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Software System Architecture Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... Software Engineering, ML Science, Product Design, Industrial Design, Reliability, and Operations ... About the team The system architecture team is responsible for architecting Amazon Lab126 products ...

Job Summary We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled System Architecture Engineer to join our ... Develop testautomation software to improve measurement accuracy and accelerate data collection.

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Software System Architecture information

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How much do software system architecture jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for software system architecture in the United States is $71.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $62.74 and $74.52 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Software System Architect, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software System Architect, you need a deep understanding of software design principles, systems engineering, and experience with multiple programming languages, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with architectural frameworks (like TOGAF), modeling tools (such as UML), and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) is typically required, and certifications in these areas are advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and leadership skills help you collaborate with stakeholders and guide development teams. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure scalable, robust system designs that meet business objectives and technological requirements.

Is Software Architect a high paying job?

Software Architects typically earn high salaries due to their advanced technical skills, experience, and responsibility for designing complex systems. Compensation varies by industry, location, and company size but generally exceeds average software development roles. Certifications and expertise in cloud platforms or enterprise architecture can further increase earning potential.

What does a software System Architect do?

A Software System Architect designs and oversees the structure of complex software systems, ensuring they meet technical requirements and business goals. They analyze system needs, create architecture diagrams, select appropriate technologies, and coordinate development teams to implement scalable and efficient solutions. Strong knowledge of software design principles, modeling tools, and communication skills are essential for this role.

What is software system architecture?

Software system architecture refers to the high-level structure of a software system, outlining how its components interact and how data flows between them. It serves as a blueprint for both the system and the project, guiding the development, integration, and maintenance of software solutions. System architects make key decisions about the organization of code, technologies used, patterns applied, and scalability and security considerations. Good software architecture helps ensure that a system is reliable, maintainable, and able to meet future requirements.

How much do software architects make?

Software architects typically earn between $100,000 and $160,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in cloud computing or enterprise systems can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $180,000. Compensation may also include bonuses and benefits based on company size and complexity of projects.

What does a Software Architect work?

A Software Architect designs and oversees the overall structure of software systems, ensuring they meet technical and business requirements. They create architecture diagrams, select appropriate technologies, and collaborate with development teams to implement scalable and maintainable solutions. Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of design patterns are essential in this role.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Software System Architecture roles, and how can they be addressed?

One of the main challenges in Software System Architecture is balancing the need for scalability, security, and performance while meeting tight project deadlines. Architects must often make critical decisions with incomplete information and ensure alignment among cross-functional teams like developers, testers, and product managers. Effective communication, staying updated with emerging technologies, and leveraging architectural frameworks can help address these challenges. Regular collaboration and feedback sessions also ensure that architectural decisions align with business goals and technical constraints.

What is the difference between Software System Architecture vs Software Developer?

AspectSoftware System ArchitectureSoftware Developer
Primary FocusDesigning overall system structure and high-level architectureWriting, testing, and maintaining code for specific features
Required SkillsSystem design, architecture patterns, technical leadershipProgramming languages, debugging, implementation skills
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with stakeholders, architects, and development teamsFocuses on coding within development teams
CertificationsOften includes TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions ArchitectIncludes certifications like Microsoft Certified, Oracle Java

While Software System Architects focus on designing the overall system structure and ensuring scalability and performance, Software Developers implement these designs by coding and testing individual components. Both roles are essential in the software development lifecycle but differ in scope and responsibilities.

More about Software System Architecture jobs
What states have the most Software System Architecture jobs? States with the most job openings for Software System Architecture jobs include:
Infographic showing various Software System Architecture job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,055 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
System Architect, Hardware Architecture

System Architect, Hardware Architecture

Amazon

Sunnyvale, CA

$285K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,872 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

The Amazon Devices team designs high-profile consumer electronics, including the best-selling Amazon Echo, FireTV, Fire Tablets, Kindle, and Astro family of products. We are looking for a motivated individual contributor with a solid hardware or silicon background, great communication skills, and the passion to collaborate with a cross-functional team to drive system architecture across Amazon devices.
Key job responsibilities
As a System Architect, you will be responsible for defining the system architecture for consumer products such as Echo, FireTV and a range of new concepts not yet announced. You will serve as the lead technical point of contact that the product management and business teams rely on to interpret and clarify the product concept's desired user experience and requirements

You will define system architecture that can meet product requirements and work closely with the business team to understand and clarify requirements and user experience tradeoffs. In the process of architecture definition, you will drive key design decisions such as edge-cloud compute partition, device SoC selection, compute architecture (CPU, DSP, GPU and ML accelerators), and other system component selections (chipsets, memory, storage). You will document the decisions in a system architecture specification document that will provide relevant design guidance for the engineering team.
Besides directly defining product architectures, you will track market trends, interface directly with silicon and IP vendors, and define roadmaps for the whole organization on the next generation compute IP and silicon platforms

You will dive deep into silicon design, define specs for the next-gen silicon platforms and work with our silicon suppliers to implement them. You will work on concepts that may have an existing reference architecture as well as emerging product ideas that do not have any precedence. As the product is developed from the initial concept, prototype development, validation, to production you will stay engaged as the system technical lead to ensure the product requirements are being met.

Throughout this process you work closely with multi-disciplinary product team including Program Management, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, ML Science, Product Design, Industrial Design, Reliability, and Operations.
You are a hands-on engineer who is close to the details and validates your architecture assumptions through profiling and benchmarking. You have sufficient breadth across system domains to be able to independently lead a cross-functional group to drive architecture decisions. Besides breadth, you also typically bring depth in one or more areas of expertise to the architecture team, such as computer architecture, SoC architecture, silicon design, graphics and multimedia, embedded Linux, video encoders/decoders, applied machine learning, ML accelerators, audio, wireless, sensors, power management, system performance benchmarking, etc

As part of technology development, you contribute towards developing IP and filing patents.
A day in the life
- Gather business and functional product requirements from external/internal customers, and translate these requirements into technical specifications and architectures that are robust, scalable and supportable
- Perform architecture feasibility analysis, including profiling, benchmarking and prototyping new features (with the larger team) on available silicon platforms.
- Present architecture tradeoffs and recommendations to senior management (VP level)
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and document architecture specifications that serve as a reference for development teams
- Serve as a technical lead throughout the full development lifecycle, end-to-end, from scoping, planning, conception, design, implementation and testing, to delivery and maintenance
- Provide design and validation reviews for other engineers, including feedback on architecture and design issues, as well as integration, performance and scalability.
- Drive technology roadmaps in areas of expertise to foster innovation and meet the needs of the long-term product roadmap.
- Work closely with silicon and component suppliers and influence their roadmaps to meet Amazon Lab126 needs.
About the team
The system architecture team is responsible for architecting Amazon Lab126 products including Echo, Fire Tablets, FireTV, Kindle eReaders, Hearables, Wearables and IoT. The team also owns the chipset and IP technology roadmap and drives strategies that enable reuse and scale across Amazon devices. The team is comprised of architects with varied hardware and software backgrounds

We are always on the lookout for capable architects who can raise the bar and add technical expertise and depth to drive architectures for next-gen devices and emerging concepts.
Come be a part of the system architecture team in Lab126 Hardware Architecture and technology. Employees who have experience with consumer electronics devices and have been EEs, embedded software engineers, systems engineers, etc. and would like to contribute at the architecture level to the exciting Lab126 roadmap are encouraged to apply.


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About Amazon

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Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US