What does a solutions architect do?
A solutions architect specializes in creating and implementing software systems that improve business operations and resolve network issues. They are primarily responsible for conducting research and analysis to assess the business's needs, develop specific designs for the company, provide solutions should there be any system issues, and keep company officials informed with all changes and updates. Furthermore, a solutions architect must lead and encourage development teams, stay up to date with the newest trends to continue innovations within the systems, and implement its policies and guidelines.
Solutions architect responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real solutions architect resumes:
- Manage a staff of 15 to 25 resources Sr.
- Coordinate with scrum masters and development leads to identify risks, gaps and come up with mitigation plan.
- Lead SDLC implementation activities including training, orientation, workshop facilitation, and resource coordination.
- Provide strategic direction for VMWARE storage integration for SAN & NAS technology.
- Plan, design, build custom server racks using both Linux and windows servers to meet client needs.
- Establish the service identification toolkit, implement the SaaS for legacy and host systems and formulate the service governance board.
- General Linux and windows base application consulting/contracting services.
- Advance security integration with government cloud infrastructure and ADX portal.
- Facilitate requirements gathering and business process analysis for back-office tasks to be automate via ERP systems.
- Analyze Fannie application portfolios, identify dependencies and infrastructure platform components in traditional environments for workload migrations to AWS.
- Define integration architecture incorporating ESB, web services, analytics for pipeline movements, refinery schedules, blending operations.
- Code in XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Participate in client DR workshops.
- Support functional testing from middleware.
- Design and architect standard and custom salesforce objects.
Solutions architect skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Solutions Architects are proficient in Cloud, Java, and AWS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Solutions Architects that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cloud, 11%
Implemented cutting edge Power BI cloud mobile executive dashboards on top of multidimensional as well relational databases configuring enterprise gateways.
- Java, 6%
Designed and developed a java application to enable SSO functionality for the Knowledge Management system using Active Directory.
- AWS, 5%
Provided architecture guidance for selected Business Units, assessing migration feasibility and deployment strategy based on AWS Architecture best practices.
- Infrastructure, 5%
Project formation and planning, deployment of infrastructure and leadership of teams developing configurations, infrastructure and interfaces to Prudential systems.
- Analytics, 5%
Designed and implemented complete data pipeline, compute and analytics stack, implemented completion time estimation for complex long running jobs
- Digital Transformation, 5%
Collaborate with the business architects in development of the Digital Transformation initiatives.
Most solutions architects use their skills in "cloud," "java," and "aws" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential solutions architect responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a solutions architect to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "architects must understand the content of designs and the context in which they were created." Additionally, a solutions architect resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "conceptualized innovative ways to harness clinical data and provide a robust visualization. "
Communication skills. Many solutions architect duties rely on communication skills. "architects share their ideas, both in oral presentations and in writing, with clients, other architects, and workers who help prepare drawings," so a solutions architect will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways solutions architect responsibilities rely on communication skills: "involved in servlet, java bean programming and jsp scripting for the communication between web browser and server. "
Creativity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of solutions architects is creativity. This skill is critical to many everyday solutions architect duties, as "architects design the overall look of houses, buildings, and other structures." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "designed and presented proof-of-value tableau dashboards that addressed a large and popular mid- western creative agency's data visualization challenges. "
Organizational skills. A big part of what solutions architects do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to solutions architect responsibilities because "architects often manage contracts." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical solutions architect tasks: "assess and recommend improvements to business processes and supporting organizational design. "
Technical skills. Another crucial skill for a solutions architect to carry out their responsibilities is "technical skills." A big part of what solutions architects relies on this skill, since "architects need to use cadd technology to create plans as part of building information modeling (bim)." How this skill relates to solutions architect duties can be seen in an example from a solutions architect resume snippet: "provided technical analysis to solve performance problems using oracle8i and memory leak problems in java applications. "
Visualization skills. Another skill commonly found on solutions architect job descriptions is "visualization skills." It can come up quite often in solutions architect duties, since "architects must be able to envision how the parts of a structure relate to each other." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day solutions architect responsibilities: "developed active dashboards by using rave visualization. "
The three companies that hire the most solutions architects are:
- Oracle1,916 solutions architects jobs
- Deloitte1,853 solutions architects jobs
- General Dynamics707 solutions architects jobs
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Compare different solutions architects
Solutions architect vs. Lead consultant
The lead consultants oversee the work of a consultant team and are responsible for offering clients their advice and recommendations on the given project. They are multi-focus experts that assist the company in improving its business performance by acting as liaisons between clients and the consultancy team. Their main job is to ensure the daily management of client's projects. They help the client identify and understand their needs together with finding solutions to their difficulties. Additionally, they analyze and review proposals from the team and then provide relevant solutions to the problems.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a solutions architect are more likely to require skills like "cloud," "aws," "infrastructure," and "analytics." On the other hand, a job as a lead consultant requires skills like "customer service," "architecture," "master data," and "parallel testing." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Lead consultants tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $103,411. In contrast, solutions architects make the biggest average salary, $122,080, in the retail industry.lead consultants tend to reach similar levels of education than solutions architects. In fact, lead consultants are 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Solutions architect vs. Senior infrastructure engineer
A senior infrastructure engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and infrastructures based on client preferences and industry standards. They have the duty to identify and understand the project's needs, streamline project requirements, produce drafts, create prototypes and models, and establish tests to identify potential issues and ensure the projects' quality. Additionally, a senior infrastructure engineer has the authority to make decisions, train and supervise junior engineers, establish goals and timelines, provide technical support, and implement policies and guidelines.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that solutions architect responsibilities requires skills like "infrastructure," "analytics," "digital transformation," and "c #." But a senior infrastructure engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "powershell," "troubleshoot," and "windows server."
Senior infrastructure engineers may earn a higher salary than solutions architects, but senior infrastructure engineers earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $123,360. On the other hand, solutions architects receive higher pay in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $122,080.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Senior infrastructure engineers tend to reach lower levels of education than solutions architects. In fact, they're 13.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for solutions 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
Solutions 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.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a solutions architect is likely to be skilled in "cloud," "aws," "infrastructure," and "analytics," while a typical senior system administrator is skilled in "windows server," "troubleshoot," "system administration," and "powershell."
Senior system administrators earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $104,418. Comparatively, solutions architects have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $122,080.Most senior system administrators achieve a lower degree level compared to solutions architects. For example, they're 12.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Solutions architect vs. Senior technical consultant
A Senior Technical Consultant helps solve various problems, and increase the efficiency of the company and its revenue. They can work in different areas such as financial, management, and technical.
Types of solutions architect
Updated January 8, 2025
