What Does a Software Architect Do? The Role, Skills, and Duties

Despite being a critical player in complex software systems, the role of a software architect is often misunderstood—even though over 100 people search for “what is a software architect” every day, according to Ahrefs.

Yet the numbers speak for themselves: Zippia data suggests that for every 10 software development job postings, there is at least 1 explicitly seeking a software architect. That’s not a niche: it’s a signal of strategic demand.

So, if you’re weighing the ROI of hiring a software architect, or wondering how they contribute to the software development process, this article breaks down exactly why the role matters, and when it can make or break your product’s success.

What is a software architect?

A good software architect understands all the critical aspects of a software system: performance, scalability, security, maintainability, and more. While their exact responsibilities may vary based on the size and complexity of the project, their core purpose stays the same: to reduce technical risk and improve the project’s chances of success—ultimately helping you to save money.

Typically, a software architect is responsible for designing the system’s overall structure so that it can be implemented quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality. They make key decisions about how the system should work, what technologies to use, and how to structure the custom software development process.

To achieve this, software architects typically take on the following responsibilities:

• Work closely with stakeholders
  Software architects talk to clients, product managers, and developers to understand the project’s goals. They help design a solution that is realistic, efficient, and aligned with the business needs.
• Review and guide the technical work
  Architects check the code and system design regularly. They make sure the system is clean, well-organized, and easy to maintain. This helps avoid technical problems later in the project.
• Support and mentor the team
  They act as technical leaders, helping software developers solve complex problems and encouraging the use of best practices. This makes the team more knowledgeable and overall stronger.

Through these activities, a software architect draws insights and creates strategies that shorten development time, minimize maintenance work, and prevent downtime caused by bugs or software design flaws.

When is hiring a software architect worth it?

Adding a senior-level technical expert, such as a software architect, increases project costs, so it’s important to be confident that their contribution will bring clear and measurable value.

Below are the most common scenarios where hiring a software architect is not just helpful but often critical to your project’s success.

1. When you’re starting a complex, large-scale project

If you’re building a product with multiple user roles, several subsystems, or complex integrations (e.g., payment providers, CRMs, AI services), a strong architectural foundation is essential.

An example of a complex project can be an internal tool used by sales, customer success, and solutions teams. Each team needs different workflows, and the system must connect to both internal databases and external platforms (like Salesforce or HubSpot). A software architect ensures all parts work together efficiently, avoiding costly redesigns later, and building in flexibility for future needs.

2. When you’re building a long-term product or platform

If the product is expected to evolve over time with new features, integrations, or modules, then scalability, maintainability, and modular design become critical.

Imagine, for example, launching a SaaS platform that will expand into different industries or regions, with new modules added over time (e.g., billing, reporting, analytics). An architect will help you avoid early design decisions that lead to technical debt, making future updates smoother and cheaper.

3. When you’re planning for scale or high traffic

If you expect the system to support thousands of users, real-time interactions, or large volumes of data, you need someone who can design for scale from the start.

Example: You’re building a live data dashboard or real-time messaging system for customers. It must handle spikes in traffic without performance issues. The architect will ensure that your infrastructure and codebase can handle high load, minimizing outages and performance bottlenecks.

4. When you’re modernizing or rebuilding a legacy system

If you’re stuck with outdated tech that’s hard to maintain, slow, or no longer meets user expectations, an architect can lead the technical transformation.

Say, your current system runs on old frameworks and monolithic code, and new developers struggle to add features. You’re considering a move to microservices or the cloud. A software architect will plan the migration carefully, avoiding disruptions and choosing the right modern tools and architecture patterns.

5. When you’re coordinating multiple development teams

In projects where several teams are working in parallel, consistency becomes a challenge. Without shared architectural guidance, you risk duplication, misalignment, and integration issues.

Example: One team is building the frontend, another the backend, and a third is handling integrations. They all need to follow the same APIs, naming conventions, and architectural decisions. A software architect will ensure everyone works toward a unified system design, reducing miscommunication and redundant work.

6. When you’re managing a high-risk or high-stakes project

If your project has strict timelines, tight budgets, compliance requirements, or high failure costs, architectural mistakes can be extremely expensive.

Example: You’re developing a financial product that must comply with regulations, and failure could result in fines or loss of customer trust. An architect will help you identify technical risks early, make better technology choices, and avoid costly delays or redesigns.

Still evaluating the cost and value?

Share your project details with us, and we’ll help you identify the most valuable specialist for your goals: whether that’s a software architect, a tech lead, or another expert.

