What is the difference between a Cloud Architect and a Cloud Engineer

Question

In my current project, we’re facing unexpected cloud costs. Before we proceed, I want to know who should rework the architecture for efficiency and who should make the technical adjustments in the system?

Answer 1

While both roles focus on cloud computing, their responsibilities and scope differ.

Here’s the difference between a Cloud Architect and a Cloud Engineer:

Aspect	Cloud Architect	Cloud Engineer
Role	Designs the overall cloud architecture and strategy	Implements and manages cloud solutions and services
Focus	High-level design, planning, and strategy	Hands-on implementation, maintenance, and monitoring
Skills	Strong knowledge in cloud services, solution design	Expertise in cloud platforms, development, and automation
Responsibilities	Building scalable, cost-effective cloud systems	Deploying, managing, and supporting cloud environments
Experience Level	Requires extensive experience in architecture	Can be entry-level to senior with practical experience

In short, while a cloud architect focuses on designing the cloud infrastructure, a cloud engineer ensures its implementation and maintenance.