You need to start building your own systems on the side, learn by doing. If you wait for a company to give you those responsibilities gradually, you will depend

You need to start building your own systems on the side, learn by doing. If you wait for a company to give you those responsibilities gradually, you will depend on their focus and objectives rather than your skill. I had architect responsibility from the get go at a company I was a founder of. Then I was at a full time job for 3 years during which I was only getting small features, so I jumped to a startup to get architectural responsibilities again. Now I am beyond that level at a large public company; mixed feelings about progressing beyond architecture.