Contact us

Types of software architects

Because the responsibilities of a software architect cover many technical and strategic areas, larger organizations often define more specialized roles. Each type of architect focuses on different layers of software and business complexity.

Here are the most common types:

Thus, a data and information architect works with data integration processes in a company, business intelligence systems, databases, and file systems. They ensure data is accurate, well-organized, and accessible across the organization.

Enterprise software architects supervise the organization’s IT networks and services. These experts ensure that the software architecture aligns with the company’s strategy, and align all IT systems with the company’s long-term business vision.

A solution architect creates a general context of the developed solution and coordinates the project teams toward the goal. This person focuses on solving specific client needs and knows project management, business analysis, and systems architecture. Their main goal is to deliver a solution that meets business requirements within the given constraints.

A technical architect focuses on a particular project, supervising all aspects of development, maintenance, and evolution. They’re often the hands-on technical leader, guiding developers and ensuring the system is scalable, maintainable, and well-built.

Which one should you hire?

The type of architect you should hire depends on your project scope and business goals:

For day-to-day technical execution → hire a technical architect

For company-wide systems → consider an enterprise architect

For data-driven platforms → look for a data architect

For custom client solutions → a solution architect is key.

Software architect vs. Tech lead/Senior engineer

If you’ve managed software development projects before, you’ve probably seen some overlap between the roles of a software architect and a tech lead. In smaller teams or less complex projects, tech leads or senior software engineers may take on some architectural responsibilities. However, that’s not always sustainable, especially in more demanding projects.

Here’s the key distinction:

• A software architect focuses on system design, long-term structure, and technical strategy.
• A tech lead focuses on implementation, team guidance, and day-to-day engineering execution.

Both roles are critical, but they operate at different levels of abstraction.

Responsibility	Software Architect	Tech Lead / Senior Software Engineer
Main focus	Strategic: how the system should work overall	Tactical: how to deliver features correctly, efficiently, and according to standards
Scope	Project-wide or system-wide	Specific feature set or team
Time horizon	Long-term (scalability, maintainability, performance)	Short- to mid-term (sprint goals, code quality)
Decision-making	Defines structure, patterns, and tools for the entire system	Makes implementation decisions within the architectural framework
Team interaction	Collaborates across multiple teams or departments	Leads and supports a specific development team
Hands-on coding	Limited; focuses more on design and review	Actively writes code and reviews pull requests
Primary value	Reduces technical risk, ensures scalable design	Keeps delivery on track, maintains code quality

To better illustrate the differences, let’s consider an example: imagine you’re building a multi-tenant SaaS platform.

• The software architect decides the platform will use a microservices architecture, selects AWS services, defines API contracts, and plans for tenant isolation and scalability.
• The tech lead on the billing team ensures their service integrates with the architect’s plan, helps software engineers write high-quality code, manages sprint planning, and resolves blockers.

Software architect vs. Project manager

A software architect and a project manager work closely together in a software development project, but they have very different purposes. One focuses on technical vision and system design, while the other ensures timely delivery and coordination.

Responsibility	Software Architect	Project Manager
Primary focus	Technical design, software architecture, technology choices	Project timelines, resource management, scope, and delivery
Core goal	Build a system that is scalable, maintainable, and aligned with business needs	Ensure the project is delivered on time, within scope, and on budget
Key outputs	Architecture diagrams, tech stack decisions, design patterns, technical guidelines	Project plans, schedules, status reports, stakeholder communication
Works with	Developers, tech leads, QA, DevOps	Clients, stakeholders, engineers, vendors
Tools used	UML, system modeling tools, architecture frameworks, code review systems	Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Trello, MS Project), Gantt charts, resource trackers
Role in decision-making	Makes high-level technical decisions	Makes operational and logistical decisions
Technical involvement	Deep technical expertise required	May have technical knowledge, but not required to code or architect systems

Let’s take the same multi-platform SaaS product we’ve considered earlier:

• The software architect’s job is to decide on the architecture (e.g., microservices, database choice, cloud infrastructure) and guide the technical teams in implementing the right technical solutions.
• The project manager creates the timeline, assigns tasks, manages dependencies, and keeps stakeholders informed about progress and risks.

Software architect roles and responsibilities in the SDLC

A software architect’s responsibilities evolve throughout the software development lifecycle. In Agile environments, their involvement is continuous—but their focus shifts depending on the stage of the project.

Besides, a software architect’s roles and responsibilities will differ depending on the project’s development cycle. For Agile development, the typical duties will roughly look as follows:

Pre-Development stage

At this early stage, the architect focuses on understanding business goals and translating them into technical requirements. Their key responsibilities include:

• Engaging with stakeholders to gather business and functional requirements
• Identifying technical constraints, risks, and opportunities
• Proposing high-level architecture and selecting technologies
• Creating initial diagrams, models, and architectural roadmaps
• Aligning system design with business priorities and timelines

The main goal at this stage is to establish a clear architectural foundation that supports the software project’s goals.

Prototyping

In Agile or iterative development, prototyping typically happens during or just after the planning phase to validate ideas quickly. A software architect plays a key role here by:

• Designing technical proofs of concept to test assumptions about architecture, tools, or system behavior
• Helping assess the feasibility of proposed solutions before committing to full implementation
• Selecting key architectural components or services to experiment with (e.g., testing a message queue or serverless function)
• Hands-on building or guiding the prototype to evaluate performance, integration, or scalability early.

Development

During development, the architect works closely with software engineers and tech leads to ensure consistent implementation of the architecture. They:

• Review designs and pull requests to enforce architectural standards
• Assist with complex technical decisions or refactoring
• Validate third-party integrations and APIs
• Help resolve technical blockers
• Ensure that code aligns with scalability, security, and maintainability goals

The outcome is high-quality, consistent code that reflects the system’s design vision.

Quality Assurance and Testing

During QA, the architect works with testers and developers to ensure that the system meets both functional and non-functional requirements. Their involvement includes:

• Reviewing test coverage to ensure architectural risks are addressed (e.g., performance, scalability, fault tolerance)
• Validating system behavior under load or in edge cases
• Helping identify root causes of architectural flaws found during testing
• Ensuring test environments mirror production conditions when needed for accurate performance evaluation
• Defining quality gates for code and infrastructure before release

Overall, an architect ensures that the system not only works but does so reliably, efficiently, and in line with long-term goals.

Deployment and release

In this stage, the architect ensures the system can be deployed smoothly and supported in production. They:

• Review deployment strategies and infrastructure configurations
• Ensure the system supports monitoring, logging, and fault tolerance
• Help plan rollout strategies (e.g., blue-green deployment, feature flags)

As a result, there is a reliable release that’s ready for production use, with minimal downtime risk.

Post-development

After launch, the architect supports ongoing evolution and improvement of the system. They:

• Monitor system health and technical performance
• Identify areas for optimization or redesign
• Guide architectural decisions for new features
• Help plan the technical roadmap for future iterations

The final goal at this stage is to ensure that the system remains robust, flexible, and ready to evolve with the business.

Looking for guidance across your software lifecycle?

Let’s discuss where an architect can add the most value, so your project stays on track from planning to production.

Contact us

Software architect’s skills

A software architect must combine deep technical knowledge with strong leadership and communication skills. Since their role spans both business and development, there’s no universal checklist for every project. However, some core skills are essential in nearly all contexts.

Below are the most valuable hard and soft skills you’ll want to put in your software architect job description, along with tips on how to assess them during the hiring process.

Hard skills

Extensive technical knowledge

A strong architect should be proficient in:

• Popular programming languages (e.g., Java, C#, Python, JavaScript)
• Frameworks and libraries relevant to your technology stack
• Software architecture patterns (e.g., microservices, event-driven, layered architecture)

They should be able to evaluate trade-offs and choose the best architecture based on business goals, scalability, and technical constraints.

How to assess:

• Ask for architecture diagrams or decisions from past projects
• Use technical interviews focused on system design
• Look for certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect, or TOGAF.

Coding skills

While architects don’t always code full-time, they must understand:

• Clean code principles and software craftsmanship
• How to structure reusable components
• How to evaluate and give feedback on code quality

How to assess:

• Include a hands-on coding challenge (optional for senior hires)
• Conduct code review exercises during interviews
• Ask how they’ve guided software development teams on code standards in past roles.

Knowledge of cloud technologies

Modern systems often rely on cloud infrastructure. Architects should know how to:

• Choose between cloud-native and custom solutions
• Design for scalability, availability, and cost-efficiency
• Work with services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud

How to assess:

• Ask for architecture examples that include cloud decisions
• Look for certifications like AWS/Azure/GCP Solutions Architect
• Use scenario-based questions (e.g., “How would you handle scaling under sudden load?”).

Domain knowledge

An architect who understands your business domain will:

• Make better design decisions
• Communicate more effectively with stakeholders
• Align technical strategy with business priorities

How to assess:

• Ask for experience in similar industries or problem spaces
• Present domain-specific scenarios and evaluate their thinking
• Look for prior experience working with product owners or executives.

