Software Architects Indeed Have Dream Job, X by 2's Ahmed Says

Money Magazine Names Software Architect America's Top Job; Architect at Technology Consulting Firm for Insurance Industry Says Work Is "Addictive"


FARMINGTON HILLS, MI--(Marketwire - October 25, 2010) - The ultimate dream job: rock star, NBA player, surgeon? No way. 

The best job in America is software architect, according to Money magazine and Samir Ahmed, a senior architect with X by 2, a software architecture consultancy in Farmington Hills, Mich., that specializes in enterprise and application architecture predominantly in the insurance industry.

"It's addictive," he says. 

The thrill comes from solving complex puzzles with technology, people and business pieces. Ahmed analyzes many possibilities, coming up with solutions that have real impact for clients. 

Software architects, who design the blueprints for software systems and bridge the gap between business and IT professionals, need to see both the forest and the trees. 

"You need to be a problem solver first and foremost," Ahmed says. "It's an engineering discipline. You need childlike curiosity -- the personality of one who wants to tinker, to make something out of nothing. But you have to deal with people too. The best architects have a balanced combination of technical and interpersonal skills."

A graduate of the University of Michigan with dual bachelor's degrees in computer science and computer engineering, Ahmed has been with X by 2 for eight years. He started out designing and developing software. Over the years, the design work gradually morphed into architectural work. 

His advancement was accelerated as a result of the diversity of client experiences at the consultancy -- a diversity that's often missing from the typical IT environment, he says.

Software architects work at two levels. At the application level, they're concerned with a discrete solution, while at the enterprise level, they work to create a technology architecture for the entire organization. Ahmed works on both types of projects.

"I've always thought I have the best job in America," Ahmed says, "and my colleagues here feel the same way."

Job openings at X by 2 are listed at http://xby2.com/positions.aspx. Find yours by emailing thebestjobinamerica@xby2.com.

Contact Information:

Contact:
Henry Stimpson
Stimpson Communications
508-647-0705
Henry@StimpsonCommunications.com