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How to hire a systems architect

Systems architect hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring systems architects in the United States:

  • There are a total of 46,703 systems architects in the US, and there are currently 232,582 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a systems architect is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per systems architect on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • San Francisco, CA, has the highest demand for systems architects, with 34 job openings.

How to hire a systems architect, step by step

To hire a systems architect, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a systems architect:

Here's a step-by-step systems architect hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a systems architect job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new systems architect
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a systems architect do?

A systems architect specializes in designing and developing computer networks and systems for company operations. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify a company's needs, devising strategies to reach particular goals, improving existing systems, and implementing solutions for optimal processes. A systems architect must also monitor the progress of all implementations, prepare progress reports and presentations, provide technical support as needed, and train new workforce members, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including vision and mission.

Learn more about the specifics of what a systems architect does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The systems architect hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A systems architect's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, systems architects from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of systems architects.

    Type of Systems ArchitectDescriptionHourly rate
    Systems Architect$36-67
    Technical Team LeadThe responsibilities of a technical team lead revolve around overseeing the progress and performance of a technical team, ensuring they are functioning efficiently. They mostly delegate tasks, manage schedules, set goals, produce reports and presentations, respond to correspondence, and coordinate with staff, clients, and other department personnel to ensure accuracy and timeliness for all projects... Show more$31-58
    Architect And DeveloperAn Architect And Developer is focused on the technical design, architecture, and development of products. They generally work as a part of the development team.$40-69
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Cloud
    • Java
    • Python
    • C++
    • System Architecture
    • Linux
    • Azure
    • Project Management
    • SAN
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Enterprise Architecture
    • API
    • Web Services
    • VMware
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead the customization of an open-source CRM platform to meet the demands of a leading EMEA pharmaceutical company.
    • Lead evaluation and sourcing effort for CRM implementation and implement internal tools to supplement CRM capabilities in the interim.
    • Manage the security and performance optimization for EJB containers and web applications in IBM websphere, IBMIHS web server.
    • Manage in-house and offshore consultants along with engineering team working on multiple product deployment and implementation in DEV and QA space.
    • Manage Linux dedicate hosting servers.
    • Manage SDLC for major enterprise-level system.
    More systems architect duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your systems architect job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A systems architect salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, systems architects' average salary in oklahoma is 32% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level systems architects earn 46% less than senior-level systems architects.
    • Certifications. A systems architect with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a systems architect's salary.

    Average systems architect salary

    $103,764yearly

    $49.89 hourly rate

    Entry-level systems architect salary
    $76,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025

    Average systems architect salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$123,865$60
    2District of Columbia$108,123$52
    3Virginia$105,559$51
    4Massachusetts$101,607$49
    5New Jersey$101,554$49
    6New York$99,816$48
    7Washington$99,387$48
    8North Carolina$98,226$47
    9Arizona$96,906$47
    10Pennsylvania$95,764$46
    11Oregon$95,721$46
    12Colorado$94,364$45
    13Texas$94,004$45
    14Nebraska$93,194$45
    15Georgia$92,680$45
    16Illinois$92,474$44
    17Michigan$88,627$43
    18Florida$84,443$41
    19Tennessee$84,291$41

    Average systems architect salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Airbnb$188,621$90.683
    2Meta$178,276$85.71506
    3Mayo Clinic$171,871$82.6315
    4Apple$165,962$79.79354
    5Etsy$164,536$79.10
    6Google$163,983$78.84268
    7Superpedestrian$163,862$78.78
    8Bloomberg$163,463$78.59171
    9Shearman & Sterling$162,439$78.10
    10Intuitive Surgical$162,275$78.0219
    11Zscaler$160,453$77.1413
    12Okta$158,818$76.3535
    13Fairview Health Services$157,944$75.938
    14Amazon$157,869$75.90748
    15Cisco$156,364$75.17260
    16NVIDIA$156,038$75.02130
    17SiFive$155,288$74.66
    18Genentech$154,550$74.3013
    1910x Genomics$154,133$74.101
    20City National Bank$153,470$73.787
  4. Writing a systems architect job description

    A job description for a systems architect role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a systems architect job description:

    Systems architect job description example

    1. Performs expert-level systems development and design work that may include logic design, I/O design, firmware development, model formulation, manufacturing and development cost projections, computer architecture analysis and design, and analog or digital systems engineering.

    2. Develops technical roadmaps for future implementations.

    3. Develops business case analysis on potential projects.

    4. Ensures security is integrated into all architecture solutions.

    5. Performs advanced systems modeling, simulation, and analysis.

    6. Acts as a subject-matter expert to multiple tasks and/or programs.

    7. Reviews completion and implementation of system additions and/or enhancements and makes recommendations to management and/or clients.

    8. Plans and directs upgrades of operating systems and designs systems enhancements.

    9. Identifies, analyzes, and resolves system problems.

    10. Determines system specifications, input/output processes, and working parameters for hardware/software compatibility.

    11. Serves as a service area architect.

    12. Provides guidance and work leadership to less-experienced systems engineers and may have supervisory responsibilities.

    13. Serves as primary liaison with senior clients, participating in meetings to ensure client needs are met.

    14. Provides high level expertise to multiple projects and tasks.

    15. Maintains current knowledge of relevant technology as assigned.

    16. Participates in special projects as required.

    Requirements/Qualifications:

    Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related technical discipline.

    Experience designing and implementing large scale complex technology solutions.

    Specialized experience architecting at least one of the following enterprise solutions: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Storage, Networking, Audio/Visual Capabilities (Conference Rooms, Auditoriums, Video Walls, etc.), or Unified Communications.

    Demonstrated skills in bridging the gap between theoretical and practical.

    Demonstrated experience performing associated trade off analysis.

    Experience designing solutions in secure/air gapped environments.

    Master's Degree preferred.

    10 or more years of related systems engineering experience.

    Active TS Clearance with ability for SCI.

    #Rover2022

    Scheduled Weekly Hours:

    40

    Travel Required:

    None

    Telecommuting Options:

    Onsite

    Work Location:

    USA VA Springfield

    Additional Work Locations:

    COVID-19 Vaccination: GDIT does not have a vaccination mandate applicable to all employees. To protect the health and safety of its employees and to comply with customer requirements, however, GDIT may require employees in certain positions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination requirements will depend on the status of the federal contractor mandate and customer site requirements.We are GDIT. The people supporting some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country. We deliver. Bringing the expertise needed to understand and advance critical missions. We transform. Shifting the ways clients invest in, integrate, and innovate technology solutions. We ensure today is safe and tomorrow is smarter. We are there. On the ground, beside our clients, in the lab, and everywhere in between. Offering the technology transformations, strategy, and mission services needed to get the job done.GDIT is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find systems architects for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your systems architect job on Zippia to find and attract quality systems architect candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit systems architects, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    Sometimes, it's not enough to interview systems architect candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

    • TestDome
    • CodeSignal
    • Testlify
    • BarRaiser
    • Coderbyte

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new systems architect

    Once you've found the systems architect candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a systems architect?

Before you start to hire systems architects, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire systems architects pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $103,764 per year for a systems architect, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for systems architects in the US typically range between $36 and $67 an hour.

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