Soft skills

Leadership

Architects mentor developers, guide design decisions, and influence team culture. They must lead without micromanaging.

How to assess:

• Ask for examples of mentorship or team influence
• Use behavioral interview questions like: “Tell me about a time you had to align a team around a difficult technical decision.”

Communication

An architect communicates with stakeholders, business analysts, and engineers, explaining the benefits of employing certain technologies or applying a specific pattern. They should be able to explain complex matters in simple terms.

How to assess:

• Ask them to explain a complex system they worked on in simple terms
• Include cross-functional interviewers (e.g., a product manager) to test clarity.

Problem-solving

A software architect manages the system design and should be able to identify risks in a timely manner. They should also apply their knowledge, expertise, and experience to find the best solution.

How to assess:

• Usereal-world architectural problems in interviews
• Ask how they handled past project crises or trade-offs.

Organization

A software architect must balance short-term tasks with long-term architectural planning, while ensuring that development stays on track.

How to assess:

• Ask how they’ve structured teams, prioritized work, or managed trade-offs
• Look for experience with Agile, Scrum, or other delivery frameworks.

Time-management

Software architects participate in meetings with clients, collaborate with teams, and have discussions with upper-level management. To handle a busy schedule, they should be well-organized.

How to assess:

• Ask how they balance deep work with meetings
• Look for examples of delegation and prioritization.

Creative thinking

Architects often face limitations, such as tight deadlines, budget constraints, or legacy systems. They must think creatively to come up with alternatives and solve problems quickly within boundaries.

How to assess:

Use open-ended technical scenarios to observe their creative process.

Ask for examples where they found unconventional or efficient solutions

How much does it cost to hire a software architect?

Hiring a software architect involves more than just their salary. You also need to factor in the cost of finding, hiring, and onboarding the right person. And, as you’d expect, total costs vary depending on location, experience, and type of engagement.

In the U.S., a mid-level software architect typically earns between $130,000 and $170,000 per year, based on job market data. For senior-level roles, especially in major tech hubs, salaries can exceed $200,000, plus bonuses and equity.

In Europe, salaries vary more by region:

• Western Europe (Germany, UK, Netherlands, France): senior software architects can earn €80,000 to €150,000+, depending on experience and company size.
• Southern and Eastern Europe (e.g., Spain, Poland, Romania): salaries are usually lower, ranging from €50,000 to €100,000 or more, in line with local cost of living and market demand.

Note that hiring in-house in Europe also includes employer taxes, social contributions, insurance, pension plans, and office overhead, which can add 20–40% or more to the base salary.

Outsourcing rates

If you choose to outsource or hire a contract software architect, the cost model shifts to hourly or daily rates. Here’s what you might expect:

• Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Ukraine): $40–$100/hour
• Western Europe / UK / Nordics: €60–€150/hour
• Asia, Latin America, or lower-cost regions: $25–$60/hour

Keep in mind that communication challenges, time zones, and oversight may add hidden costs.

In some cases, you may engage an architect on a fixed-fee or milestone basis (e.g., to design system architecture or review infrastructure). These engagements can range from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars or euros, depending on project size and complexity.

Cost of search, hiring, and onboarding

Beyond salary or hourly rates, consider these additional costs:

• Recruitment fees: Often 15–30% of annual salary if using a headhunter or agency
• Time investment: Your team will spend hours screening, interviewing, and evaluating candidates
• Onboarding and ramp-up: Even senior hires need time to understand your tech stack, processes, and domain
• Mis-hire risk: If the hire doesn’t work out, you’ll face lost time, rework, and possibly another hiring round

For example, hiring a $180,000/year architect could cost you an extra $30,000–$60,000 or more in associated hiring and ramp-up expenses.

Weighing cost vs expected ROI

Hiring a software architect is not just an expense; it’s a strategic investment. Here’s what you gain:

• Fewer costly rewrites: A solid architecture avoids early mistakes that require expensive rework
• Lower long-term maintenance costs: Clean, modular systems are easier to evolve
• Faster development: Teams move faster with clear technical direction and fewer roadblocks
• More uptime: Architects design systems to avoid failures and scale smoothly
• Future-proof systems: Architecture aligned with your business goals supports growth over years, not months

Even avoiding just one major architectural failure can easily justify the cost of a senior architect.

How long until it pays off?

The return on this investment may not be immediate. Typically, you’ll see clear value over a 6–24 month horizon, depending on the complexity of your system and the pace of software development.

