Associate Solution Architect

Summary

An associate solution architect supports other solution architects to design solutions. You will usually work under supervision.

At this role level, you will:

support the design of solutions by working with stakeholders

help your team achieve its objectives

Work Activity Components

Title	Details
Technical assurance (ARCH)(Level 4)	Participates in quality reviews (e.g. fitness for purpose, quality attributes, non-functional requirements, risk) of solution architecture components.

Behavioural Skills

Title	Details
Analytical Thinking	Acquiring a proper understanding of a problem or situation by breaking it down systematically into its component parts and identifying the relationships between these parts. Selecting the appropriate method/tool to resolve the problem and reflecting critically on the result, so that what is learnt is identified and assimilated.
Planning and Organisation	Determining a course of action by breaking it down into smaller steps and by planning and resourcing each of these, making allowance for potential problems and escalating if necessary.
Customer Focus	Understanding the needs of the internal or external customer and keeping these in mind when taking actions or making decisions.
Verbal Expression	Communicating effectively using the spoken word.
Written Expression	Communicating effectively in writing, such as reports and via emails.

Technical Skills

Title	Details	Depth
Application Systems	Technical or functional understanding of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) applications and/or other bespoke software deployed within the organisation in order to provide system configuration, audit, technical, and/or functional support.	Aware of
Operational/Service Architecture	Knowledge of the IT/IS infrastructure and the IT applications and service processes used within own organisation, including those associated with sustainability and efficiency.	Aware of
IT Environment	The IT environment relating to own sphere of work (own organisation and/or closely associated organisations, such as customers, suppliers, partners), in particular own organisation's technical platforms and those that interface to them through the specialism, including those in closely-related organisations.	Aware of
Product Evaluation and Selection	The analytical comparison of IT products against specified criteria (including costs) to determine the solution that best meets the business need.	Aware of
Middleware	Software which forms part of the operating platform infrastructure.	Aware of
Infrastructure Configuration	Knowledge and understanding of infrastructure configurations.	Aware of
Development Approach	Understanding and application of different development approaches e.g. iterative/ incremental methodologies (Agile, XP, TDD, SCRUM) or traditional sequential methodologies (Waterfall or V-Model). Irrespective of development methodology a DevOps approach may also be taken where development and operational staff work collaboratively.	Aware of
Proof of Concept and Prototyping	Performing a proof of concept or prototyping exercise to demonstrate or evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of applying a particular technological business change in order to meet a business need.	Aware of
DevOps	The collaborative approach consisting of agile practices, processes, and procedures designed to facilitate rapid IT service and product delivery. DevOps emphasizes people (and culture) and seeks to improve collaboration between development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams with the aim of shortening the systems development life cycle to provide continuous release of high-quality software.	Aware of
Agile	A collection of methods, practises, tools and techniques, underpinned by the Agile Manifesto, that enable teams to deliver high value products and services in small, workable, increments. An Agile culture typically encompasses concepts such as Servant-Leaders; ceremonies, Stand-Ups, Sprints and Retrospectives; and the deployment of tools and techniques such as Backlogs and A/B Testing.	Aware of

Other Skills

Title	Details	Depth
Process Improvement Techniques	Methods, tools and techniques to analyse and optimise processes in order to improve the quality of a product or service.	Aware of
Business Proposals	Methods and techniques for preparing and presenting business cases, requests for proposal (RFP) invitations to tender (ITT) and statements of requirements/work both verbally and in writing.	Aware of

Training

Title	Details
Overview of Communications and Networking	The design concepts of planning and managing the interaction between two or more networking systems, computers or other intelligent devices.
Configuration Management	Creation and operation of procedures (manual and/or scripted) to provide control over IT assets by identifying, recording and managing changes to configuration items.
Presentation Skills	Methods and techniques for verbal and visual communication in a formal or semi-formal environment, including face-to-face and online.
Security Awareness	Tools and techniques to help users and employees understand the role they play in helping to combat information security breaches and for IT and security professionals to prevent and mitigate risk.
Techniques for Effective Meetings	Understanding the value of meetings as a management tool; formal, informal, online, stand-up and the various types of meeting format and when to use them; supportive meeting technology, and the processes, techniques available to chair or participate, to handle counterproductive behaviour, and to facilitate effective discussion.

