Designs target infrastructure architectures, standards and technology choices.

Entry

Expert

Coding

Medium

Key skills

Infrastructure architectureHybrid cloudDR & HAStorage & compute

Career overview

The Infrastructure Architect defines how compute, storage, network and cloud fit together over the next several years: standards, reference designs, vendor strategy and the hybrid cloud operating model. Decisions here shape the whole IT estate.

Main responsibilities

  • Architect infrastructure and platforms
  • Design infrastructure solutions from business needs
  • Align stakeholders and report progress
  • Own the technical roadmap of the perimeter
  • Keep technical documentation up to date
  • Coordinate with software vendors and third parties
  • Prepare and execute change requests in production
  • Mentor junior team members and review their work
  • Follow capacity, performance and resource usage
  • Build high availability and disaster recovery setups

Technical skills

Infrastructure architecture95%
Hybrid cloud85%
Networking75%
Storage & compute80%
DR & HA85%
Vendor strategy80%
Cost modelling70%
Security70%

Technologies

AWSAzureVMwareTerraformAnsibleKubernetesLinuxWindows ServerNetAppCiscoTerraformGitPrometheusF5NSXTOGAF

Education level

Education requirements vary depending on the company, country and experience. Professional experience, certifications and technical skills can sometimes compensate for formal education.

High School / Bac

Less common

Bac+2 (2-year degree)

Less common

Bac+3 (Bachelor)

Less common

Bac+5 (Master / Engineering)

Common entry point

Experience & coding level

Experience level

Entry LevelJuniorIntermediateSeniorExpert

Coding level

No codingLowMediumHighVery High
Technical difficulty85%

Useful certifications

Certifications are never mandatory. They are one way among others to prove a skill.

  • TOGAF
  • AWS Solutions Architect Professional
  • VMware VCAP-DCV

Where can this career take you?

Multiple paths are possible. Click a role to open its profile.

Direct progression

Infrastructure ArchitectEnterprise Architect

Possible branches

Where Can Your IT Career Take You?

Where can you go next?

Realistic next career moves, with compatibility and a transition roadmap for each.

Overlap: 47% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Landing zones, Migration, Governance

View roadmap

Overlap: 35% · Difficulty: Hard

Skills to learn: AWS / Azure / GCP, Portability (Kubernetes), Sovereignty

View roadmap

Overlap: 37% · Difficulty: Easy

Skills to learn: Capability mapping, Stakeholder management, Roadmapping

View roadmap

Overlap: 47% · Difficulty: Easy

Skills to learn: Solution design, Stakeholder management, Documentation

View roadmap
CTOLow

Overlap: 23% · Difficulty: Hard

Skills to learn: Technology vision, Innovation, Stakeholder management

View roadmap

Where can you go from here?

A typical progression built from real career relationships. Click any role to open its profile.

Soft skills
  • Strategic thinking
  • Big-picture thinking
  • Clear communication
  • Leadership
  • Negotiation
  • Documentation writing
Common previous careers

Roles that frequently lead into this career.

Overlap: 36% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Networking, Storage & compute, DR & HA

View roadmap

Overlap: 11% · Difficulty: Hard

Skills to learn: Infrastructure architecture, Networking, Storage & compute

View roadmap

Overlap: 23% · Difficulty: Hard

Skills to learn: Infrastructure architecture, Storage & compute, DR & HA

View roadmap

Related resources

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Infrastructure ArchitectCloud Architect

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