As a technical architect you have an important role as the project manager overseeing various IT assignments that are aimed at improving a business. It is your responsibility to make sure that all strands of the project run smoothly and come together as planned at the end when the project goes live.

The kinds of projects you might oversee could range from planning the structure of a large-scale patients records database for the NHS to the redesign of a shop's online shopping site.

You will spend a lot of time liaising with people from all backgrounds - from management to designers and programmers in the IT department - to make sure the project meets the needs of the organisation and the people who are going to use the new system.

Your role will therefore vary from project to project but the core set of tasks you will cover include:

Identifying the organisation's needs
Breaking down large scale projects into manageable chunks
Working out which IT products to use based on cost benefit analysis and research
Agree plans with the client
Explain to designers and developers what is required and overseeing the progress
Producing documents that monitor progress and ensure the quality of the project
Advise the client on managing future It needs
Skills and interests

There is never a dull moment in the life of a technical architect. It is an interesting, varied and challenging role and you will need to be a jack of all trades to be successful. You will need to:

Be good with clients/operational managers - listening and providing answers
Have strong problem solving skills
Have good communications skills
Build a good rapport with clients/operational managers and colleagues
Be tactful and diplomatic
Be good at gathering and assimilating information
Have a good knowledge of technical applications and be willing to keep up to date
Have a good knowledge of quality standards, legislation and best practice
Be adaptable and able to prioritise
Be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
Think ahead and anticipate problems, issues and solutions
Entry

You will need to work your way up the IT food chain to make it as a technical architect.

Although the actual job does not need in-depth technical knowledge (the people you manage will often have much greater expertise than you in certain areas), it is important that you understand what technologies are out there (Java/J2EE, SQL, SAP, Oracle and C#) and what they do.

That is why you will usually need a degree or postgraduate award in subjects like computer sciences or computer engineering, information management systems, software development or business information systems.

Employers look favourably on systems development, analysis, programming or testing experience as a good springboard to success so it is common to start in one of these roles and work your way up.

Opportunities

The IT industry is booming so there are lots of great opportunities out there. There are IT jobs all over the country although London and the South-East have the lion's share. Employers include not only the specialist IT consultancies but also public service organisations, Government departments, financial institutions and utility companies.

Looking at your future prospects, you would most likely be promoted to a more senior architect's role, or go on to specialise in projects for certain industries. A jump even further ahead could see you become a top IT consultant or IT strategist.

Annual income

It is not a job for anyone fresh out of university so the starting salary reflects your experience and position on the IT career ladder. You could earn between £30,000 and £50,000 per year, and between £55,000 and £80,000 when you become a senior architect.