Avoid this BIG mistake as a new Solutions Architect!

"Does a Solutions Architect code?" This is a question I get asked very often, and it's a question that doesn't have such a simple, quick answer. A lot of people find themselves looking to land a role as a Solutions Architect because of (often confusing) certification naming, the promise of high salaries and the promise of "avoiding coding". But, this whole idea that you can "avoid coding" can be a trap for a lot of beginners. In this video: Gwyn, Luca, Anurag and Andrew break down various aspects of what you should consider if you're looking into a career as a Solutions Architect and wondering whether or not you'll need to code.

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Anurag Kale

Luca Mezzalira:

GPS:

Andrew Brown:

Video referenced at the start and a the end of the video about the changing role of Solutions Architect and how it can be more of a "customer-facing" role than some realise:

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00:00 - Do Solutions Architects code?
01:43 - How the Solutions Architect role is changing
02:22 - Why beginners target the Solutions Architect role
03:20 - To code or not to code?
04:03 - Video guest introductions: GPS, Andrew, Luca + Anurag.
05:12 - GPS: "Code isn't the right word!"
06:38 - What is Cloud Programming?
08:18 - Are there SA's who don't code?
12:08 - Do Solutions Architects build projects?
15:06 - Why you should avoid "toy apps"?
19:03 - Is there a "ceiling" for non-technical SA's?
21:21 - Not only Architects do Architecture!
23:55 - Less technical alternatives to Solutions Architect.
27:05 - "You can land any role, you just have to be realistic with yourself"

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FIND OUT MORE:

LET'S CHAT

Legal Disclaimer: These videos are for education purposes only. I am not responsible for any incurred costs or damages from following any of these tutorials. Follow the tutorials at your own risk, taking necessary precautions for cost management, security, etc.

[keyrtan]

There was a video I saw the other day by a Solutions Architect who talked about 4 different SA roles. 2 of them have more to do with the business side and take a birds eye view, the other 2 are far more technical and involved with the deployment of projects. This is why the aws certs for SA don't require coding and why this question comes up. The SA role is for finding Solutions, and there are many ways to do that.

[TheBnary]

This is why I prefer the MS route -- they recognise that lots of us actually have years of experience implementing compute and infrastructure on premises, and so the 104 and 800 and 801 exams give those people cloud certifications that endorse those skills. On the way, you can pick up many of the bits you need that are specific to cloud. I also know programmers who are struggling with cloud because they don't have that understanding of infrastructure, servers, and IAM (such as AD) they need. It is a strange world at the moment!

[WisomofHal]

As an SA, I came from a Software Engineering background. I have an absolute love/hate relationship with being an SA. Some days I miss coding and other days I’m so happy I don’t have to dig into sloppy codebases. In my day to day I couldn’t imagine not having a technical background. I’m highly customer facing, but all the questions I field are highly technical. If I didn’t have a background in software, i think I’d have a hard time comprehending many of the architectural components. I build architectures and whiteboard on the spot to solution ideas. I’ll start my day with 2-3 calls and by the afternoon 3 more calls have been tacked on to my schedule. This means I’m dealing with 6-10 different customers facing dozens of different problems, dozens of different components and hundreds of different moving pieces. This alone ensures you need ti know a lot. But you will NOT know everything so you need to also be resourceful. Software engineering is a different type of hard from Solutions Architect. I find SA roles more demanding, but SWE more complex. They’re both demanding and complex.

[jitu]

Thanks for putting Cloud leaders thoughts together, it's very helpful.

[kingogovor]

Great video Lou. It’s always great to listen to you. You clear my all my confusion with this series.

[EssLoco]

Concise with the information! looking forward to the next video

[festus-obi]

The truth that does not get put out there as much as the shiny pieces. Nice one again - keep it coming

[coachmw]

I don’t recall you interviewing me for this video intro, and yet you clearly wrote this about me.

[joelisaac]

I don´t want to skip code, but I´m learning it, it takes more time than learn the AWS services and console

[johnbrown]

Hits a couple key points- there is no single definition or scope for Solution Architect… it’s more of a category. Companies do a poor job with titles and job descriptions.
I think it touches on a key point- what do you mean “code”? There are different levels of that, and not all require the same (traditional) dev skills.
In cloud this growth comes from the collision of Dev and Ops people into DevOos in cloud.
But I think they missed something too. People tend to value their own experience as better than alternatives… so the Dev guy says “that skill is super valuable” and it was for his path. That doesn’t exclude the value in other paths though.
I agreed with all the speakers here to a large extent- but it wasn’t clear if any were “non-coders” so they can’t speak about those roles and positions from personal experience. We’re supposed to say we value diversity right?

Solution Architect is not an entry-level role for non-technical people- no boot camp or certification program prepares or provides sufficient knowledge and skill. It is certainly not a safe harbor for low skill non-technically minded people to grab a large paycheck.

[brownsense]

I want to be a cloud engineer. I have no technical background. I'm 44. Worked 20 years in a different industry. Currently enrolled in a AWS re/start bootcamp. Want to learn Python as well.

[charlita]

This has actually discouraged 😞 me. But I will keep going since I have paid for the bootcamp 🖥🤦🏾‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

[kat]

This video was really insightful. What’s the name of the video Lou references at the beginning?

[SY]

Customer facing SA may be not have to code .
But this is limited to AWS jobs only
These days companies are looking for cloud arvhitect or technical architect
Who need to implement projects
SA is losing shine as cloud becomes more popular

[dazzy]

What's that OUTC system website you showed when you talked about the projects? Is it some paid course? Can't find it on your site

[profitpurpose]

most of the time i wont make it to screening if i say as an architect i dont code

[architectingme]

Which layer of SA role would be suitable for database administrator?

[KenSherman]

3:31
Were you referring to #GoCloudArchitects on the left among others?🤨

[GBlunted]

It's not confidence they lack — it's 'competence'. And it's people like Mike from channels like "Go Cloud Architect"

[liquidcode]

Wait.. people want to avoid coding? lol, I'm literally aspiring to move into the cloud so I can use code to manage infrastructure rather than some silly goose's business CRUD rules hahaha