Infrastructure Architect
The Infrastructure Architect translates the overall business strategy into an infrastructure architecture strategy. He/She defines future state infrastructure architecture design considerations based on current and future business requirements. He engages business leaders and synthesises critical infrastructure gaps, current technology environment, and anticipated business and user challenges to inform architecture design. He determines design specifications of the future state infrastructure architecture, and develops the infrastructure architecture blueprint, roadmap for implementation, as well as plans for the integration of new systems architecture into existing infrastructure. He oversees the implementation of infrastructure architecture and ensures transition of current business practices and processes to enable delivery of appropriate solutions for the business. He also evaluates infrastructure performance against changing business and user requirements to inform architecture design changes. He is familiar with enterprise architecture methodologies and frameworks, and architecture modelling tools. He is knowledgeable of various cloud, network, storage and security technologies, as well as cloud computing models and services. The Infrastructure Architect adopts an analytical and strategic thinking approach to developing innovative infrastructure design that meets business requirements. He possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills, and is able to influence key stakeholders and build strategic relationships with partners and vendors.
What Does a Infrastructure Architect Do?
Key Responsibilities & Tasks
Formulate the organisation’s architecture strategy, governance, roadmap, standards, policies and procedures
- Lead and coordinate the domain technical and business discussions
- Participate in ecosystem strategy development, environment analysis and opportunity identification
- Analyse, design and develop roadmaps and implementation plans based on a current versus future state
- Design standard configurations and patterns
- Lead and facilitate the infrastructure architecture governance process based on the enterprise architecture governance structure
- Manage exceptions to architectural standards at an infrastructure level
- Review and approve recommendations to infrastructure architectural standards
Develop architecture requirements and maintain oversight
- Analyse and develop infrastructure architectural requirements
- Align architectural requirements with IT strategy
- Assess near-term needs to establish business priorities
- Ensure compatibility with existing solutions, infrastructure, services and strategic requirements
- Coordinate architecture implementation and modification activities
- Assist in post-implementation and continuous improvement efforts to enhance performance and provide increased functionality
- Ensure conceptual completeness of the technical solution
Manage quality and continuous improvement of architecture
- Analyse the current architecture to identify weaknesses and develop opportunities for improvement
- Identify and propose variances to the architecture to accommodate project needs
- Perform ongoing architecture quality review activities
Research emerging technologies
- Consults with clients and IT teams on infrastructure architecture solutions
- Analyses cost versus benefits, risks, impact and technology priorities
- Provide recommendations on emerging technology to senior management
- Develop a communication plan for infrastructure architecture
- Lead the research and evaluation of emerging technology, industry and market trends to assist in project development
- Identify organisational requirements for resources
Design infrastructure architecture
- Oversee the development of infrastructure architecture based on business requirements and IT strategies
- Approve and modify infrastructure designs and architecture
- Manage the assessment of capacity and resource utilisation of organisational infrastructure
- Define the principles that guide infrastructure decisions for the organisation
- Oversee and facilitate the evaluation and selection of infrastructure technology and the design of configuration standards
Do You Have the Skills for This Role?
A Infrastructure Architect needs 5 core competencies. Here's what's required and at what level.
Must-Have Skills (Advanced)
Transdisciplinary Thinking
AdvancedThinking Critically
Creative Thinking
AdvancedThinking Critically
Supporting Skills
Communication
IntermediateInteracting with Others
Decision Making
IntermediateThinking Critically
Sense Making
IntermediateThinking Critically
SkillsFuture Skill Levels
3 levelsBasic
Recognise and understand fundamental concepts. Apply skills in routine situations with guidance.
Intermediate
Apply skills in varied situations independently. Analyse problems and adapt approaches as needed.
Advanced
Lead and innovate in complex situations. Evaluate strategies, guide teams, and drive improvements.
Technical Skills & Competencies (TSC) Levels
6 levelsFollow
Carry out routine tasks under close supervision. Follow established procedures and guidelines.
Assist
Perform tasks with some independence. Assist in non-routine situations and apply established techniques.
Apply
Apply skills and knowledge independently in varied situations. Analyse problems and adapt approaches.
