Technical Architect

Typical Salary

£40,000 To £80,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

evenings / weekends away from home

How To Become a Technical Architect

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
applying directly

College / University

You'll normally need a degree or postgraduate qualification. Relevant subjects include:

computer science or computer engineering
information management systems
business information systems
software development
mathematics

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a degree apprenticeship, training as a digital and technology solutions professional. You could then move on to a digital and technology solution specialist degree apprenticeship, which is at postgraduate level.

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start with a company in a job like programming and work your way up through internal training and promotion.

You could apply to companies directly if you've got relevant skills and knowledge.

You'll need a broad understanding of the available technologies and what they can do for the client. Many employers will look for a background in systems development, analysis, programming or testing.

Employers will also want to see strengths in non-technical areas like client management, communication and leadership. This is because they place importance on the ability to communicate the client's requirements to technical teams, and to manage demands on time and resources.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
analytical thinking skills
maths knowledge
knowledge of engineering science and technology
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
excellent verbal communication skills
operations analysis skills
persistence and determination
to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day duties might include:

finding out the client’s needs
breaking down large system requirements into manageable parts
researching 'off-the-shelf' products to see whether they'll be more suitable than building a new system
presenting plans to clients and agreeing how to carry them out
explaining the structure to designers and developers, and helping them build it
developing and carrying out tests to make sure everything works properly
making sure systems meet quality and security standards
keeping accurate records of steps and decisions taken
keeping project managers informed of progress
advising senior managers about how to plan their future IT needs

Working Environment

You could work in an office or at a client's business.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

Experience of project management methods like PRINCE2 will be helpful along with a working knowledge of project development and information management practices like Agile and ITIL.

Further information

You can find more advice on careers in computing from The Chartered Institute for IT.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.