What does a senior application architect do?
Senior application architects are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for designing and developing IT applications architecture solutions to business problems of an organization. These architects must utilize new technologies that can improve existing systems and ensure the proper synchronization of software and system architectures. They must lead a team of professionals in application development to build plans for capacity planning, application performance, and endurance testing. Senior application architects must also work with customers to gather and analyze their functional and business requirements.
Senior application architect responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior application architect resumes:
- Lead all enterprise security and privacy designs for complex SOA base applications involving multiple lines of business.
- Design and manage the LDAP database which, are used by the various applications in the OpenLoop platform for authentication.
- Involve in developing and standardizing GUI using HTML and CSS.
- Create partnership web service exporting registration data serialize as XML and JSON.
- Create MVC Web-API to fetch and send data from the stored procedure and serialize it as JSON for the client.
- Establish coding standards for Java, JEE, ExtJS, etc.
- Develop the UI panels using JSF, XHTML, CSS, DOJO and JQuery.
- Administer Linux VPS web hosting solution.
- Design technical solutions following SDLC (system development life cycle).
- Ensure all internal and external procedures are follow like SDLC, privacy compliance.
- Implement API to bring customer information from backend Amdocs billing system to implement business functionality.
- Used Jenkins for continuous integration of the system and integrate the changes to the project.
- Design, review, quality test and performance optimize all JavaScript for inclusion in code releases.
- Used AJAX and JavaScript for validations and integrating business server side components on the client side with in the browser.
- Wrapped the applicant assignment by a web service to be consume externally by an authenticate and authorize external windows service.
Senior application architect skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Senior Application Architects are proficient in Cloud, Java, and API. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Senior Application Architects that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cloud, 12%
Introduced the cloud technology at ATPCO by successfully deploying Baggage Online Calculator [BOC] on EC2.
- Java, 10%
Designed and implemented a Java Swing contract management system used to manage $3.6B in rebates.
- API, 8%
Developed company's first SAML/Active Directory/Federation authentication API for mobile applications.
- Application Development, 6%
Led application development and built plans for capacity planning, application performance and endurance testing.
- Azure, 5%
Developed a working knowledge of Azure Web Services working with the firms Azure resources.
- Application Architecture, 5%
Develop and evolve an Enterprise Application Architecture and associated standards and guidelines.
Most senior application architects use their skills in "cloud," "java," and "api" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior application architect responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a senior application architect to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what senior application architects do because "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." Additionally, a senior application architect resume shows how senior application architects use analytical skills: "soap web service interface implemented in java using apache soap and axis to expose user master data to all the subsidiaries. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform senior application architect duties is communication skills. Senior application architects responsibilities require that "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project." Senior application architects also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "develop communication servers utilizing java and c across a variety of platforms. "
Creativity. senior application architects are also known for creativity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior application architect responsibilities, because "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." A senior application architect resume example shows how creativity is used in the workplace: "inventory services wcf service responsible for managing communications with amazon s web api and apis for other third-party virtual storefronts. "
Detail oriented. A big part of what senior application architects do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to senior application architect responsibilities because "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior application architect tasks: "developed detailed business process flowcharts and security threats used in the vulnerability analysis and standard operating procedures. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in senior application architect job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what senior application architects do. Senior application architect responsibilities rely on this skill because "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." You can also see how senior application architect duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "work with internal business line customers to design innovative solutions and improvements to existing business processes. "
The three companies that hire the most senior application architects are:
- Humana295 senior application architects jobs
- Amazon176 senior application architects jobs
- Huntington National Bank50 senior application architects jobs
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Compare different senior application architects
Senior application architect vs. Lead developer
A lead developer is responsible for creating software programs and applications, following the client and the business's software quality standards and design specifications. Lead developers assist a team of developers in implementing strategic procedures, managing system codes, debugging applications, running diagnostic tests, and troubleshooting defects to ensure its smooth performance. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, performing feature adjustments as needed. A lead developer must have strong knowledge of the technology industry and command on programming languages and software design processes.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior application architect are more likely to require skills like "cloud," "application architecture," "windows," and "design patterns." On the other hand, a job as a lead developer requires skills like "architecture," "git," "digital transformation," and "jira." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Lead developers earn the highest salaries when working in the retail industry, with an average yearly salary of $119,501. On the other hand, senior application architects are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $128,582.On average, lead developers reach similar levels of education than senior application architects. Lead developers are 2.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior application architect vs. Lead software developer
A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface. They also coordinate with the design engineers to modify and improve the features of existing software applications for optimal performance. A lead software developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in considering the current technology trends to meet demands.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior application architect responsibilities requires skills like "cloud," "application architecture," "sr," and "business process." But a lead software developer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "architecture," "software development," "python," and "project management."
Lead software developers earn a lower average salary than senior application architects. But lead software developers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $115,917. Additionally, senior application architects earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $128,582 annually.In general, lead software developers achieve similar levels of education than senior application architects. They're 2.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior application architects in the next 3-5 years?
Craig Tidwell Ph.D.
Professor/Program Manager, Seminole State College of Florida
Senior application architect vs. Architect and developer
An Architect And Developer is focused on the technical design, architecture, and development of products. They generally work as a part of the development team.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior application architects are more likely to have skills like "cloud," "sr," "business process," and "gap analysis." But a architect and developer is more likely to have skills like "c #," "amazon web services," "microservices," and "digital marketing."
Architects and developer earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $125,314. Senior application architects earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $128,582.When it comes to education, architects and developer tend to earn similar degree levels compared to senior application architects. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior application architect vs. Senior java developer
A senior java developer's responsibilities will vary upon the industry or preference of a client. Aside from developing programs and applications, the tasks will also revolve around leading a team and overseeing the project's progress, coordinating with every workforce member, conducting extensive research, testing, and analysis, troubleshooting, and designing. It is also essential to detect and resolve issues as soon as possible, implement guidelines, keep detailed documentation about the project, and devise strategies to improve the workforce and workflow.
Types of senior application architect
Updated January 8, 2025
