IT Architect/Enterprise Architect

**stek** · 3 March 2010, 22:51

Doing Visio diagrams....

**ChimpMaster** · 4 March 2010, 10:15

Senior Enterprise Architect?

Seriously though being an architect is one of the more interesting senior technical roles out there. It allows you to touch upon multiple technologies and draws on knowledge across the business. It allows you to work with all ranges of people, whilst still retaining your technical nous and leveraging your breadth of experience.

You become revered by senior management and clients because you are one of few people who can explain the computerised world to them. A good architect is worth their weight in gold, whereas a bad one will screw up the organisation for years to come and will cost them millions in poor design.

**portseven** · 4 March 2010, 12:31

I always thought the next step is CTO or some such thing

Though I am quite happy doing the architect thing for a while yet...

**LegendsWear7** · 4 March 2010, 12:38

Originally posted by portseven View Post

I always thought the next step is CTO or some such thing

Though I am quite happy doing the architect thing for a while yet...

That's definitely a big attraction if it pans out that way.

But how can you become CTO (or in that ballpark) without ever [really] managing people?

You could go from Systems support/dev > Design > Architect [ > Enterprise Architect] > CTO without ever managing a team.

Isn't the CTO then managing managers without having 'worked his ways up' ?

Believe me, it is very appealing indeed. But I think if I had some years of 'Ent. Architect' on CV it wouldn't end up as boss of IT. I stand to be enlightened.

**portseven** · 4 March 2010, 13:13

Originally posted by LegendsWear7 View Post

That's definitely a big attraction if it pans out that way.

But how can you become CTO (or in that ballpark) without ever [really] managing people?

You could go from Systems support/dev > Design > Architect [ > Enterprise Architect] > CTO without ever managing a team.

Isn't the CTO then managing managers without having 'worked his ways up' ?

Believe me, it is very appealing indeed. But I think if I had some years of 'Ent. Architect' on CV it wouldn't end up as boss of IT. I stand to be enlightened.

I expect there is also a step that involves 'senior ent architect' were you are managing a team of other architects, hence the man managment experience. even so in my experience as an architect there is an element of man managment in directing the techies as what to build based on my designs

**doodab** · 4 March 2010, 13:20

Originally posted by LegendsWear7 View Post

That's definitely a big attraction if it pans out that way.

But how can you become CTO (or in that ballpark) without ever [really] managing people?

You could go from Systems support/dev > Design > Architect [ > Enterprise Architect] > CTO without ever managing a team.

Isn't the CTO then managing managers without having 'worked his ways up' ?

Believe me, it is very appealing indeed. But I think if I had some years of 'Ent. Architect' on CV it wouldn't end up as boss of IT. I stand to be enlightened.

With a career path like that I would expect a bit of technical team leading in there somewhere.

**ChimpMaster** · 4 March 2010, 14:27

Originally posted by doodab View Post

With a career path like that I would expect a bit of technical team leading in there somewhere.

Well yeah it's not that simple in reality. An architect isn't just someone who jumps from Support to Analyst to Architect to CTO.

I would imagine it's like (in reverse order):
CTO <-- Head of Architecture <-- Senior Enterprise Architect <-- Architect <-- Specialism Architect (Applications or Technical or Middleware etc) <-- Technical Consultant/Specialist <-- Senior Developer etc etc

You could be managing a team in several of these positions.

**nomadd** · 4 March 2010, 18:50

Originally posted by LegendsWear7 View Post

What is the post-Architect career path? Where can you go from there or is that the end of the road ?

[There may be a job coming up at a former client for this role and I've been given an early heads up to get prepared. Thing is: I don't know what people do after 'architecting'

for a few years.]

I guess CUK has a fair few devs, PMs, ITILites and benchwarmers. Anyone in this niche ?

The dole? I've worked as an Architect since 1995. Mix of Investment and Retail Banking; also some Media and some Pharma.

Market now seems to have collapsed for these types of roles on a contract basis. As have rates. I had very few calls last year - a first in 15 years - and those that were genuine were offering terrible rates of pay. So... Gone back to "code jockey" for a lot more dosh; and a lot less hassle.

**zemoxyl** · 5 March 2010, 10:10

Originally posted by nomadd View Post

The dole? I've worked as an Architect since 1995. Mix of Investment and Retail Banking; also some Media and some Pharma.

Market now seems to have collapsed for these types of roles on a contract basis. As have rates. I had very few calls last year - a first in 15 years - and those that were genuine were offering terrible rates of pay. So... Gone back to "code jockey" for a lot more dosh; and a lot less hassle.

Gotta admit I think Tech. Arch. work has disappeared for now.
Handy that you have lots of banking experience (of any tech. sort) as that's where most of the work is - and probably will be.

Maybe you're right about coding - just that in my experience (of managing) these jobs have been outsourced/insourced.

Perhaps you've just found a niche?

IT Architect/Enterprise Architect