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. So, continuing the previous example, the software architect determines what exactly has to be done and how the result can be maintained.
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. So, the primary task of an infrastructure architect is to ensure that the software solution will have a certain structure, tech stack, and other features that will enable its seamless integration into the current system. Additionally, a solution architect exercises a leadership role over a project manager (PM). Such a role presupposes working closely with a PM to make sure resources, plans, and strategies are in tune with the project’s objectives. No matter how big or small the business, everyone needs a Solutions Architect in their corner to put a good plan into action.
What Does a Solution Architect Do: Final Words
Understanding these high-level elements is essential to constructing a concrete solution. 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.
- Many large systems—satellites, vehicles, robotics, medical devices, and more—have both cyber-physical and large-scale IT elements.
- For example, if we talk about integration with existing solutions, then a new project must be created using particular technologies to comply with the corporate system.
- If you only have one project that will not take very long to work on, you also do not need a solution architect.
- Dragan is a Software Development Director with over 15 years of experience in his career.
- However, having a solution architect in your organization is vital to the long-term success of your organization and corporate strategy.
- These professionals need all their knowledge to oversee the successful delivery of a quality end product to its end users.
We want to make sure they have a successful implementation throughout the lifecycle and buy again. So, for us, that’s where the sales factor comes in because when the customer likes our product, we can increase that stickiness and build that trust. The first skill a solutions architect needs to possess is the ability to think critically and creatively. Generally, a “solution architect” is about the whole system — hardware, software, and all — which an “application architect” is working within a fixed platform, but the terms aren’t that rigorous or well standardized. Domain architects focus on specific areas, for example an application architect or network architect. Enterprise architects look at solutions for the enterprise aligining tightly with the enterprise strategy.
Software Development Director
Solution architect roles in the software process shouldn’t be underestimated. In fact, it’s one of the most difficult roles in IT because you have to be able to understand both business requirements and technical aspects well. Your job as a solution architect is to design the best possible way to solve your client’s problem by designing a blueprint that meets their requirements while considering all technical factors. 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, the solutions architect’s role is to explain the business requirements to the development team and lead them in building a product that can solve real business issues effectively. The position is very responsible and requires wide-ranging IT skills and knowledge. With companies increasingly relying on software and emerging technologies, the role of this expert will continue to gain weight. 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.
Latest Software Engineering Jobs
I work with government agencies and one of the solutions we’re currently working on is a COVID response project for New Zealand. To create, suggest, and contribute a COVID response solution is pretty amazing; because for many people at this time, getting government support seamlessly is very helpful. Many organizations have different ideas of what a Solution Architect should be.
A solutions architect is responsible for evaluating an organization’s business needs and determining how IT can support those needs leveraging software, hardware, or infrastructure. Aligning IT strategy with business goals has become paramount, and a solutions architect can help define solution architect determine, develop, and improve technical solutions in support of business goals. 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).
What Does Solution Architecture Mean?
They enable businesses to manage information and processes better, more efficiently, so that businesses can realize financial and operational success. We highly recommend you turn to a trusted outsourcing vendor with years of experience hiring software development professionals. First of all, they will grant you access to a vast talent pool of experts.
It’s critical that these decisions are made by an experienced person who can make well-informed decisions based on multiple factors such as cost, time frame constraints, technology dependencies, etc. We’d recommend choosing the second option as solution architects and enterprise architects mostly focus on different goals. Prior to considering solution architecture, we recommend exploring enterprise architecture frameworks that combine both solution and enterprise levels. The enterprise architect has the broadest view of the company’s current state of architecture and goals. It is this expert who is responsible for creating a strategic plan for implementing technical changes.
Key Processes in Solution Architecture
It’s generally best when companies blend enterprise architecture operations with tech architecture activities working closely on a certain project. Solution architects design and configure software products to solve a specific business problem. They often work in the cloud computing industry, wherein businesses rely on them to configure the company’s cloud architecture.
Every application within a larger business process either works independently or interacts with other applications or services as needed to bring value and fulfill requirements. Breaking down each business process into smaller manageable segments provides us with details, much like the process of breaking down a painting into its individual parts to better understand the piece of art as a whole. These details about the business process illustrate how the process is managed at a higher level. A “workflow description” describes how the business operation is managed, in what order, and why. Each level plays an important role in architecting a proper, efficient solution that yields business value. 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.
Big Data and Hadoop: Everything You Need to Know
If you want to catch all details quickly, check out our video about a solution architect role. There are no industry standard definitions for Architect job titles — Application/System/Software/Solution Architect all refer in general to a senior developer with strong design and leadership skills. The balance of design, strategy, development (often of core services or frameworks) and management differ based on the organization and project. Solutions architects early in their career report earning an average salary of $94,000 per year.
Frente Holística 