Professional Development Activity (PDA)

Title	Details	PDA Group
Deputising	Standing in for supervisor or manager on a temporary basis during periods of absence.	Broadening Activities
Job Shadowing and Special Assignments	Undertaking temporary periods or secondments in other roles, particularly those that offer a new perspective on own function or exposure to other environments and cultures.	Broadening Activities
Gaining Strategic Knowledge of Employing Organisation	Developing a comprehensive understanding of the business environment in which the employing organisation operates and its position, policies and direction in relation to health and care, country and global issues.	Increasing Knowledge
Gaining Knowledge of Surrounding Technical Areas	Gaining knowledge of IT activities in employing organisation external to own function.	Increasing Knowledge
Research Assignments	Exploring a topic which is not part of own normal responsibilities and presenting findings to colleagues and/or management	Increasing Knowledge
Involvement in Professional Body Activities	Attending meetings, seminars and workshops organised by professional body and reading published material, such as journals and web content.	Participation in Professional Activities

Qualification Components

Title	Awarding Bodies
ITIL 3 Foundation	AXELOS

Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Skills

Skill	Level
Architecture communication Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.	Working Architecture communication You can: listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders create and use different architecture representations to communicate effectively, achieving agreement with technical and non-technical stakeholders provide support in discussions about architectural topics within a multidisciplinary team
Problem definition and shaping	Working Problem definition and shaping You can: work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals
Technical design throughout the life cycle	Working Technical design throughout the life cycle You can: create technical designs characterised by managed levels of risk, impact, and complexity provide guidance and support to teams using technical designs throughout the life cycle adapt a technical design if needed during delivery work with well-understood technology and identify appropriate patterns
Architect for the whole context	Awareness Architect for the whole context You can: identify relevant information that can inform your architectural work, such as strategies, roadmaps, policies and technical trends understand how your work supports the team in enabling change
Commercial perspective Commercial management involves exploring commercial opportunities whilst complying with the regulations on how we conduct and manage both internal and third party relationships.	Awareness Commercial perspective You can: show an awareness of government commercial processes show an awareness of legal and compliance rules
Community collaboration Collaboration in the DDaT Profession typically involves working in a multidisciplinary project team, and contributing to working groups and wider professional communities. It requires a broad understanding of the technologies, principles and perspectives of related professions.	Awareness Community collaboration You can: understand the work of others and the importance of team dynamics, collaboration and feedback
Making architectural decisions	Awareness Making architectural decisions You can: describe the reasoning behind architectural design decisions gather information to inform decisions understand architectural governance and assurance relevant to your work
Strategy design Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.	Awareness Strategy design You can: explain how organisational objectives link to designing strategy describe the purpose and application of strategy, standards, patterns, policies, roadmaps and vision statements

Skill

Level

Architecture communication

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Working Architecture communication

You can: listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders create and use different architecture representations to communicate effectively, achieving agreement with technical and non-technical stakeholders provide support in discussions about architectural topics within a multidisciplinary team

Problem definition and shaping

Working Problem definition and shaping

You can: work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals

Technical design throughout the life cycle

Working Technical design throughout the life cycle

You can: create technical designs characterised by managed levels of risk, impact, and complexity provide guidance and support to teams using technical designs throughout the life cycle adapt a technical design if needed during delivery work with well-understood technology and identify appropriate patterns

Architect for the whole context

Awareness Architect for the whole context

You can: identify relevant information that can inform your architectural work, such as strategies, roadmaps, policies and technical trends understand how your work supports the team in enabling change

Commercial perspective

Commercial management involves exploring commercial opportunities whilst complying with the regulations on how we conduct and manage both internal and third party relationships.

Awareness Commercial perspective

You can: show an awareness of government commercial processes show an awareness of legal and compliance rules

Community collaboration

Collaboration in the DDaT Profession typically involves working in a multidisciplinary project team, and contributing to working groups and wider professional communities. It requires a broad understanding of the technologies, principles and perspectives of related professions.

Awareness Community collaboration

You can: understand the work of others and the importance of team dynamics, collaboration and feedback

Making architectural decisions

Awareness Making architectural decisions

You can: describe the reasoning behind architectural design decisions gather information to inform decisions understand architectural governance and assurance relevant to your work

Strategy design

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Awareness Strategy design

You can: explain how organisational objectives link to designing strategy describe the purpose and application of strategy, standards, patterns, policies, roadmaps and vision statements

The Professional Body Responsible for this job family is BCS. This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus.