What Does a Solution Architect Do?
Solution Architects typically work for corporations across industries, but they can also work for specialized IT or software firms to perform outsourced work. They communicate with their team members to determine the best methods to overcome business problems using computer software. Their job is to meet with clients or business management to determine current concerns for the company and identify how the implementation of computer systems can help solve problems. They may also be responsible for identifying future business needs and preemptively planning for system integrations or changes.
Solution Architect Skills and Qualifications
Solution architect skills include:
- Identifying, testing and managing risk: They must identify and evaluate the risk to eliminate or mitigate risk in a computer system or network.
- Knowledge of software development process and technical skills: Solution Architects must know the technical aspects of projects to identify risks, propose immediate solutions and provide guidance for the computer system solutions.
- Communication skills: To communicate with all collaborators such as software engineers, management, clients and vendors, they must convey technical language to others often in non-technical terms.
- Project management skills: To manage and train staff for software projects and computer architecture projects in a team environment.
- Organizational and time management skills: To keep projects on schedule and within budget.
- Broad knowledge: Of computer software, hardware and computer languages.
Solution Architect Salary Expectations
The average salary for a Solution Architect is $142,864 per year. Salary estimates are based on salaries submitted to Indeed by Solution Architect employees and users, as well as being collected from past and present job advertisements on Indeed. Solution Architect compensation may vary according to the seniority of the Solution Architect with compensation and benefits for a Solution Architect being at a higher rate for those Solution Architects with several years of work experience. The size of the business or organization will also determine salary rates.
Solution Architect Education and Training Requirements
A Solution Architect should have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The core education of a Solution Architect should be in computer science, information technology or software engineering. After completing this education, Solution Architects can gain further certification in their field from Microsoft and other information technology companies in their chosen specialties. Conferences and networking experiences add to a Solution Architect’s education, career potential and earning ability.
Solution Architect Experience Requirements
Being a Solution Architect is not an entry-level role for information technology professionals. The role of a Solution Architect requires a person who has at least five to ten years of network administration and at least three to five years of additional experience with computer systems, operating systems, security for computer systems and management of databases with experience with hardware and software management. The more senior Solution Architect roles will require that someone has worked consistently five or more years in a network administration, information technology or software development role. Some Solution Architect positions may require management, training, supervising and mentoring experience if the person focuses their work as a Solution Architect project manager or senior Solution Architect role.
Job Description Samples for Similar Positions
The Solution Architect position is a broad and loosely defined job description for various information technology positions, instead of a single job title and job description. Some of the positions that are associated with the title, experience, education and duties of a Solution Architect description and position are:
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
