What does an infrastructure architect do?
An infrastructure architect specializes in designing and establishing information systems to optimize business procedures and company operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and assessments to identify company needs, evaluate existing systems to determine its strengths and weaknesses, and present recommendations to senior officers or executives. Furthermore, an infrastructure architect must spearhead the integration and innovation of systems and technologies, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Infrastructure architect responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real infrastructure architect resumes:
- Improve LDAP ACI management which give the project ability to manage ACI's via grouper rather than case by case basis.
- Manage global voice communications both traditional and VoIP telephony.
- Manage all UNIX environments, installations, configurations and implementations.
- Leverage SharePoint to automate business processes and track historical data.
- Manage Cisco ASA firewalls and Microsoft ISA firewalls in production environment providing secure configurations and monitoring of the firewall logs.
- Research cloud computing to help determine company direction and potential applications to migrate to a cloud-base infrastructure.
- Re-Package java web applications to meet J2EE standard.
- Develop ad-hoc reports for management as needed relate to the NAS environment.
- Move WebSphere from the powetI5 series to Linux running on a virtual environment.9.
- Monitor the Change/Release/Problem/Incident queues to make sure the SLA's are being meet.
- Coordinate with desktop deployment team to insure OS deployment continuity utilizing MDT & SCCM.
- Reduce data center foot print dramatically as well as providing IaaS to several other government agencies.
- Mentore junior systems engineers to take on VMware responsibilities as well as any areas where appropriate.
- Use iDoctor, TPROF, PEX and other OS.400 java tools for perfomance diagnose and JVM tuning.
- Involve in all phase of the SDLC process including application design, deploying code, and resolving deployment issues.
Infrastructure architect skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Infrastructure Architects are proficient in Cloud, Azure, and Amazon Web Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Multitasking skills, Problem-solving skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Infrastructure Architects that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cloud, 11%
Developed a Hybrid Cloud architecture that contained all security considerations, bandwidth utilization, data confidentiality and legal requirements.
- Azure, 9%
Researched and documented findings regarding SharePoint 2013, Office 365, Azure, and cloud-based antispam solutions.
- Amazon Web Services, 7%
Migrated corporate website to Amazon Web Services to provide reliability and security.
- Linux, 7%
Perform capacity analysis on Linux and Windows servers.
- Cloud Computing, 5%
Cloud computing, collaboration, and email solution.
- Switches, 5%
Configure new switches into the fabric as well as upgrade firmware on Brocade 12K switches.
Most infrastructure architects use their skills in "cloud," "azure," and "amazon web services" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential infrastructure architect responsibilities here:
Multitasking skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an infrastructure architect to have is multitasking skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "administrators may have to work on many problems and tasks at the same time." Infrastructure architects often use multitasking skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "refined skills in multitasking and customer service. "
Problem-solving skills. Many infrastructure architect duties rely on problem-solving skills. "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks.," so an infrastructure architect will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways infrastructure architect responsibilities rely on problem-solving skills: "participated in the development of identity management solution for automated provisioning of the active directory and exchange 2003. "
Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of infrastructure architects is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday infrastructure architect duties, as "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "access provisioning of edi databases. "
Communication skills. infrastructure architect responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers." This resume example shows what infrastructure architects do with communication skills on a typical day: "satellite wan communications capacity planning/forecasting (tdrss, goes, iridium etc. )"
The three companies that hire the most infrastructure architects are:
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Compare different infrastructure architects
Infrastructure architect vs. Lead systems engineer
A lead systems engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the systems infrastructure and improving the stability of the operating systems to support business operations. Lead systems engineers install and upgrade software applications and ensure that the technical strategies meet the quality standards and business requirements. They also enhance the performance of the existing systems, configuring features for optimization. A lead systems engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in supporting the end-users with technical failures and identifying accurate resolutions.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, infrastructure architect responsibilities require skills like "cloud," "terraform," "infrastructure design," and "aws." Meanwhile a typical lead systems engineer has skills in areas such as "systems engineering," "architecture," "infrastructure," and "dod." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Lead systems engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $123,397. On the other hand, infrastructure architects are paid more in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $134,323.The education levels that lead systems engineers earn slightly differ from infrastructure architects. In particular, lead systems engineers are 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an infrastructure architect. Additionally, they're 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Infrastructure architect vs. Senior systems engineer
A senior systems engineer specializes in overseeing network systems, management tools, software, and hardware within a company or an organization. Their primary responsibility is to install, maintain, and resolve complex system issues using their years of extensive knowledge and expertise. They can also provide insights, troubleshooting, and technical support should it be needed. Furthermore, as a senior systems engineer, it is also their responsibility to lead, supervise, and coordinate with a team of skilled system engineers while in adherence to company policies and regulations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real infrastructure architect resumes. While infrastructure architect responsibilities can utilize skills like "cloud," "infrastructure design," "aws," and "vm," senior systems engineers use skills like "architecture," "c++," "c #," and "dod."
On average, senior systems engineers earn a lower salary than infrastructure architects. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, senior systems engineers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $116,608. Whereas infrastructure architects have higher pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $134,323.senior systems engineers earn similar levels of education than infrastructure architects in general. They're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for infrastructure architects in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Barry Stiefel Ph.D.
Associate Professor, College of Charleston
My suggestion is to try to be aware, as much as possible, of the latest and upcoming tech but focus on a specific set (or two) of hardware and software that most interests you. When I was younger, I tried staying on top of it all but quickly found that so much was coming out so fast that soon I spent all my time just trying to be on top of it all and unable to do much else. Technology has become so vast and diversified that to be good at something, you may not be able to do it all.
Professional and social networking can create professional communities where people who specialize in one set or two of technology or skills can share and exchange knowledge and expertise with colleagues and friends that complement each other. This is a strategy that I recommend.
Infrastructure architect vs. Senior system administrator
A senior system administrator specializes in overseeing the computer system operations in an organization. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around monitoring the performance of all software and hardware, installing servers, configuring systems, and making sure every technical aspect is running smoothly. Should there be any issues, they must take charge of troubleshooting and providing solutions. As someone with more experience, a senior system administrator leads and evaluates the performances of fellow skilled professionals in the department, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, infrastructure architects are more likely to have skills like "cloud," "infrastructure design," "aws," and "vm." But a senior system administrator is more likely to have skills like "troubleshoot," "system administration," "dod," and "tcp/ip."
Senior system administrators make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $104,418. On the other hand, infrastructure architects are paid the highest salary in the hospitality industry, with average annual pay of $134,323.senior system administrators typically earn lower educational levels compared to infrastructure architects. Specifically, they're 5.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Infrastructure architect vs. Systems administrator lead
A systems administrator lead is responsible for planning, designing, and implementing procedures for critical enterprise systems. Typical duties of systems administrators include managing the day-to-day operations of a company's computer and network systems, developing new application and system implementation plans, and establishing guidelines for installing and managing the organization's computer operating systems. In addition, you are expected to ensure the security of computer systems by preventing unauthorized use, user abuse, and acts of nature.
Types of infrastructure architect
Updated January 8, 2025
