Technical Architect
A technical architect provides technical leadership for a service. They design how systems work together and make sure technical decisions support user needs, business goals, and long-term sustainability.
What they do
- design the overall technical architecture
- choose technologies and integration patterns
- translate user and business needs into technical solutions
- manage technical risk, security, and performance
- guide teams on technical decisions
- support assurance and governance processes
Key outputs
- Technical architecture diagrams – show system components and integrations
- Architecture decision records – document key technical decisions
- Technology standards and patterns – support consistent implementation
- Risk and security assessments – identify and manage technical risks
- Technical assurance evidence – support service assessments and approvals
Project tasks
- Discovery - explore technical options, assess existing systems, and identify risks and constraints
- Alpha - design and test architectural approaches and technology choices
- Beta - support build and integration, review decisions, and manage emerging risks
- Live - maintain technical stability and plan for future change
Hiring considerations
- When to hire - if the service is technically complex, high risk, or integrates with multiple systems
- When to upskill - if someone in the organisation has strong technical experience and understands system design and risk management
- Essential skills - technical architecture, system design, risk management, governance
- Common tools - Miro, Lucidchart, Confluence, cloud platforms, code repositories