IT Architect: The Profession of the Future or an Indispensable Expert Today

Today, more and more young professionals are striving to enter the IT sector, which continues to grow and develop rapidly. However, despite the increase in government grants and support programs from the Government, there remains a significant number of unfilled vacancies in the market. IT specialists are actively sought not only by businesses but also by government structures, underscoring the critical importance of this profession.

Rustem Uvaliyev, IT Architect, Head of Digitalization at BTS 

Jonas Stankevičius, Solution Architect at Qazcode

Laura Salamat, IT Architect, CDTO at NNEF

Who is an IT Architect and what do they do

Rustem. IT architecture is the master plan of a digital city.
In our holding, an IT architect is a person responsible for describing and planning the architecture of data, information systems, and digital technologies. They ensure that digital solutions align with the company's business goals.

IT architecture can be visualized as a city blueprint. While building architects design individual houses, an IT architect is responsible for an entire metropolis of technologies, laying down roads—integrations, creating infrastructure—system platforms, and ensuring security—protective mechanisms.

Jonas. An IT architect is a balance between technical and business thinking.
An IT architect defines the company's technical development direction, selects technologies, and develops architectural solutions. Overall, an IT architect is a link between business and developers. They must be able to speak the language of both. The business needs to know how an IT solution will help generate revenue or save costs, while developers need to know how realistically it can be implemented. An architect is someone who speaks both languages and ensures that solutions work in the long term.

Laura. An IT architect is a strategist who creates the future.

In economic sectors, it is not enough to simply implement solutions; one must foresee how these solutions will change the company's position in one, five, or ten years. An IT architect not only participates in the development and implementation of solutions but also shapes the company's technological future. They build a digital strategy that helps the business adapt to changes and stay one step ahead of competitors.

What key skills and knowledge does an IT architect need

Rustem. An IT architect is a negotiator and strategist.

The difficulties of the profession stem from its tasks. It is necessary to find common ground with different parties—from business management to technical teams—and influence teams that are not directly subordinate. This requires building trusting, constructive relationships, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to motivate.

Key skills:
— interaction with business and IT teams
— change management and decision-making
— building long-term strategy.

Jonas. Technical expertise is the foundation of architecture.

An architect must understand architectural patterns, cloud platforms, system integration principles, security issues, and DevOps practices. Top technologies for an IT architect:

— TOGAF — enterprise architecture methodology
— cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
— containerization: Docker, Kubernetes
— modeling tools: ArchiMate, BPMN, UML.

Key tasks and challenges of an IT architect

1. Building a scalable and flexible IT ecosystem

Rustem. Systems should evolve with the business, not limit it.
— developing an architectural vision
— analyzing business needs
— planning the integration of new solutions.

2. Optimizing and securing the IT landscape

Jonas. Security cannot be compromised. A robust architecture prevents vulnerabilities.
— designing fault-tolerant solutions
— monitoring compliance with security standards.

3. Working at the intersection of business and technology

Laura. An architect must not only analyze and forecast technical solutions but also deeply work with the company's business goals and its market position.
— analyzing activities and identifying redundant functions
— continuous optimization.

How to become an IT architect: advice for beginners

Rustem. Start with business analysis. The most typical career path for an IT architect is evolving from a technical architect through deeper immersion in business analysis and company processes. But this is not the only path. For example, in my case—I came from a career as an IT consultant, and my good knowledge of business processes, ability to quickly analyze new information, and understanding of technologies helped me.

Jonas. Learn and experiment. Try certifications such as TOGAF, AWS Solutions Architect.

Laura. Knowledge is only half the success. Find a mentor—they will help you avoid common mistakes and reach a higher level faster.

Mentors among experienced architects will help you understand the nuances of the profession and avoid mistakes on the initial path. Start building company architectures by working as an assistant or analyst under the guidance of chief IT architects.

What does the career path of an IT architect look like

1. Beginning: developer, analyst, DevOps engineer. The first steps in IT are often associated with programming, testing, or system administration.

2. Advancement: technical leader, system analyst. Over time, a specialist begins to develop complex solutions, manage teams, and analyze systems.

3. IT architect: designing complex systems. At this stage, work begins with high-level architectural solutions, interaction with business, and participation in the strategic development of the company.

4. Enterprise architect, CTO. The next step is managing the entire IT ecosystem of the company, developing digital strategies, and global architectural solutions.

An IT architect is not just a high-paying profession but a key role in any technology company. It is a job for those who are ready to understand business, technologies, management, and build strategies for years ahead.