4 Types of Solution Architects | SA Job Function Breakdowns

Post sales sounds like a nightmare

So, you come up with product suggestions, aimed towards a business and help them deploy that solution that you architect for them.

I like Databases and Networks, its like being able to touch a machines brain and nervous system. In the roles you mentioned I like the sounds of the Enterprise SA. I could talk all day about certain technologies and I'm passionate about the big picture.

Great video and information on SAs, just my 2 cents, this role is really overarching today, I am in a similar role but depending on my customer's needs I have to function as a technical design SA in some cases(network, security, certain IAAS, or API functional deployments, microservices), sometimes I am understanding their problems from a business standpoint and translating viable solutions, and even post deployment support for certain best practices etc. so Day0/Day1/Day2, even Day-1, haha. What's awesome is that we always get to be learning new stuff everyday.

I wouldn't put Enterprise Architects as a type of SA. SA can evolve to EA /Chief (and most often when the management path is heavily followed) but SA are focused on the match between specific need and IT. EA are focused on the match between overall business strategy and IT, most often dealing with IT people than IT itself. It's also a matter of creating the Architecture practice (process / organisation) allowing a good IT delivery.

Is a progresion path of Business Analyst > Senior Business Analyst > Enterprise/Business Architect is a good career track (particularly for Azure B2C,B2B,Entra)?

Software architect, system architect

This great, do a live and I will join!

yo holmes, my esse is an SA 🙃

Startup SA has become a new type of Solution Architect

thank you

I have a question I have full access to the AWS certification thanks to the company I'm at. I wanted to know which is best, Microsoft or AWS in terms of jobs in Europe, like I love business and I have low communication but been working on that, I have some programming knowledge still growing in java, flutter, angular and, I'm doing DevOps AWS certification. I do love A.I particularly vision based A.I which is what ill probably study for MSc but that aside,

I have access to AWS SA certification, should I do it or Spend money on the Microsoft on and what entry level jobs can I get in Europe for the certification ?

Great content 👏🏼👏🏼

I see, so SA doesn't relate to engineering! The word Architect confuses me though. What does a SA Architects?

As a pre-sales SA it is cool to find out more about the other routes I could take in my SA career.

Thank you so much Trevor! I'm a software developer of 15 years who feels burnt out and misplaced in software development. For years, I'd be been wanting to make a change and I recently came across the Solutions Architect role. It seems like a perfect balance between technology and customer management. Your video really helped seal the deal for me in terms of wanting to pursue my career in this direction.

Thanks for the video! I just got promoted from swe to post-sales SA role for a consulting firm. Super excited to break into the industry.

Well explained ! Thanks for great details.

Did you make the background song yourself? I love it.

Great video Trevor , what's your advice for someone who did most sales support but wanting to move into presales engineering , do I need technical certs or just architect certs or , I dnt mind software sales , though my core interest is on cyber security and networking /cloud even though I have no idea where to start

What about solutions that bound software!! Many solutions have sw hw mechanical systems machines

Steve jobs name comes up

Great video!

I have been performing several roles during my career. SE, FAE, Pre-Sales, Technical Marketing Engineer, Solutions Architect, and more.

Now, in my latest role, as Solution Architect/Manager, I perform ALL these 4 types of solutions architecture. Yeah, understanding this role can be funny and complicated, but it is common.

BTW, if I had to define all my roles into one, I will choose Technical Marketing Engineer, which is a mix of all of them, at the end, and the last stage of a Solutions Architect role (In my opinion). In a few words, “translating” all the (technical) content from RD, Engineers, Developers, etc; via benchmarks, presentations, training, POCs, and more; to Sales, FAE, BDMs, and end customers.


Cheers!

Very nice explained and hepfull for us. can you also create a video on SharePoint technical architect please?

So, I got offered a job as an SA. Seems God has a sense of humour, my initials are SA too 🤔
Anyways, so I got this job as an SA. I was approached as a put my CV on some website. The interview was in 4 parts, which I aced (they told me so), the thing is, I didn't really want the job, and I didn't think about (or really know) about what SA's do. So, then I applied for another co. of which I like their tech, as an SA (who knows how that will go), but now I kinda understand what the role is, I think it's a good fit for me. I'm experienced I've been in tech for years, just never thought about the SA job. Still messing with code or cloud stuff at all hours of the day or night (tech is fun, not sure how you can do this job if you don't love the tech; loving the tech is like a kid playing with his/her favourite toy 😅) - you've gotta have an edge right 😄

This is great content...I've watched a few of your videos; that music in the background is killing me though, so repetitive. My brain is like "Didn't you just watch this? I swear you just watched this 😄" - and it's a different video.

Great Video

Thanks you very much trevor

Thank you so much Sir. I love the way you break it down, and finally said, take it easy 😂. I've been a pre-sale person all my life, I think am going to go for it. Secondly, I've prepared so much for the SAA-C02, and it retired August 30th, SAA-C03 emerged. I have failed it once, I don't want to fail this exam again, whizlab and other trainers do not update their materials with the aws console. I would love any advise on how to sit for the C03 exam, i have a week more to write the exam

Which of the SA is PMSA at Amazon?

Everyone is a solutions architect these days. It's lost it's real sense of meaning.

Bro nice video.

I see a very gorgeous bass behind you, what bass is that?

I am studying to become a SA and I just subbed

I also play the bass

Can it be done remotely

Can it done remotely

If possible then can you please explain the benefits and constraints of being a Specialist SA vs Generalist SA? It would benefit people in adapting which role to choose.

There is actually a 5th one in my experience, and that is, support. In my company we have SAs in a high level support position, and like you eluded to, its vague enough to fit. These people tend to be a mix of escalation points for tickets, they may review runbooks, or review training for engineers, interface with development on product improvement and resiliency and so forth. Very tech knowledge subject matter expert driven kind of job, but exist outside of the pre or post sales position. SA really is a job title that can be see all over the spectrum.

nice content as always

Thanks so much. Its good to finally have this explained. I'm not sure if I want to be an SA but everyone says get the SAA cert first because it covers so much. Maybe there are some romote Cloud Infrastructure positions out there tool. I have basic network admin skills.

Can you tell me which of these require travel and which don't? I kind of lost interest in SA after being told by an SA that it requires a lot of travel. I have a family, enjoy working from home and do not wish to travel often. I'm assuming that an internal SA would travel the least, but would it be the only one for that?