How to Be Infrastructure Architect - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jan 12, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The increasing complexity of IT systems has created the need for an Infrastructure Architect. This specialized role is responsible for planning, designing and developing the infrastructure needed to support the IT solutions of an organization. As technology advances, the Infrastructure Architect must stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies to ensure the organization is taking full advantage of its potential.

By keeping up with the latest developments, the Infrastructure Architect can identify ways to improve the efficiency, scalability, and cost of IT systems, which in turn can have a positive effect on the organization's bottom line. they must understand the business requirements and be able to identify the best strategies to meet those needs. As such, Infrastructure Architects are highly sought after professionals who can make a huge impact on an organization's success.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, software engineering or a related field. This is usually the minimum requirement for becoming an Infrastructure Architect.
Earn certifications in your field. Certifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) or Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) can enhance your resume and help you stand out from the competition.
Gain experience in the IT field. Experience in network engineering, system administration or other related fields will help prepare you for a career as an Infrastructure Architect.
Pursue professional development opportunities. Attend relevant conferences, seminars, and workshops to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and developments.
Apply for Infrastructure Architect positions. Once you have the necessary qualifications and experience, you can apply for Infrastructure Architect jobs.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the latest technologies and best practices. When interviewing for an Infrastructure Architect position, be prepared to discuss your qualifications, experience, and how you plan to use the latest technologies to meet the needs of the organization.

The demand for skilled and efficient Infrastructure Architects is ever increasing, as businesses strive to improve their digital capabilities and reduce operational costs. By leveraging virtualization and cloud technologies, Infrastructure Architects are able to design, develop and maintain secure and cost-effective IT systems. This helps organizations increase their productivity, decrease their time to market, and reduce their costs.

To deliver on these objectives, Infrastructure Architects need to have a deep understanding of networking, storage, virtualization and cloud technologies. they must possess strong communication skills in order to effectively collaborate with other stakeholders and ensure successful implementation of the designed IT infrastructure. As a result, Infrastructure Architects who are highly skilled and efficient are in high demand and can expect strong job prospects.

You may want to check Application Architect, Security Architect, and Web Services Architect for alternative.

Job Description

Design and implement solutions for data center architectures, virtualization, cloud, and software-defined networking
Develop, design, and implement high-performance, secure, and scalable enterprise networks
Build and maintain relationships with vendors and other stakeholders
Lead the design, implementation, and validation of infrastructure solutions
Identify, analyze, and recommend emerging technologies
Develop and maintain architecture standards and best practices
Lead the development of architecture roadmaps to support technology strategy
Develop integration strategies and plans for new technologies
Analyze system performance and capacity requirements to ensure optimal operation
Monitor security threats and develop strategies to mitigate them

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of networking and security protocols
Ability to design and implement cloud infrastructure
Understanding of server and storage technologies
Expertise in software and hardware architectures
Knowledge of system and data management applications
Understanding of digital transformation technologies
Proficiency in scripting languages and automation tools
Experience with containerization, virtualization, and microservices
Ability to develop and maintain disaster recovery plans
Expertise in performance monitoring and optimization

Infrastructure architects are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the infrastructure of an organization. As such, they must possess a wide variety of technical skills, including a thorough knowledge of networking, cloud computing, and security protocols. They must also have excellent communication, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.

In addition, they must stay abreast of new technologies and trends in order to recommend, implement, and maintain the best solutions for their organization. The ability to see the bigger picture and think strategically is also essential, as infrastructure architects need to consider the long-term implications of their decisions. Without these skills, it would be impossible for an infrastructure architect to effectively develop and maintain a reliable, secure, and efficient network system.

Integration Architect, Network Architect, and Mobile Architect are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working with cloud infrastructure?
How have you handled conflicts between stakeholders while working on an infrastructure project?
What processes do you use to ensure the stability and security of a network?
What challenges have you faced when developing a network architecture?
Describe a project you have worked on that included designing or deploying a complex infrastructure.
What strategies do you use to ensure new infrastructure is integrated smoothly within an existing network?
How do you stay up to date on the latest trends and best practices in Infrastructure Architecture?
What techniques do you use to identify and diagnose problems with a network or system?
What is your experience with developing and implementing automated infrastructure solutions?
Describe a time when you successfully led a team through an infrastructure project from start to finish.

Common Tools in Industry

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tool. A tool that enables the creation and automation of infrastructure deployments and management through configuration files. (eg: Terraform)
Configuration Management Tool. A tool that automates the process of configuring and maintaining servers and applications. (eg: Ansible)
Container Orchestration Tool. A tool that manages the deployment and scheduling of containerized applications. (eg: Kubernetes)
Automation Tool. A tool that automates tasks and processes, such as application deployment and maintenance. (eg: Jenkins)
Monitoring Tool. A tool that helps monitor the performance of applications, servers, networks, and databases. (eg: Nagios)
Logging Tool. A tool that collects, stores, and analyzes logs from applications and systems. (eg: Splunk)
Networking Tool. A tool that helps manage network infrastructure, including routing and switching. (eg: Cisco IOS)
Database Management Tool. A tool that helps manage, monitor, and secure databases. (eg: MySQL)
Security Tool. A tool that helps protect applications, servers, and networks from security threats. (eg: McAfee)

Professional Organizations to Know

Open Group
Cloud Security Alliance
IEEE Computer Society
International Association of Software Architects
International Federation for Information Processing
Enterprise Architecture Professional Association
International Association of Cloud and Managed Service Providers
Open Source Initiative
Cloud Foundry Foundation
The Open Networking Foundation

We also have Solutions Architect, Data Modeling Architect, and CTO/Chief Architect jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Application Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of an application.
Network Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of a network.
Software Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of software.
Database Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of a database.
Storage Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of storage.
Security Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the security measures for an infrastructure system.
Infrastructure Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of an infrastructure system.
Cloud Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of a cloud system.
Virtualization Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of a virtualized system.
DevOps Architecture. A set of components and their relationships that define the structure and behavior of a DevOps system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Infrastructure Architecture?

Infrastructure Architecture is the design of information systems and networks that supports an organization's IT infrastructure. It is a specialized form of architecture that focuses on the planning and design of a company's IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, networking, and storage systems.

What are the primary responsibilities of an Infrastructure Architect?

The primary responsibilities of an Infrastructure Architect include designing, deploying, and managing IT infrastructures; developing detailed system specifications; and creating and implementing IT strategies that meet the organization's needs. They also ensure the security, performance, scalability, and reliability of the systems.

What qualifications are needed to become an Infrastructure Architect?

Qualifications for an Infrastructure Architect typically include a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field, as well as experience with server technologies such as Microsoft Windows Server, Linux, and VMware. Additionally, knowledge of security principles, cloud computing, and scripting is desirable.

What skills are necessary to be successful as an Infrastructure Architect?

To be successful as an Infrastructure Architect, one must possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills, communication and interpersonal skills, as well as technical expertise in server technologies, security protocols, scripting languages, and cloud computing platforms.

What salary range can an Infrastructure Architect expect?

According to PayScale, the average salary range for an Infrastructure Architect is $80,000 to $123,000 per year.

Web Resources

Infrastructure Architecture Lab | Architecture architecture.mit.edu
Infrastructure and Architecture Policy - Appalachian State University policy.appstate.edu
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect Professional careerhub.students.duke.edu