Software/Cloud Architect

Software/Cloud Architect Work Role ID: 628 (NIST: N/A) Workforce Element: Software Engineering

Manages and identifies program high-level technical specifications, which may include application design, cloud computing strategy and adoption, and integration of software applications into a functioning system to meet requirements.


Items denoted by a * are CORE KSATs for every Work Role, while other CORE KSATs vary by Work Role.

Core KSATs

KSAT ID Description KSAT
22

* Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies.

Knowledge
42A

Knowledge of engineering concepts as applied to computer architecture and associated computer hardware/software.

Knowledge
56

Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and methods that apply to software development.

Knowledge
68A

Ability to build architectures and frameworks.

Ability
108

* Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risk).

Knowledge
116

Knowledge of software debugging principles.

Knowledge
117

Knowledge of software design tools, methods, and techniques.

Knowledge
118A

Knowledge of software development models, methodologies, and practices (Waterfall Model, Spiral, Agile, DevSecOps).

Knowledge
119

Knowledge of software engineering.

Knowledge
129

Knowledge of system life cycle management principles, including software security and usability.

Knowledge
141A

Knowledge of the enterprise information technology (IT) architectural concepts and patterns to include baseline and target architectures.

Knowledge
170

Skill in configuring and optimizing software.

Skill
180

Skill in designing the integration of hardware and software solutions.

Skill
413A

Analyze user needs and requirements to plan architecture.

Task
414

Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.

Task
467

Consult with engineering staff to evaluate interface between hardware and software.

Task
502A

Develop enterprise architecture or system components required to meet user needs.

Task
569A

Document and update as necessary all definition and architecture activities.

Task
785A

Prepare detailed workflow charts, models, and diagrams that describe input, output, and logical operation.

Task
1125

Knowledge of Cloud-based knowledge management technologies and concepts related to security, governance, procurement, and administration.

Knowledge
1151A

Leverage enterprise-wide version control system while designing and developing secure applications.

Task
1157

* Knowledge of national and international laws, regulations, policies, and ethics as they relate to cybersecurity.

Knowledge
1158

* Knowledge of cybersecurity principles.

Knowledge
1159

* Knowledge of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

Knowledge
2156

Consult with customers about software system design and maintenance.

Task
2335

Direct software programming and development of documentation.

Task
5956

Provide Cloud and Cloud Security guidance to leadership.

Task
5957

Develop a company’s cloud computing strategy.

Task
5958

Develop and implements cloud strategies.

Task
5959

Convert the technical requirements of a project into the architecture and design that will guide the final product.

Task
6210

Knowledge of cloud service models and possible limitations for an incident response.

Knowledge
6900

* Knowledge of specific operational impacts of cybersecurity lapses.

Knowledge
6935

* Knowledge of cloud computing service models Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS).

Knowledge
6938

* Knowledge of cloud computing deployment models in private, public, and hybrid environment and the difference between on-premises and off-premises environments.

Knowledge
7096

Knowledge of both cloud computing and how it is applied in a variety of industries.

Knowledge

Additional KSATs

KSAT ID Description KSAT
38

Knowledge of organization’s enterprise information security architecture system.

Knowledge
44

Knowledge of enterprise messaging systems and associated software.

Knowledge
75

Knowledge of mathematics, including logarithms, trigonometry, linear algebra, calculus, and statistics.

Knowledge
126

Knowledge of system software and organizational design standards, policies, and authorized approaches (e.g., International Organization for Standardization [ISO] guidelines) relating to system design.

Knowledge
143A

Knowledge of integrating the organization’s goals and objectives into the architecture.

Knowledge
412A

Analyze the results of software, hardware, or interoperability testing.

Task
414A

Analyze security needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints and security mandates.

Task
971

Design countermeasures and mitigations against potential exploitations of programming language weaknesses and vulnerabilities in system and elements.

Task
1136A

Knowledge of use cases related to collaboration and content synchronization across platforms (e.g., Mobile, PC, Cloud).

Knowledge
1147A

Develop data management capabilities (e.g., cloud based, centralized cryptographic key management) to include support to the mobile workforce.

Task
3080

Ability to use and understand complex mathematical concepts (e.g., discrete math).

Ability