February 28, 2017
The Solutions Architect is a well-known job within the tech industry. In fact, it falls on Glassdoor’s Best Jobs in America for 2017, and received a job score of 4.4 out of 5. But you might wonder what makes this role so popular and what is expected from people in these positions?
Before we can answer these questions, it’s important to first understand the basics of what Solutions Architects do and what their typical day looks like.
What are Solutions Architects?
According to Developer.com, “The essence of the Solution Architect (SA) role is the conversion of the requirements into an architecture and design that will become the blueprint for the solution being created. This conversion is based largely upon the previous design patterns that the SA has been involved with in the past through reading and staying abreast of the latest techniques, or through personal experience.” Solutions Architects are also known to lead the development team and to help motivate them towards project completion.
Solutions Architects can earn an average salary of $125,000 as organizations place a high value on professionals who keep up with industry trends and can deliver quality designs for its technical architecture.
Roadmap to Success
The rising popularity of this position has many people wondering what is required to become a Solutions Architect and what specific training is needed for this type of work.
Study.com explains three key areas that can help you become a Solutions Architect:
- Earn a Degree – Professionals should have at least a Bachelor’s degreein or related to IT or computer sciences; however, if you’re interested in a specific aspect of solution architecture, then some employers may require a Master’s degree of IT or a related field of study
- Considering Certifications – Solutions Architects are not required to have certifications, but certifications reflect your expert knowledge; you can learn more about one particular certification, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, in a previous post here
- Relevant Experience – Employers might require certain levels of experience, so it’s important to have at least a few years of experience with network administration or other IT systems
Future Outlook
Organizations will continue to need Solutions Architects as this is a respected position. These professionals are challenged in their roles and, given the amount of information they research, their input is heavily considered in some decision-making processes.
In your opinion, what makes the role of the Solution Architect so valuable to companies?
Posted By: Jaclyn Roman