more on networking areas such as LAN, WAN, internet, intranet, VPN, IDS, IPS, Firewall, etc.

What is Solution Architecture?

A solutions architect designs and implements IT systems architectures that meet the set business requirements. Their role starts with gathering the requirements, understanding the specifications, evaluating the systems that are in place, and working closely with stakeholders to deliver the right solution. Although solutions architects are not directly involved in project development, they still need to ensure that project resources are being used efficiently and impactfully. They should be business-minded and capable of identifying the most effective solution at every turn for every part of the architecture. It is their responsibility to focus on business goals, including hiring new people, and understand how to achieve them in the set timeframe and within the given budget.

A solution architect is working closely with a variety of professionals and teams within the company to deliver the ultimate flexible, extensible and workable product. 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. If you want to learn more about solutions architects and their importance to your organization, reach out to a skilled development partner for additional information and context. 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 Benefits of Technology in Special Education

Solutions architects 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. A solutions architect in a client-facing role will also need to understand how to manage customer satisfaction and set proper expectations for the end-product. Having a full plan of future software and a list of technologies is always better than having a bare idea.

• Describe your product, and we’ll plan its architecture from the ground up.
• It also requires a breadth of knowledge in the technical and business inner workings of the company.
• A solutions architect is a senior technical position tasked with devising the technical vision to solve business problems.
• Solution architects position appeared in сompanies that create software on an industrial scale.
• According to the Pulse report, only 62% of projects met original goals, 53% were completed within the original budget, and 49% were completed on time.
• These tools – such as the LeanIX EAM – help SA’s map design IT infrastructure, produce diagrams and facilitate the to-be architecture.
• The synergy between these roles is key in building a long-lasting, effective enterprise architecture.

A solutions architect evaluates business needs and supports those business goals and needs with tech solutions. A solution architect’s job is to align business goals with the organization’s IT strategy. If you are a sysadmin and you’re just focused on making yourself awesome on bash scripting, for instance, that’s not going to elevate your career in the long run.

What is a Solutions Architect?

Most importantly, this specific skill is beneficial when creating solutions and achieving optimum results for the organization. However, they also need to stay flexible when they encounter changes along the way. Moreover, their communication skill is crucial, especially it consulting rates when working with project teams and management. They need to have the natural inclination to listen, empathize, and explain their ideas to others. Of course, they need to have a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or Software Engineering.

You will always get an opportunity if you’re working for an enterprise as a junior sysadmin to understand a problem, design a solution, and implement said solution. I’ve done that in my career many times with the aim that I’m going to be a Solution Architect or an enterprise architect in the future. The enterprise architecture tool is designed to help solutions architects manage the transformation and risk of an organization’s IT landscape. This tool leverages technology to make decisions quickly, map designs, and manage possible outcomes and risks of the chosen solution. Most solutions architects hold some kind of bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or software development.

Who is Solution Architect: Processes, Role Description, Responsibilities, and Outcomes

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. However, their responsibility doesn’t end with solving problems as the title suggests.