In addition, the solution architect is responsible for ensuring that all requirements are met during development. He must examine the limitations of the project in order to optimize possible alternatives and reduce risks. In general, the solution architect is the link between the technical team and the project manager. It ensures the speed and accuracy of information transfer, as well as controls key development processes.

A well-planned solution architecture helps the team working on a project to meet deadlines, act on the budget, and create a solution according to previously agreed customer requirements. Perhaps the most critical skills for the SA are the ability to create consensus and understanding around the architecture. They will work directly with EAs, TAs, business architects, etc. to achieve future state architecture.

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

The solution architect assists the team and leads the project through implementation. These architects work at the enterprise level, designing solutions aligning with the overall business strategies and goals. As a result, enterprise solutions architects often broadly understand multiple business units and organizational functions.

Solutions architecture requires both technical and interpersonal skills to design, describe, and manage solutions. They evaluate the existing environment and examine how different elements of business, information, and technology can be applied to solve a specific problem. A solution architect is a specialized role providing the groundwork for software development projects by tailoring IT solutions to specific business needs. The role consists of many subprocesses that draw from various other IT viewpoints.

What Is Solution Architecture?

If you want to hire an in-house member, the search process will take a while as you have limited access to professionals in your area. 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. This certification targets professionals of different levels of seniority who work with AWS technologies while developing apps and systems. The exam lasts 130 minutes and requires a registration fee, depending on the exam type. The minimum experience needed for this test is at least 1 year working in the field. The certificate is valid for 3 years and requires recertification once it expires.

• They needed someone who could communicate with their clients while the contract is being prepared (solution architecture as a service).
• 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.
• For instance, there is often a fair amount of research that happens during this phase.
• If you have other questions, feel free to reach us, we would be more than happy to sort out your business issues.
• In other words, architect duties are connected with integrating software and hardware.

They often work in the cloud computing industry, wherein businesses rely on them to configure the company’s cloud architecture. This process requires cross-team collaboration between networking, data storage, data processing pipelines, data security and many other disciplines. If he misses even a single detail, it may affect the app development process and result in breakdowns or inefficient software solutions. These professionals specialize in designing and implementing security solutions to protect an organization’s data and systems. They typically have a strong custom software development, system design, and project management background and may also have specialized knowledge in a particular industry or technology domain.

Solutions Architect vs. Enterprise Architect vs. Technical Architect

As a result, solution architects constantly deal with analytical work and move between various business layers. 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. 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.

A solution architect is responsible for the design, development, and evolution of the architectural solution of a product or ecosystem of a company’s products. The developed solution should guarantee compatibility with existing business logic and products. From an employee’s point of view, certification is mainly needed for a specific company. However, it’s the proven approach to become an IT solution architect, increase and acquire credibility.

Solution Architects focus on:

You have more chances to impress investors if you know what product you’re making and what problem it’s going to solve. A solution architect will match product requirements with ways to implement them and explain everything in clear business terms. It’s like hiring a super-senior developer but with deep expertise in a specific field — healthcare, education, traveling, or any other. For solution architects, the business side of the product matters as much as the technical side. Among the responsibilities of solution architects is making sure the software they work on meets all functional requirements. A solution architect is a person who finds the best tech solution to clients’ business problems.

Solution architects bring clarity to a business by understanding the current software domain and tailoring it in ways that improve technical and business performance. They are prominent figures in today’s business environment solution architect role because more companies require complex software architectures to achieve their goals. A solution architect accounts for developing and implementing IT systems architecture that fulfills the planned business needs.

What is the workplace of a Solution Architect like?

So, in other words, the enterprise architect defines what has to be done, while the solution architect then decides how to do it. If the team follows the Agile methodology, the solution architect’s role is to support the development team, accompanying the project at the implementation stage. At the same time, they can create prototypes to identify tech limitations or delve into product design. From there, the solutions architect creates an overall strategic technical vision—not unlike an architect designing a blueprint for a building. These technical solutions architect professionals focus on the technical aspects of a solution. Therefore, these solutions architect responsibilities include the technical architecture design and choosing appropriate tools and technologies.

Therefore, selecting the best solutions architect tool can be essential to the success of the solution. There is no set career path to becoming a solutions architect, however many candidates enter the position from a background in software development. The average salary for a solutions architect can range between $91,000 to $172,000 annually, depending on the experience the candidate has. The average technical architecture salary in the United States is currently around $124,960. 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].

Selecting the project technology stack

In such a situation, the solution architect must understand the company’s business processes in the solutions that are already used in the company. By understanding these processes, they will design a specific solution that is most suitable for the environment. A Solution Architect is a professional who designs and manages the implementation of a specific solution or set of solutions within an organization. These solutions typically involve software or technology systems and are designed to solve specific problems or to improve specific processes within the company. The solution architect role may be the most sought after role in the software development process but it’s not without its challenges.

Main processes covered by solution architecture

Therefore, they have to possess a clear understanding of the client’s vision and goals to achieve productive and effective outcomes. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to get the top-quality, effective, and cost-efficient solution from our solution architects and other software development professionals working here at Intellectsoft. Primarily, a Solution Architect serves a distinct organizational role centered on designing and managing comprehensive technology solutions that effectively tackle business challenges.

Craft A Product Roadmap

Reported salaries range from $75,000 to $160,000 per year, and entry-level workers average around $76,000 per year. The highest paid solutions architects are located in San Jose and San Francisco, where the reported average salaries are $144,000 and $132,000 per year, respectively. You will likely need a bachelor’s degree or higher in information technology, computer science, software engineering, or a related field.