• info@radicalgeek.co.uk
  • Sutton-In-Ashfield, UK

From Engineer to Architect

Categories: Architecture
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About Course

Master the decisions, trade-offs, and leadership behind great systems.

You’ve written plenty of code. Maybe you’ve led teams, reviewed designs, or made a few key calls. But now you’re asking:
What does a software architect really do, and how do I become one?

This course bridges the gap between senior developer and trusted architect. You’ll learn how to think structurally, navigate ambiguity, lead decisions, and earn trust, without becoming an “ivory tower” diagram-pusher.

Whether you’re aiming for a Staff+ role, building complex systems, or just want to think bigger, this course gives you the mindset, language, and tools of a modern software architect.

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What Will You Learn?

  • Understand what architects actually do, and how to think like one
  • Make, document, and communicate key architectural decisions
  • Identify and balance quality attributes and trade-offs
  • Choose and apply appropriate architectural patterns for real-world systems
  • Lead architecture reviews with confidence and structure
  • Use tools like C4 diagrams, ADRs, and sequence diagrams effectively
  • Coach others and build influence, even without a formal title
  • Avoid common pitfalls and anti-patterns in architecture practice

Course Content

Module 1: What Architects Actually Do
Understand the role beyond the title. Demystify what software architects really do. Learn how different types of architects operate, what decisions they own, and how they create value beyond writing code.

  • Introduction: Why This Module Matters
  • The Many Flavours of Architects
  • What Architects Really Own
  • A Week in the Life
  • Key Responsibilities in Practice
  • Navigating Ambiguity
  • Busting the Ivory Tower Myth

Module 2: Architecture vs Design
Know what matters—now and later. Learn the difference between design and architecture, how small design decisions grow into system constraints, and why timing and impact matter more than cleverness.

Module 3: Quality Attributes and Trade-offs
You can’t optimise everything. Master the core non-functional qualities like scalability, maintainability, and security—and how to balance them through real-world trade-offs, tactics, and system constraints.

Module 4: Common Architectural Patterns (and When to Use Them)
Patterns are tools, not dogma. Explore key architecture patterns like microservices, event-driven design, and hexagonal architecture—plus how to choose the right one based on your system's needs and constraints.

Module 5: Microservices vs Monoliths
Forget the hype—focus on fit. Dig into the costs and benefits of each approach. Learn how team size, org structure, and delivery needs shape whether you should split services or stay monolithic (for now).

Module 6: How to Lead an Architecture Review
Run sessions that actually move things forward. Learn how to prepare, facilitate, and follow through on architecture reviews. Includes templates, checklists, and techniques to avoid common pitfalls and build alignment.

Module 7: Tools of the Trade
Docs, diagrams, and decisions that scale. Get hands-on with tools like the C4 model, Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), sequence diagrams, and lightweight documentation that earns trust and supports delivery.

Module 8: Real-World Case Studies (Optional / Capstone)
See how it really plays out. Explore real architecture journeys—from success stories to hard-earned lessons. Apply your knowledge by analysing and critiquing systems based on their constraints and decisions.

Module 9: Becoming an Influential Architect
Lead without a title. Architecture is as much about people as it is about systems. Learn how to build trust, guide decisions, coach others, and navigate conflict without shutting people down.

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