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Role of an architect, architect types and industry trend

 

Pursuing a Career in Architecture

If you want to build a career in architecture, it is essential to understand the different types of architects, their responsibilities, and the skills required for each role. At the same time, it is equally important to analyze how the industry perceives the role of an architect. Do hiring companies align their expectations with formal definitions and certification programs, or do they have their own interpretations?

What is Architecture?

In general terms, architecture is defined as "the art and science of designing and erecting buildings and other physical structures." However, in the field of Information Technology (IT), architecture takes on a different meaning, particularly in the realm of software architecture.

Software architecture can be broadly defined as the structure of a system, including its elements, their relationships, and the guiding principles that shape the system's organization. It also takes into account non-functional requirements such as performance, reusability, constraints, and trade-offs.

While software architecture has well-defined academic and industry-recognized definitions, other types of architecture—such as technical architecture, quality architecture, and solution architecture—lack universally accepted definitions. This raises a fundamental question: if something is not formally defined and taught in academic institutions, how do we determine its legitimacy and scope?


The Role of an Architect

To understand the role of an architect in IT, it is helpful to compare it with the role of an architect in civil engineering.

In construction, specialists handle specific tasks—brickwork, plumbing, electrical work, woodwork, etc. These roles are critical, but no matter how experienced a bricklayer becomes, they are never called an architect. The role of an architect is distinct, requiring expertise in planning, structural integrity, and design principles.

However, in the IT industry, developers often remain confined to a single programming language. Many aspiring architects base their knowledge on informal sources like random blog posts and YouTube videos instead of formal education or recognized industry standards.

My suggestion to developers is to familiarize themselves with the ISO/IEEE definition of architecture and read authoritative books on architecture and design.

A true architect, irrespective of their programming language or framework, should be able to:

  1. Define a system based on business vision, constraints, and non-functional requirements.

  2. Make informed build-versus-buy decisions.

  3. Derive and refine requirements beyond those explicitly provided by stakeholders.

  4. Follow a structured process to develop an architecture.

  5. Conduct trade-off analysis to balance competing requirements.

  6. Optimize costs, performance, and resource utilization.

  7. Use standardized modeling languages and notations for clear communication.

  8. Tailor architecture views for different stakeholders rather than compressing everything into a single slide.

  9. Justify architectural decisions with rational analysis and evaluation of alternatives.

  10. Convince stakeholders—especially those investing in the system—by demonstrating benefits such as revenue growth, cost optimization, ROI, and risk reduction.

These skills go beyond programming expertise and require deep knowledge of AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies—not as standalone components but as integral parts of a system.


Industry Perception of Architect Roles

In the job market, various architect roles exist, including Quality Architect, Database Architect, Technical Architect, Solution Architect, Enterprise Architect, and Software Architect. However, when companies use the term "architect" loosely, it can lead to confusion. If every senior technical role is labeled as an "architect," we might eventually see titles like "Copy Architect" or "Photocopier Architect."


Examining the job market, we can categorize architecture roles into broad groups:

  1. Enterprise Architect – Typically internal to an organization but often involved in pre-sales and client interactions.

  2. Solution Architect – Primarily pre-sales focused, though some delivery roles also carry this title.

  3. Software Architect – Specializations may include .NET, Java, PHP, Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, etc.

  4. Database Architect – Often divided into subcategories such as SQL Server Architect and Oracle Architect.

  5. Domain Architect – Specialized roles for different business domains, e.g., Insurance Architect.

  6. Infrastructure Architect – Covers platforms, networks, storage, security, and related areas.

Conclusion

The term "architect" is often misused in the IT industry, leading to a dilution of its true meaning. While companies may define roles differently, aspiring architects should focus on mastering architectural principles, structured methodologies, and formal definitions rather than relying on informal sources.

A successful architect is not just a developer with extensive programming experience but a professional who can define and communicate system architecture effectively, aligning technical decisions with business goals.


Note: 

Historically following types of job postings were found where architect word was used in the job title:

Enterprise Architect

Business Inteligence Solution Architect

Technical Solution Architect

.NET Architect

Solution Architect J2EE

Industry Architect - Insurance

Architect WPF Winform

Information Security Tools Architect(MSS)

Knowledge architect

PHP Architect

LAMP Architect - PHP Architect - Opensource Architect

BI Architect, DWH Architect

User Experience Architect

Software Architect

Application Architect

System Architect

.NET Integration & Reporting Architect

Infrastructure Architect

Database Architect

Security Architect

IP Development Architect

Sharepoint Architect

Business Solution Architect

Principal SAP Netweaver Architect

Mobility Architect

Big data, Security & Provacy Architect

CRM Architect

Teradata Architect

Windows Phone Architect

MicroStrategy Architect

SQL Database Architect

GIS Technical Architect

Infrastructure Solution Architect

Solution Architect

Network Architect

Recovery Solution Architect

Java Software Architect

Platform Architect

Automation Architect

LOB Platform Architect

Oracle Database Architect

Quality Assurance Architect

Retail Solution Architect

Cloud Application Solution Architect

SOA/BPM Solution Architect

CMS Architect

Web Application Architect

Windows Software Architect

JavaScript Architect

Ruby on Railes Architect

Information Architect

Integration Architect

Siebel Architect

SOA Enterprise Architect

SOA Solution Architect

Engineering Architect for Mobile

ETL Architect

eCommerce Architect

Exchange Architect

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