It’s wrong to think programming is similar to construction. Creating new products consists of a product design phase and a product manufacturing phase. The firs

It’s wrong to think programming is similar to construction. Creating new products consists of a product design phase and a product manufacturing phase. The first part finishes with a precise and tested design (so probably needs (digital) prototypes that can be tested), manufacturing just creates those design with as accurate as possible. Architects and software engineers are both part of the product design phase, software engineers deliver the first version of a product that can be tested (that can include multiple iteration, and new versions of an already finished version of the product). Product manufacturing in IT mostly consists of getting a copy of the product to the end user, either by creating an actual copy, or by allowing all users to have access to the final version created by product design. Software engineering is part of design, you’re part of getting the requirements and design final, don’t expect just to manufacture according to finalized designs. Architect simply look at the bigger picture design, components and interfaces, whereas engineers have a smaller focus. Architect are usually just engineers with more experience so they have more experience with the bigger picture design.