Working as a technical architect, you'll design, build and deliver programs or systems for business clients using your technical expertise, carefully managing projects through each stage of the process
What is a technical architect?
If you want to combine your IT knowledge with elements of a managerial or leadership role, consider becoming a technical architect, also known as an IT systems architect. This job acts as a bridge between technology and the business side of an organisation.
You'll oversee IT projects from start to finish, act as a vital link between managers and teams of designers and developers and possibly have an input into an organisation's overall IT strategy and direction.
What does a technical architect do?
In most cases, you'll work within the IT department of a large organisation or for an IT firm that specialises in delivering assignments for business clients. The responsibilities of a technical architect include:
- working alongside managers or clients to agree on their IT requirements
- identifying the hardware and software that will be needed
- explaining plans agreed upon with managers to designers and developers
- organising the workloads of the technical teams in the most efficient way
- monitoring the progress of the project and ensuring it's completed on time
- reporting progress back to managers or clients
- carrying out some of the technical work, depending on your level of seniority
- checking IT systems work as intended
- advising and suggesting future IT developments to managers or clients.
There is some crossover with the project manager role, although these typically work in other sectors such as:
As a technical architect, you'll work standard office hours but may also work overtime or weekends to ensure deadlines are met.
What types of roles are available?
A technical architect is a general job title for the person who supervises an organisation's technical work (or IT architecture, as it's referred to). However, it can be divided into more specific roles within the same field. These include:
- Applications (or software) architects lead individual parts of major IT projects and perform hands-on technical tasks.
- Solutions architects are more senior than applications architects and lead entire projects.
- Enterprise architects are responsible for an organisation's IT strategy and direction.
- Infrastructure architects lead projects involving hardware and infrastructure equipment.
Jobs advertised as 'technical architect' may combine some or all of these, depending on factors such as the employer's size.
Bear in mind that these terms aren't standardised across the IT sector. Always check job adverts carefully to discover the details of the vacancy, as the duties and level of seniority involved can vary significantly within the same job title.
Although most positions are in London, technical architect jobs are available across the UK.
How much can I earn?
According to ArchJobs, the average salary for a technical architect in the UK is £37,730, while Glassdoor places it at £69,586.
Generally speaking, you can expect to earn between £40,000 and £90,000 per year, depending on experience, with higher salaries at senior levels and for roles based in London.
What skills do technical architects need?
You'll need a broad, up-to-date knowledge of software applications, programming languages, and hardware, as well as an understanding of quality standards, legislation, and best practice in the IT industry.
You'll generally gain this knowledge of technical architecture during your studies and early career.
Once you've moved into employment, consider taking short courses that lead to professional qualifications in areas of particular relevance, such as Agile and ITIL methodologies.
You may require at least a basic understanding of the following programming languages and what they do:
- C#
- Java/J2EE
- Oracle
- SAP
- SQL.
In addition to technical ability, you'll also need advanced soft skills for the management side of the job. These include:
- Anticipating and solving problems - a key part of the role is identifying issues that might arise during an IT project and finding solutions before they go 'live' and disrupt the organisation.
- Communication skills - you'll need to be adept at listening, understanding and explaining concepts to managerial and technical colleagues.
- Dealing with pressure - technical architects have a lot of responsibility, and you'll have to deliver results in high-pressure circumstances.
- Prioritisation and time management - IT projects often have tight deadlines, and missing them can have significant consequences for your organisation or client.
- Relationship-building - developing trust and understanding between the technical teams and managers or clients is important to ensure a project runs smoothly.
Take every opportunity to develop and gather evidence of these skills to show employers you're ready to take the next step.
Do I need a degree to become a technical architect?
Employers expect you to have a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject, such as:
- business information systems
- computer science
- software development.
These courses provide you with the necessary technical knowledge.
However, you're unlikely to enter a technical architect job immediately after leaving university. As mentioned, this is a more senior role that requires you to build experience in the IT sector.
Start your career by looking for software engineering, programming or testing vacancies - for instance, by working as a systems analyst. You'll be able to climb the career ladder from there.
Graduate employers that do take on technical architects include leading engineering, consultancy, and construction firms. The following often advertise roles in architectural design, building information modelling (BIM) coordination and technical consultancy:
After becoming a technical architect, you could become a senior architect or move into IT consultancy.
What IT architecture courses are available?
There are plenty of opportunities for professional development, with courses available from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, at foundation and practitioner levels.
For example, the Foundation Certificate in Architecture Concepts and Domains is designed for those who work in any aspect of enterprise and solution architecture, including those new to their role.
No experience in information systems (IS) or IT architecture work is required before taking this three-day course through a BCS-accredited training provider such as Global QA or Kaplan. The exam fee is £200, including the £35 remote proctoring fee (2026), and training costs range around £1,500.
However, to take the Practitioner Certificate in Enterprise and Solutions Architecture, you'll need more than the qualification above.
Geared towards those involved in any aspect of enterprise and solutions architecture, you must have achieved one of the following:
- BCS Foundation Certificate in Architecture Concepts and Domains
- a current Open Group Architecture Framework TOGAF 9 or TOGAF 10 level 2 certificate.
You'll also require at least three years of experience in information systems or IT, including some architecture work, to be eligible for a place on this three or four-day course.
The exam costs £360, while training varies depending on the provider; you can expect to pay between £2,000 and £3,000 through the likes of QA or The Knowledge Academy.
Find out more
- Search for postgraduate courses in the computer sciences and IT.
- See IT courses for an overview of your training options.
- Consider other IT graduate jobs.