AWS Solutions Architect

Interested in creating complex cloud-based solutions, while also balancing people-skills and programming? You will very likely be interested in becoming an AWS Solutions Architect.

An AWS Solutions Architect (AWS SA / “SA”) is responsible for (but not limited to) the following:

• Understanding AWS Cloud Technologies at a deep level
• Creating cloud-solutions that fit the 5 Pillars of the Well-Architected Framework.
• Effectively translating complex concepts into easy to understand statements.
• Delegating multiple teams to ensure safe and effective use of the cloud environment. (this is more for an AWS SysOps Administrator, but the positions can overlap at times, to my limited understanding).
• Stay on top of bleeding-edge technologies.

There are quite a few benefits to being an AWS Solutions Architect, including, but not limited to:

• $120k base-entry salary [1][2]
• Work-from-Home as desired, typically, at least. (Information based from what I’ve heard from an official AWS SA personally)
• Able to live within one time zone away from assigned AWS headquarter.
• Stock-options
• Great benefits
• An entry-level position, with the caveat that you need to meet the high-demands of the position (note that most aws solutions architect job positions vary in their demands, quite literally visible on the job postings, what I’m about to post is what I personally deem to be the “typical” posting [3]):
  • Around 3 years of prior technical work experience (e.g. IT, developer, etc)
    • After talking with an AWS Solutions Architect who hires other AWS Solutions Architect, it sounds like most of the people who make the final decisions care more about your ability to take on complex problems effectively. They teach you people skills to a certain extent, and the 3+ years of prior technical experience typically isn’t a requirement if you show such technical-problem-solving abilities.
  • Experience with programming languages and paradigms
  • Ability to travel, amount varies, typical is about 30%.
  • Intermediate understanding of AWS resources
  • B.S. degree

References

• [1] https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Entry-Level-AWS-Solution-Architect-Salary
• [2] https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Amazon-Solutions-Architect-Salaries-E6036_D_KO7,26.htm
• [3] https://www.amazon.jobs/en-gb/jobs/1703388/solutions-architect