This is a job for IT professionals who want to use their specialist expertise as a springboard to a role that requires breadth of technical understanding rather than simple depth.

Technical architects specify and plan the way IT infrastructure is put in place and managed. “This could cover areas from identifying the components, how the organisation would develop the computer system, its life cycle, risk management and business continuity plans,” says Roy Shepherd, a support and development manager at the British Computer Society. In many ways they are overseers whose job is to ensure that their organisation’s IT systems are consistent and compatible. They are also in charge of purchasing and using new equipment and techniques. “They are the custodians of the organisation’s key assets,” he says.

IT-related degrees are common but are not the only way in, Shepherd says; many people with nontechnical degrees top up their knowledge with a master’s degree or other specialist training while working. Winston Poyton, a technical architect at RM, an education IT firm, is a good example: he studied music and was a professional pianist before moving into IT and earning Cisco and Microsoft qualifications. He started in a support engineer role and ended up as a systems engineer before becoming a technical architect. Most TAs tend to start in a specialist role, such as coding, before moving into project management then technical architecture. This is because they need sound technical skills, service delivery awareness and a sense of the organisation as a whole.

Other nontechnical skills needed include a high degree of diplomacy and persuasiveness. “It’s not line-management as such, it’s more an advisory, consultancy role,” Shepherd says.

Graduates can expect to start on about £25,000 in a service delivery or development role before moving into a technical architect post, on about £35,000, after a few years. Senior technical architects can earn £75,000.

www.bcs.org

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO