Solution Architect: Roles, Responsibilities, Skills, Qualifications

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 a solutions architect will continue to gain weight. Software architecture and systems integrated into it are numerous details that work together. A solutions architect needs to be very attentive to those details, as overlooking something may hinder the development process, lead to breakdowns, or make the software solution inefficient. They also should be able to understand the technical specifications of many different software solutions and hardware and perform analysis of different business layers.

Below are six examples that illustrate what solution architecture can achieve in a relatively short time. A solutions architect also bridges communication between IT and business operations to ensure everyone is aligned in developing and implementing technical solutions for business problems. The process requires regular feedback, adjustments, and problem-solving in order to properly design and implement potential solutions.

While these aspects are constraints in themselves, each of them has its own limitations. The solution architect must understand all these constraints, compare them, and then make a number of technological and managerial decisions to reconcile these restrictions with project goals. A solution architect is in charge of leading the practice and introducing the overall technical vision for a particular solution.

The process itself is defined by solution architecture best practices. 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. The solution architecture is described in a document that specifies a certain level of vision for all current and future solutions, applications and processes that the organization has. Designing a solution requires understanding how different parts of the business work together. The architect must recognize the corporate strategy and realize all business processes that define how a company achieves its strategic goals.

64 Segment Architecture

In solution architecture, the client needs are expanded to business needs that in one way or another are related to technology. These needs usually crystallize through re-assessing existing systems and finding out how they benefit or harm the organization in the long run. Sometimes, these evaluations are run by business analysts who also provide a definition of the problem. In the next step, solution architects take this problem and start crafting a description of solutions that appropriately address this need. A solution architecture is an architectural description of a specific solution.

• And it’s a viable option for small projects with predictable outcomes.
• However, an in-house specialist is always better because he knows how things work from inside the business.
• We offer a wide range of services starting from software, mobile, and web app development to outstaffing and IT consulting services.
• A solutions architect creates the overall technical vision for a specific solution to a business problem.
• With companies increasingly relying on software and emerging technologies, the role of a solutions architect will continue to gain weight.
• An abstracted plan for business or technology change, typically operating across multiple disciplines over multiple years.

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. EA is particularly concerned with the lifecycle of applications and defining IT strategies. Most solutions architects have spent at least https://globalcloudteam.com/ a few years in software development. This gives them a strong understanding of the tools and technologies involved in designing solutions. Five to 10 years of hands-on experience in network administration or information technology systems is common, but it varies based on what a specific company is looking for.

Deep analytical skills

Solution architecture defines how those requirements would translate into the way a given software operates. Once solution architects are given a problem, they are not only in charge of finding the answers, but of actively leading the technical vision to success. Most solution architects have spent many years in the software development world and have therefore learned dozens of tools designed to help them be more effective and productive. With technology architecture, a solution architect details the structural design of the IT infrastructure that is needed to support the proposed solution.

Analyze the impact of the solution on the state of the business‘ goals and direct outcomes of solution implementation. Solution architecture is one of the foundational elements of any project or organization. Describe the structure, characteristics, behavior, and other aspects of the software to project stakeholders. Align the technical solution across the supply chain – Solution AEs align suppliers through relevant parts of the solution intent, solution context, and solution roadmap.

Solution architects use system architecture to design new software entities that automate processes. In their conceptual model, they also determine the placement and behavior of each software component. Define and design proposed software architecture that fits the specifications of the project or business solution. Most businesses rely on a deep and wide technology stack that’s interconnected and integrated. Here’s what to know about a solutions architect’s salary, needed skills and how to become one. To successfully design, create, and lead the development of a software solution, a solutions architect needs to have a certain skill set.

Thus, solution architecture translates technical business needs into practical IT solutions while establishing rules and instructions for proper implementation and delivery. It also considers all external factors that could have an impact on the development process. This way, digital projects are less likely to fail and there is a consensus between EA teams and development teams. SA can be seen as a support system that provides structure and reduces the scope of complexity when developing and rolling out new systems and applications.

Employers: How to Write Great Job Descriptions

So, having one or more credentials proves the expert’s proficiency in specific skills. If you have already realized the importance of solution architecture in your projects, the next step is to source and hire the person for the role. We’ve considered the core skills that a good solution architect must possess. Ultimately, technical architects define how the software must be engineered, while infrastructure architects make sure that this software is successfully deployed and operates well. And yet, a technical architect may be responsible for infrastructure as well.

Also, by collaborating with the project management team, solution architects cover the risks of product misalignment with stakeholder requirements and ensure that the solution fits the defined purpose. 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. Unlike the solution architect, the software architect typically doesn’t deal with financial and organizational issues.

Azure solution architect certification

Since the IT world is changing at a dramatic pace, there has been a lack of consensus when it comes to defining the role of a solution architect. Because just like within the field of enterprise architecture, there’s a level of abstraction that might be hard to grasp from a non-technical perspective. It’s dangerous to assume that hiring an enterprise architect who delegates tasks to development teams can cut out the middleman. The solution architect is absolutely necessary to ensure that solutions are implemented correctly.

Normally used in the phrases Technology Roadmap, Architecture Roadmap, etc. A discrete portion of a capability architecture that delivers specific value. When all increments have been completed, the capability has been realized. Supports business capabilities through an explicitly defined interface and is explicitly governed by an organization. A conceptual structure used to plan, develop, implement, govern, and sustain an architecture. Glossary of Supplementary Definitions should be referenced for supplementary definitions not defined in this chapter.

It contains implementations of the corresponding definitions in the Architecture Continuum. An architectural style that supports service orientation.See also 3.6 Architectural Style and 3.66 Service Orientation . A system that manages all of the data of an enterprise, including data and process models and other enterprise information.

What is an infrastructure architect?

We shall cover the importance of having a solution architect among your staff, some of the approaches of these experts, and why you need them. The organized collection of all architecture views pertinent to an architecture. A repository of re-usable solutions for future implementation efforts.

Techopedia Explains Solution Architecture

Solution architect plays a central role in an organization’s efforts to introduce and successfully implement new technology solutions. Systems consist of single software tools or applications that people use to carry out their work. Solution solutions architect definition architects rely on application architecture to create a map of all applications and how they interact with each other. In this case, a solution architect maps out a solution to business objectives with the help of a business capability map.

So, in other words, the enterprise architect defines what has to be done, while the solution architect then decides how to do it. In every new IT project, solution architecture is a vital link between the IT strategy of a business and the successful implementation of technical solutions. By looking at a specific problem, solution architects conceptualize the best possible solution while taking all functional and non-functional requirements into account.

Understanding how different parts of the business operation are connected with each other and how business processes achieve their goals. The solution description may also include other relevant aspects, such as budget, alternative options, etc. This description is subsequently presented to the project’s stakeholders. After that, it would be a good thing to extract insights out of it and understand how it contributes to the improvement of the product or service. AWS certifications are valid for 3 years after which the credential holders have to go through recertification to prove their continued expertise and knowledge of the latest AWS technologies and best practices.