Analyse
Analyse complex situations and develop solutions. Guide and mentor junior colleagues.
Strategise
Set strategic direction and drive innovation. Evaluate trade-offs and make high-impact decisions.
Transform
Lead industry transformation. Establish standards, shape policy, and provide expert advisory.
Technical Skills & Competencies
A Infrastructure Architect requires 24 technical skills at specific proficiency levels.
Business Innovation
Level 5Business and Project Management
Prioritise business innovation opportunities and design digital architectures and processes to facilitate the creation of an innovative business environment
Business Needs Analysis
Level 5Business and Project Management
Lead comprehensive analysis to understand underlying drivers and present a compelling business case for proposed IT solutions
Disaster Recovery Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Design a disaster recovery plan and review recommendations for alternate solutions and recovery or back up procedures
Emerging Technology Synthesis
Level 5Business and Project Management
Establish internal structures and processes to guide the exploration, integration and evaluation of new technologies
Infrastructure Design
Level 5Design and Architecture
Project infrastructure requirements and define IT infrastructure design policies and principles, evaluating the viability and managing the impact of design options
Infrastructure Strategy
Level 5Strategy Planning and Implementation
Develop a robust infrastructure plan and model that is aligned and adaptable to internal business priorities and external trends
Product Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Anticipate future industry trends, and define the product incubation strategy and business model
Project Management
Level 5Business and Project Management
Lead end-to-end management of large programmes or multiple projects concurrently, coordinating project interdependencies
Quality Standards
Level 5Governance and Compliance
Establish and control quality expectations in line with organisation directions and selected benchmarks
Software Design
Level 5Design and Architecture
Translate complex software ideas and concepts into a design blueprint and establish key design principles and methodologies
Stakeholder Management
Level 5Stakeholder and Contract Management
Define a strategic stakeholder management roadmap, and lead critical discussions and negotiations, addressing escalated issues or problems encountered
System Integration
Level 5Development and Implementation
Design a feasible integration roadmap, monitor system integration outcomes and drive enhancements to integration plans
Business Continuity
Level 4Business and Project Management
Implement business continuity and contingency procedures and exercises
Business Environment Analysis
Level 4Business and Project Management
Monitor the influence of external and internal factors on the critical business functions, report findings and recommend responses to management
Business Requirements Mapping
Level 4Business and Project Management
Evaluate factors and ideas to identify key business requirements and objectives to be achieved. Test relevant solutions or programmes and impact of solutions and/or programmes against identified business requirements to propose adjustments
Business Risk Management
Level 4Business and Project Management
Assess current and potential risks within a defined functional area, and develop risk countermeasures and contingency plans
Change Management
Level 4Business and Project Management
Recommend business activities required to integrate and roll out new changes and drive the execution of change control procedures, engaging stakeholders in the process
Enterprise Architecture
Level 4Design and Architecture
Articulate impact of trends and alternative strategies on enterprise architecture, and develop action plans to support the transition to the desired future state
Network Administration and Maintenance
Level 4Operations and User Support
Assess network capabilities and set network rules to support software-defined infrastructure and optimise performance in changing environments
Network Configuration
Level 4Development and Implementation
Evaluate organisational network requirements and develop a network configuration blueprint
Networking
Level 4Business Development
Develop business plans for new opportunities
Security Architecture
Level 4Design and Architecture
Design a security blueprint and direct the design of a robust and coherent security architecture, based on a suite of security solutions and key design principles
Solution Architecture
Level 4Design and Architecture
Develop a solution architecture and prepare a technical blueprint for a given area, demonstrating how the solution addresses requirements
Sustainability Management
Level 4Business and Project Management
Assess the organisation's utilisation of energy against supply considerations, and propose and implement solutions to optimise utilisation
European Skills Framework
ESCOSkills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential
Career Paths from Infrastructure Architect
Explore related roles in Infocomm Technology that share similar skill requirements.
Will AI Threaten Your Job?
24Most at risk
Most resilient
Quick Facts
Is Infrastructure Architect right for you?
Take the free 10-minute Career Portrait to see which career direction fits your motivations and strengths.
More in Infocomm Technology
Explore all career paths in the Infocomm Technology sector.
View all Infocomm Technology roles