The Complete Guide to a Solution Architect’s Role: Responsibilities, Processes, and How to Get Certified

The global pace of technological adoption and innovation needs exceptional guides in the form of solution architects to lead the way and perfect processes. Organizations in both the public and private sectors seek out these talented individuals to balance business goals with the rapidly changing world of tech.

Whether you already have education, skills, and experience in the IT realm or are looking for a career path in high demand, the field of solution architecture may interest you. Learn what the job entails, its responsibilities and requirements, and how to develop both technical and soft skills ideal for the role.

The Solution Architect’s Role Explained

An organization has a problem or a set goal they want to achieve. The solution architect manages the design and development of a tech-based solution. This obviously includes a wide variety of specific tasks. They involve identifying the best options, defining needed features and capabilities, managing development phases and the project team, and communicating all of this and more with upper management, C-suite executives, and other stakeholders.

Whatever the solution, it must align with the overall interests of the organization, including business-related details like budget. As the name implies, they create solutions that all aspects of the organization can accept and benefit from in both immediate and scalable ways.

Professional Responsibilities of a Solution Architect

What does a solution architect do at work every day? The answer to this question depends on the organization’s needs and structure, the specific projects currently underway, and a variety of other factors. Some job duties include:

• Meeting with executives or department leads to learn about problems, discuss inefficiencies, and identify goals for improvement
• Research current practices and systems to discover improvement possibilities
• Test and troubleshoot systems and various tech elements already in place to discover and assess vulnerabilities or weaknesses
• Actual integration of devised solutions into the current system’s architecture
• In-person or virtual collaboration with developers, IT teams, data analysts, and stakeholders or clients
• Organization tasks like timeline, budget, and project scope and specific phase management 
• Presentations to executives and stakeholders on progress, problems, and results
• Research into emerging and disruptive technologies that may benefit the organization in the long run
• Create long-term plans for business growth using scalable models

Solution architects differ from tech leaders and project managers in a variety of ways. In this role, you will interact more with the non-tech-related leaders in the organization. Some responsibilities do overlap, such as communication and watching timelines. However, you will focus more on overall and long-term solutions strategically rather than working on an individual project that serves a singular purpose.

Requirements for Landing a Solution Architect Position

The role of a solution architect is not an entry-level position. Most solution architects have a long track record of successful employment in the IT field. Specialty sectors like cybersecurity and cloud computing may make you more attractive to large corporate or government agency employers. The requirements for landing a quality position fall into two categories: technical and personal.

Technical Skills

It helps to understand a wide range of technology so that you can better understand and apply solutions to problems and act proactively for the employer’s benefit. These include everything from software development and IT infrastructure to cloud computing, digital cybersecurity, and more. Different solution architects have various specialties, but a well-rounded individual offers more.

At the same time, business management, growth strategies, and analysis skills matter so that you can combine IT with organizational issues and develop the best solution. Businesses and agencies need you at every stage of growth and success. You will examine current practices, assess them for functionality, security, and efficiency, and make informed recommendations. This requires business acumen to bridge the gap between the two sides of success in today’s digital world.

Personal Skills

The role of a solution architect may lean heavily on IT expertise, but it is also a primarily managerial and multi-directional communication position. You must be able to interact with everyone from jargon-speaking developers to executives who care more about meeting budgets and deadlines than code and components.

Effective business communication requires listening, understanding, offering advice, and ultimately influencing the decision-making process. At the same time, you need to integrate seamlessly with the project teams that are doing the tech work for the organization. Leadership, research and analysis, negotiation, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills are handy.

Education and certification for the technical aspects of solution architecture responsibilities make a huge difference when it comes to getting a job and making sure you can do it effectively.

How to Get Solution Architect Certification

While a host of qualifications, unique skills, and experience helps you land a quality position in this role, you also need certification to prove the breadth of your knowledge. Multiple options exist depending on your specific interests or career planning path. Local training centers and colleges may offer in-person classes. Two online possibilities include:

AWS Solution Architect Certification

Various training and certification programs offered through Amazon Web Services can help. Both associate and professional-level solutions programs exist.

Microsoft Architect Certification

Multiple training modules and individual certifications are available from this industry leader. These include everything from self-paced training in Azure to advanced cloud computing paths. They cover beginner options and solution architect expert courses.

College

Most IT professionals across all specialties have advanced university degrees in their chosen field. Degrees in business, project management, and IT topics like development and infrastructure, software engineering, and DevOps provide technical and practical skills. The higher levels of achievement, such as an MBA, might impress potential employers and provide valuable skills that make you a more attractive applicant.

Solution Architects: A Growing Profession 

The solution architecture field only grows more popular as the world turns to advanced digital options. IT, data management, education, and government organizations need talented people to improve functionality, efficiency, and future strategies for tech mastery.

With the proper education, certification, and experience, a solution architect provides invaluable benefits and secures a lucrative career trajectory simultaneously.