A guide to circa 40 core architecture roles, what each one does, and how to tell them apart.
During my 25 years in the industry, I have interviewed thousands of architects. In that time, the biggest cause of a failed architecture hire has rarely been a bad architect. It has been the right architect for a different job. Solution Architect, Enterprise Architect and Data Architect can each describe half a dozen very different roles.
At Konvergent, we do not take a job title at face value, whether it is on a CV or a job description. We look at where someone entered architecture, what runs through their whole career, and what their architecture actually achieved. Many of the architects we speak to are reclassified as a result, and that is what makes a shortlist worth interviewing.
This guide is the thinking behind that.
The title every other role is measured against, and one of the easiest to fake.
Enterprise Architect
Enterprise Solution Architect
Head of Enterprise Architecture
Chief Architect
Often confused with business analysis, and often missing altogether.
Enterprise Business Architect
Business Process Architect
The most used title in architecture, and the one most often given to the wrong person.
Solution Architect
Lead and Principal Solution Architect
Programme Architect
Cloud Solution Architect
Digital Solution Architect
SaaS has changed what an Application Architect is.
Application Architect
Business Applications Architect
Product Specialist Architect
Technical Architect
Platform Architect
One of the most misleading job titles, because there are so many types.
Enterprise Data Architect
Data Architect
Data Platform Architect
Analytics and BI Architect
Database Architect
Data Governance and Quality Architect
The title that has changed more than almost any other.
Enterprise Integration Architect
Integration Architect
API Architect
Event Driven and Streaming Architect
iPaaS Architect
Digital Solution Architect
Where most CVs titled Solution Architect really belong.
Enterprise Infrastructure Architect
Infrastructure Architect
Cloud Infrastructure Architect
Network Architect
Enterprise Network Architect
Digital Workplace Architect
The newest title in architecture, and already one of the most confusing.
Enterprise AI Architect
AI Solution Architect
ML and MLOps Architect
Every architecture search we run follows our Enterprise Architecture Recruitment method: Engaged Search. It starts by defining who you really need, before a single CV is reviewed, because the role you describe and the role you need are not always the same.
To a fully vetted shortlist for permanent hires.
To an offer for permanent hires.
For three profiles on interim and associate requirements.
If you are hiring an architect and are not sure which of these roles you actually need, please get in touch. It is surprisingly common for the job description to describe one role while the job title asks for another.
Ben Clark
bclark@konvergent.co.uk
