Systems architect

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Systems architect

Systems architects divide large and complex systems into manageable subsystems that can be handled by individual engineers.
Occupation
Names	Systems architect
Occupation type	Profession
Activity sectors	Systems engineering Systems Design Engineering
Description
Competencies	user domain knowledge, scientific knowledge, engineering, planning and management skills
Education required	See education

The systems architect is an information and communications technology professional. Systems architects define the architecture of a computerized system (i.e., a system composed of software and hardware) in order to fulfill certain requirements. Such definitions include: a breakdown of the system into components, the component interactions and interfaces (including with the environment, especially the user), and the technologies and resources to be used in its design and implementation.

The systems architect's work should seek to avoid implementation issues and readily permit unanticipated extensions/modifications in future stages. Because of the extensive experience required for this, the systems architect is typically a very senior technologist with substantial, but general, knowledge of hardware, software, and similar (user) systems. Above all, the systems architect must be reasonably knowledgeable of the users' domain of experience. For example, the architect of an air traffic system needs to be more than superficially familiar with all of the tasks of an air traffic system, including those of all levels of users.

The title of systems architect connotes higher-level design responsibilities than a software engineer or programmer, though day-to-day activities may overlap.