In fast-moving startups or short MVP cycles, a consulting or part-time architect may be a better fit as they can help you avoid costly missteps early on without the commitment of a full-time hire.

Get a quote tailored to your project

Find out what it would cost to hire a software architect and what value you can expect, based on your goals, timeline, and team setup. It’s free!

Request a quote

Do you need to have your own software architect?

You may already have a decision in mind—but before making a hire, it’s worth asking a few strategic questions to ensure the role of a software architect fits your current goals.

1. Do you already have a development team, or are you building one?
   If you’re assembling a dedicated development team, hiring an architect makes sense once the team reaches a certain size and complexity.
   If you’re working with a software agency or external development partner, you can usually request architecture consulting as part of the outsourcing or outstaffing engagement.
2. What industry are you in?
   Some industries face well-known technical challenges that already have proven solutions. For example, eCommerce platforms often rely on standard patterns for product catalogs, checkout flows, and payment integration—meaning you don’t likely need to reinvent the architecture from scratch.
3. What’s the size and maturity of your organization?
   Startups and small businesses often require team members to wear multiple hats. They usually aren’t ready to bring in a highly specialized role like a software architect full-time.
   If that’s your case, your company might benefit more from a consulting architect or someone who can contribute architecture expertise while also staying hands-on with development.
4. What’s the expected scope of the project?
   Think about what the architect would actually do. If your goal is to build a simple web or mobile app with minimal long-term complexity, you probably don’t need a high-level software architect.
   However, if you’re building a scalable platform, handling complex integrations, or planning for growth, architecture becomes a critical part of risk management and success.

Bottom line: Should you hire a software architect?

A software architect translates your business requirements into a technical foundation that lasts. While they operate at a high level—defining systems, frameworks, and structure—they also know when to go deep, even down to a single line of code, to ensure the architecture holds up in practice.

When chosen well, a software architect gives your company the ability to scale confidently, pivot efficiently, and avoid costly maintenance or rework. This way, they help you build a product that drives revenue and long-term value.

At Syndicode, we offer architecture consulting services from seasoned experts in custom software development. Our architects meet strict standards: they know how to build systems from the ground up, explain complex ideas clearly, and make critical decisions that move your project forward.

Frequently asked questions

• What do Software Architects do?

  The roles and responsibilities of an architect in software development are numerous. They bridge the communication between clients and development teams to guarantee that client needs are met correctly. This person also participates in the identification of problems in current IT systems and discovers effective solutions. Further, they create strategic plans, coach, and lead teams toward a common objective. Finally, software architects select tools for implementation and establish guidelines to ensure teamwork is unified and outcomes are consistent.

• What are the advantages of hiring a software architect?

  Hiring a software architect ensures your product is scalable, efficient, and aligned with business goals. They design systems with long-term value in mind, helping you avoid costly rework, improve performance, and reduce technical risk.
  An architect will create a custom architecture that supports unique user experiences and ensure built-in scalability to match your business strategy. They will contribute to higher software quality, tailored to your specific needs, and indirectly provide long-term cost savings by preventing future refactoring. You can also count on them for strategic guidance that turns your vision into a competitive advantage.
  It’s an investment in building software that lasts.

• How long does it take to become a software architect?

  The journey to becoming a software architect often starts from roles such as a developer, lead software engineer, or IT manager. If you’re in one of these positions, you’re likely already familiar with what a software architect is, how to be a software architect, knowledgeable in various programming languages, and understand product security, quality, and extensibility guidelines. With this foundation, you could become a software architect within a few years. Your next step should be to research the specific software architect requirements for positions in your area of interest. Look at the skills and knowledge you need to acquire. This will likely include exploring more technological frameworks and expanding your technical expertise. Deepen your understanding of the role of software architecture by reading relevant literature. Enrolling in architecture courses and obtaining certifications can make you more appealing to employers. A great idea could be finding a mentor to accelerate your journey by providing insights into the profession. Additionally, since the role involves teamwork, improving your communication and management skills is crucial.

• What is the salary of a software architect?

  Software architects are among the top earners in the IT field. In the United States, they earn an average salary of about $139,000 per year, with entry-level positions starting around $109,000 annually. In Western Europe, salaries for software architects vary from approximately 18,000 EUR to 65,000 EUR per year. Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, they earn between 10,000 EUR and 28,000 EUR annually. These figures reflect what software architects do in the specific project, including software architect’s roles and responsibilities. Despite these regional salary differences, the skill levels of software architects in the US and Europe are comparable. This means you can confidently hire offshore, knowing the quality of expertise is consistent.