What Is a Solutions Architect (and How Do I Become One)?

A solutions architect creates the overall technical vision for a specific solution to a business problem. They design, describe, and manage the solution. In many ways, this person builds the bridge between a business problem and the technology solution and outlines the phases and requirements needed to make that solution work. 

What does a solutions architect do? 

A good solutions architect looks at the existing environment and analyses what technologies are available and what they may need to commission to develop software products that provide the best solution for the problem. From there, the solutions architect creates an overall strategic technical vision—not unlike an architect designing a blueprint for a building. Based on that vision, they develop a budget for producing a software product. 

After the stakeholders have agreed on the project, the solutions architect is responsible for monitoring the process and keeping stakeholders updated and informed on the progress. The project often involves both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and the solutions architect must consider each party's needs and factor them into the project's scope. 

Tasks and responsibilities

Depending on the company you work for and the project you’re working on, your day-to-day tasks as a solutions architect might include:

• Providing recommendations and roadmaps for proposed solutions

• Performing design, debugging, and performance analysis on solutions

• Documenting and sharing best practice knowledge for new solutions

• Advocating for process improvements and helping develop solutions

• Regularly communicating new features and benefits to partners, customers, and other stakeholders

• Providing technical leadership to a team throughout the project lifecycle

• Developing proof-of-concept projects to validate your proposed solutions

• Reviewing and validating solution designs from other team members

Solutions architect vs project manager

Although a solutions architect is not a project manager, this position requires excellent project management skills to ensure that the project stays on time and budget and effectively solves the problem. It also requires clear communication skills and the ability to translate the projects’ technical details into simple language that will be easy for non-technical stakeholders to understand. Successful solutions architects are usually curious, rational, analytical, and methodical—all essential traits for this job.  

The solution architect role also requires being able to project into the future and consider upcoming uses. A solutions architect must view the long-term use of this product and implement scalability and adaptability into the solution for the future.   

Why should I pursue a career as a solutions architect?

If you are creative, analytical, outgoing, pragmatic, and can explain problems and solutions on both a technical and non-technical level, you could have a future as a solutions architect. 

According to Glassdoor [1], the average annual base pay for a solutions architect in the UK is £70,185, ranging from about £58,000 to £85,000. Employment opportunities for solutions architects grew by 1.37 percent in 2023 [2]. As companies expand their information technology networks, the demand for solutions architects will likely increase. 

How do I become a solutions architect? 

You won’t find one single path to becoming a solutions architect. Some common degrees solutions architects hold are bachelor's degrees in information technology, computer science, or software information. According to Zippia, 66 percent of solutions architects have a bachelor's degree, and 24 percent have a master's [3]. A candidate with an MBA in information systems may also be a good fit for a role as a solutions architect. 

Solutions architects typically spend at least a few years in software development. This experience gives them a strong understanding of the tools and technologies involved in designing solutions. Five to 10 years of hands-on experience in network administration or information technology systems is common, but it varies based on what a specific company is looking for. 

Get started in solutions architecture with Coursera.

Looking for a way to build your skills and expertise as a solutions architect and add to your existing CV? Consider taking a software architecture course better to familiarise yourself with the most common solution architectures. Or consider a specialisation such as IBM's for DevOps, Cloud, and Agile Foundations to learn some of the most popular concepts and methodologies for managing the development process.