Solution Architect

The Solution Architect translates business needs into secure, scalable, and supportable solution designs. They ensure projects and products align with enterprise strategy, technology standards, and portfolio roadmaps. This is
not
a hands‑on engineering, operational, or technical implementation role; instead, the SA provides architectural leadership, modeling, and design to guide delivery teams.

ACCOUNTABILITIES
(6-10 MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES)

Key Responsibilities

1. Architecture Modeling & Documentation

The Solution Architect is responsible for creating and maintaining architecture artifacts, including:

• Logical and physical architecture models
• C4 model diagrams (Context, Container, Component, Code where applicable)
• Current state architecture representation
• Future state / target architecture definition
• Integration, identity, data flow, and network architecture views
• Architecture decision records (ADRs) and rationale

2. High-Level Solution Design (HLD)

The SA produces the HLD that:

• Defines the end‑to‑end solution architecture
• Ensures alignment to Enterprise Architecture strategy, Technology standards and roadmaps, and reference architectures
• Outlines major components, integrations, data considerations, and platform dependencies
• Identifies architectural constraints, assumptions, and required decisions

The HLD is the authoritative reference for Delivery teams to execute against.

3. Requirements Alignment

The SA ensures that the proposed solution:

• Meets business objectives and functional requirements
• Defines and describes how the architecture addresses non‑functional requirements, including:
• Security
• Performance and scalability
• Resilience and availability
• Integration patterns
• Compliance
• Supportability and maintainability

The SA validates that the final implementation aligns with the approved design.

4. Resiliency, Disaster Recovery & Operational Architecture

The Solution Architect is accountable for:

• Defining the resiliency, failover, and high‑availability architecture
• Documenting disaster recovery capabilities, dependencies, RTO/RPO expectations, and required platform support
• Ensuring patterns align with companies' operational readiness and cyber security standards

5. Governance, Integrity & Risk Management

The SA ensures solutions:

• Meet architecture, security, and compliance checkpoints
• Are reviewed with Enterprise Architects, Technology Architects, delivery teams, and other stakeholders
• Record exceptions when deviations are required
• Surface architectural, security, and delivery risks early
• Support ARB reviews and decision making

6. Delivery Support (Advisory Only)

While SAs remain engaged during the build phase, their involvement is advisory, including:

• Clarifying design expectations
• Supporting key technical decisions
• Reviewing detailed designs produced by Engineering
• Validating that the solution was built as intended

Role Context

Solution Architects work at the intersection of strategy and delivery—ensuring that individual project and product designs faithfully implement enterprise vision, technology direction, and foundational standards.

• Enterprise Architects define long‑term strategy and target states.
• Technology Architects define standards, patterns, and roadmaps.
• Solution Architects apply them to real solutions and guide delivery teams accordingly.

COMPETENCIES

Organizational Competencies

• Solution Leadership:
  Guides technical design and decision‑making across delivery teams.
• Collaboration:
  Works closely with architects, engineers, and business stakeholders.
• Communication:
  Simplifies complex concepts into clear, actionable direction.
• Pragmatic Execution:
  Balances ideal architecture with practical delivery constraints.
• Accountability:
  Ensures solutions are secure, supportable, and aligned to standards.
• Adaptability:
  Adjusts to evolving requirements, technologies, and priorities.

Technical Competencies

• Experience designing end‑to‑end solutions across hybrid cloud and on‑prem environments.
• Strong understanding of application architecture, integration patterns, APIs, and event‑driven systems.
• Working knowledge of Azure services, networking, identity, and security architectures.
• Proficiency with architecture modeling and governance tools (e.g., Lucidchart, Ardoq).
• Familiarity with DevOps/CI‑CD practices and how they intersect with architecture.
• Understanding of data architecture, privacy, and compliance in regulated environments.
• Experience evaluating solution options, conducting trade‑off analysis, and assessing technical impacts.

MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related discipline—or equivalent work experience.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in IT solution design, engineering, or architecture roles.
• Demonstrated ability to design and guide the delivery of complex, multi-system solutions.
• Strong understanding of architectural frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman, or equivalent).
• Certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Architect Professional, or TOGAF are considered assets.
• Experience working in large, regulated, or asset-intensive industries (e.g., utilities, energy, public sector) preferred.