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What does a senior systems architect do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dak Kopec Ph.D.
What does a senior systems architect do

It is the job of a senior systems architect to develop, enforce, and maintain servers under the goals of an organization. Senior systems architects assess the requirements of businesses and customers, design documents, and develop architectural approaches. The architects establish and interpret structural designs and serve as managers, advisors, and mentors. They take responsibility for providing technical advice for software development. Typically, they work onsite and in offices to ensure team cohesion and successful projects.

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Senior systems architect responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior systems architect resumes:

  • Used VMWARE to create and manage virtual servers.
  • Manage and monitor their SAN farm while providing on-site training and knowledge transfer.
  • Design VMware environment and manage other architects who are responsible for licensing, data migration, and training for server administrators.
  • Manage FreeBSD and Linux base operating systems in a high availabilityenvironment.
  • Provide insight and manage all technology relate aspects with presentations and communications at Sr. management and CxO level.
  • Authore dynamic web clients scripting in HTML, Javascript, JQuery and AJAX.
  • Participate the development of a generic java library that provides a foundation and framework to develop XML applications.
  • Create customised HTML runbooks for all product installations.
  • Create flow actions, html rules base on the business requirement.
  • Set up jobs to deploy English and Japanese language OS images.
  • Design integrated outline schema for the hydro meteorological data exchanges in XML format.
  • Develop class structures, create data elements and reusable UI elements and data structures.
  • Develop web service layers utilize by web UI, internal application UI and mobile applications.
  • Develop the DTD and design the POWERLINK server to handle the partners' XML requests through HTTPS requests.
  • Perform Linux ES3.x, AS3.x, ES4.x, AS4.x kickstart installations using PXE boot process and remote installations.

Senior systems architect skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Senior Systems Architects are proficient in Java, Scrum, and Cloud. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Senior Systems Architects that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Java, 12%

    Participated the development of a generic java library that provides a foundation and framework to develop XML applications.

  • Scrum, 7%

    Implemented SCRUM methodology as software development approach.

  • Cloud, 5%

    Developed a cloud service ingesting localized datum to corporate cloud data warehouse.

  • XML, 5%

    Developed a system to convert generic XML files to specific XML files using Style Sheets ultimately converting to PDF files.

  • System Architecture, 4%

    Provided technical and systems consultation to internal clients and technical management to ensure alignment with Enterprise/System Architecture.

  • DB2, 4%

    Implemented various stored procedures in SQL server and DB2 and maintained GXG database.

"java," "scrum," and "cloud" are among the most common skills that senior systems architects use at work. You can find even more senior systems architect responsibilities below, including:

Problem-solving skills. One of the key soft skills for a senior systems architect to have is problem-solving skills. You can see how this relates to what senior systems architects do because "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." Additionally, a senior systems architect resume shows how senior systems architects use problem-solving skills: "articulated and designed technical solutions, application enhancements using the j2ee framework. "

Analytical skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior systems architect duties is analytical skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." According to a senior systems architect resume, here's how senior systems architects can utilize analytical skills in their job responsibilities: "involved in design and development of data model, class structure, access group, process flow, activities. "

Communication skills. This is an important skill for senior systems architects to perform their duties. For an example of how senior systems architect responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior systems architect: "led conversion of legacy web services 3 server and client to a modern windows communication foundation (wcf) solution. ".

See the full list of senior systems architect skills

Choose from 10+ customizable senior systems architect resume templates

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Compare different senior systems architects

Senior systems 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.

We looked at the average senior systems architect salary and compared it with the wages of an architect and developer. Generally speaking, architects and developer are paid $2,888 lower than senior systems architects per year.Even though senior systems architects and architects and developer are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require java, xml, and db2 in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior systems architect are more likely to require skills like "scrum," "cloud," "system architecture," and "aws." On the other hand, a job as an architect and developer requires skills like "application development," "api," "design patterns," and "application architecture." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Architects and developer tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $125,314. In contrast, senior systems architects make the biggest average salary, $116,482, in the manufacturing industry.architects and developer tend to reach similar levels of education than senior systems architects. In fact, architects and developer are 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Senior systems architect vs. Systems developer

A Systems Developer is responsible for designing and creating software applications and server programs to support business requirements and client specifications. System Developers run multiple diagnostic tests to the systems to ensure performance and stability and revise scripts for optimization as needed. They also evaluate and improve existing networks, develop infrastructure, and set configuration. A Systems Developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to identify network structures and operating systems.

A career as a systems developer brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a senior systems architect. In fact, systems developers salary is $16,628 lower than the salary of senior systems architects per year.A few skills overlap for senior systems architects and systems developers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "java," "xml," and "db2. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior systems architect responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "scrum," "cloud," "system architecture," and "c #." Meanwhile, a systems developer has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "web application," "object oriented programming," and "application development." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Systems developers earn a lower average salary than senior systems architects. But systems developers earn the highest pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $106,498. Additionally, senior systems architects earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $116,482 annually.systems developers earn lower levels of education than senior systems architects in general. They're 6.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior systems architects in the next 3-5 years?

Dak Kopec Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Coordinator, BA Interior Architecture and Design and Master of Design Program, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

COVID-19 has changed the playing field, and future skills will need to include creative ways to use materials and systems for enhanced infection control. This will consist of thinking differently about ventilation systems, space planning, and material specifications.

Senior systems architect vs. Systems engineer

Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.

On average, systems engineers earn lower salaries than senior systems architects, with a $31,024 difference per year.senior systems architects and systems engineers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "java," "xml," and "db2," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior systems architect is likely to be skilled in "scrum," "cloud," "system architecture," and "aws," while a typical systems engineer is skilled in "python," "dod," "database," and "troubleshoot."

Systems engineers earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $96,218. Senior systems architects earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $116,482.systems engineers typically earn lower educational levels compared to senior systems architects. Specifically, they're 8.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior systems 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.

Lead systems engineers average a higher salary than the annual salary of senior systems architects. The difference is about $5,847 per year.While their salaries may vary, senior systems architects and lead systems engineers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "java," "db2," and "c++. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A senior systems architect uses "scrum," "cloud," "xml," and "system architecture." Lead systems engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "systems engineering," "architecture," "infrastructure," and "dod. "In general, lead systems engineers earn the most working in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $123,397. The highest-paying industry for a senior systems architect is the manufacturing industry.In general, lead systems engineers hold similar degree levels compared to senior systems architects. Lead systems engineers are 3.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior systems architect

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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