The average annual base pay for a solutions architect in the US is $197,854, although it ranges from about $99,000 to $172,000, according to Glassdoor [1]. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for computer network architects are expected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031 [2]. As companies expand their information technology networks, the demand for solutions architects will likely increase. But then again, salary rates would depend on the educational background, tenure, and other factors. Geographical location may even play a role in the salary rate of solutions architects. In a published article from Comparably.com, the average salary of a solutions architect per annum is $115,166.
I would like to hear back from readers regarding thoughts on this topic, please comment below. Securing the expertise of a solutions architect on your team, whether internally or through a development partner, guarantees a host of undeniable benefits. With their invaluable contributions, you can be confident in achieving optimal project outcomes. Their expertise permeates throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), spanning from gathering and understanding specifications to assessing existing systems and synergizing with stakeholders. Their role is instrumental in driving the alignment between technology and business, ultimately leading to achieving organizational goals.
thoughts on “Product Owner vs Product Manager vs Architect”
An enterprise architect also aligns the enterprise architecture with the business strategy and objectives, and ensures that the enterprise architecture supports the current and future needs of the organization. An enterprise architect needs to have a holistic and systemic view of the organization, as well as the ability to communicate and collaborate with various stakeholders and levels. In this article I will dive into how the product owner seves the scrum team as well as what the differences are between these job titles and roles. Basically, they take separate requirements to the global company’s infrastructure and turn these requirements into real solutions. In other words, solution architects create a bridge between planning at the enterprise level and developing specific software products that will help a company make these plans a reality. The Enterprise Architect operates at the macro level, focusing on the overarching IT environment of the organization.
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. Most of the time, the project involves both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and the solutions architect must make sure that each party’s needs are considered and factored into the project’s scope. Solutions architects tend to focus more on the technical aspects of a product, such as its design and how it will be built. They need to have strong problem-solving skills to be able to identify potential issues with a product and come up with ways to address them. Product managers, on the other hand, focus more on the business side of things, such as market research, developing marketing plans and managing budgets. They need to be good at multitasking and prioritizing tasks to ensure that the product is developed efficiently and within budget.
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Both of these salaries can vary depending on the size of the company, the location of the job and the level of experience the employee has. Being the bridge between the business, customer, operations and the tech, a PM has a unique perspective on system design. As a product manager, you don’t need to have an extensive knowledge about designing and coming up with the architecture solution architect performance goals of a system. I won’t go into the details of what you should specifically learn, but a more general approach to deciding what to learn and how you can contribute to the design. Primarily, a Solution Architect serves a distinct organizational role centered on designing and managing comprehensive technology solutions that effectively tackle business challenges.
- The team promises to meet any applicable items on that DoD for any backlog item they take on and the Product Owners promises to give them time to do it.
- In other words, solution architects create a bridge between planning at the enterprise level and developing specific software products that will help a company make these plans a reality.
- We also have Product Owners who are in terms of the Company a “higher rank” than the technical oversight group that the Solution Architect’s belong to.
- Comparatively, Salary.com published an estimated salary per annum to be around $142,903.
- One of the major differences between solutions architects and product managers is the type of duties they have.
- Also SA to me has its growth limitations and more limited exit opportunities.
- He must examine the limitations of the project in order to optimize possible alternatives and reduce risks.
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals. Dim is a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM). He has a decade of experience as a stakeholder, member, leader, and coach for agile teams.
types of product managers: Which one can you relate to the most?
They are an invaluable resource for ascertaining how your product should be built from a technical perspective. You can read some details about the components of architecture development in our article on the product design stage. A solution architect is working closely with a variety of professionals and teams within the company to deliver the ultimate flexible, extensible, and workable product. He must know how the architecture of each module of the system is arranged, how each element of the project works, and how everything is interconnected into a single ecosystem.
Solutions architects work in a variety of environments, depending on the company and project. They may spend time working with clients to understand their needs and collaborate with teams to create solutions that meet those needs. Solutions architects often travel for work, visiting clients’ locations to discuss projects and observe users firsthand.
What Is Solution Architecture?
They meticulously analyze various facets such as cost, timeline, and expected returns, weaving together a comprehensive understanding of the project’s viability and potential. This estimation process is a crucial safeguard, ensuring that projects remain within budgetary and time constraints while aligning with the organization’s strategic objectives. This task extends beyond bureaucratic documentation—it is fundamental to ensure that all stakeholders clearly understand the nuances of the solution.
There are no industry standard definitions for Architect job titles — Application/System/Software/Solution Architect all refer in general to a senior developer with strong design and leadership skills. The balance of design, strategy, development (often of core services or frameworks) and management differ based on the organization and project. Some product managers unknowingly tend to provide a solution instead of presenting the problem first.
Estimation of Project Outcomes
They serve as the vital liaison, uniting disparate teams and fostering a shared understanding and vision. By adeptly managing and balancing the interests and expectations of stakeholders, Solutions Architects drive seamless project execution and cultivate a collaborative environment. An extensive comprehension of architectural principles and frameworks such as TOGAF or Zachman is indispensable for a Solutions Architect. They must also possess knowledge of service-oriented architecture (SOA), microservices, and API design. This understanding equips them with the ability to structure and design robust, scalable, and sustainable solutions. After that, they cooperate with a business analyst to help the latter properly translate stakeholders’ requirements into functional and non-functional requirements for a product.
It guides those building large-scale IT systems as well as those building large, cyber-physical, engineered systems. Many large systems—satellites, vehicles, robotics, medical devices, and more—have both cyber-physical and large-scale IT elements. In practice, the Solution Architect role is typically filled by a small team rather than one individual. It is important to note that all of the architectural roles described are highly intertwined, and in a number of companies they can be combined under two or even one position. At the moment, there is no clear generally accepted division of responsibilities for the roles of architects, so indifferent companies, may differ and even have a different name.
Software Architect vs Solutions Architect
However, some businesses find it hard to distinguish the software architect vs. solutions architect roles. Product managers and product management artifacts do serve an important value for the enterprise. However, it does not substitute the value of Business architect and business architecture https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ artifacts. Technical architects generally play the role of solution architects with less focus on the business aspect and more on the techology aspect. The Solution Architect’s role within the IT organization in devising technical solutions that tackle business challenges is fundamental.
