Architecting for continuous value flow with SAFe
In SAFe, architects play a fundamentally different role from what many are accustomed to. Rather than working ahead of teams in isolation, SAFe Architects are active members of the ART leadership trio, working alongside Product Management and the Release Train Engineer to enable the continuous flow of value through the system.
This means architects need to understand how to communicate an architectural vision that teams can act on, how to build and maintain an architectural runway that enables delivery without blocking it, and how to make technical decisions transparently within the cadence of PI Planning and iteration execution.
This course bridges the gap between traditional architecture practice and what effective architectural leadership looks like in an Agile Release Train, giving participants the context, tools, and language to work alongside teams rather than ahead of them.
What your people will learn
- How to develop and communicate an architectural vision that teams can act on
- How system, solution, and enterprise architects collaborate across the ART and solution train
- How to plan and maintain the architectural runway to support continuous delivery
- How to participate in and contribute to PI Planning and iteration execution
- How to develop solution vision, intent, and roadmaps at the right level of detail
- How to support built-in quality and technical health across the ART
- How to coach engineering teams on emerging architectural practices
- How to lead and work effectively in distributed and remote environments
Who this course is for
- System Architects and Solution Architects working within or moving into SAFe
- Enterprise Architects whose teams are adopting the Scaled Agile Framework
- Software Engineering Leads who carry architectural responsibility on an ART
- Technical leads who want to understand how their role fits into the ART leadership model
- Project Managers with a strong technical background transitioning to product-oriented working
- Architects who need to align their practice with Lean-Agile delivery at scale
Certification and exam
This course prepares attendees for the SAFe® Architect (ARCH) certification.
- SAFe® Architect (ARCH) certification
- 45 multiple choice questions
- 90 minutes
- 76% pass mark
- Two exam attempts within 30 days included
- Unlimited practice test with feedback and coaching report
- Perpetual access to the course workbook and SAFe Studio
- Certification renewed yearly
Sitting the exam within the first month of completing the course, while the material is still fresh, is recommended.
What attendees get after the course
- Course workbook and certificate of completion
- Eligibility to sit the SAFe® Architect (ARCH) certification exam
- One-year membership to SAFe Studio with architectural planning resources and templates
- Access to practice tools, learning materials, and the wider SAFe community
- Digital badge on successful passing of the certification exam
Prerequisites
The following background is strongly recommended for those attending this course:
- 3+ years of experience in software development and architectural practices
- Prior exposure to SAFe, ideally through Leading SAFe or working within a SAFe environment
- Experience working with or within an Agile Release Train
Why organisations choose this course
Many SAFe transformations see architects struggle to find their footing: either working too far ahead of teams or becoming bottlenecks because their decision-making isn't integrated into the ART cadence. This course resolves that directly.
It gives architects a clear model for how to operate within the ART, contribute to PI Planning, and enable rather than impede delivery.
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Delivery options
We provide this as a private course for organisations, either remotely or in person. When delivered to a group of architects from the same organisation, the content can be grounded in your actual systems, technology landscape, and delivery challenges.
Remote delivery is fully supported. In-person delivery can be arranged across the UK, Europe, the USA, and beyond.
Current SAFe curriculum
Scaled Agile Inc. positions architects as essential members of the ART leadership trio, responsible for enabling technical agility, maintaining the architectural runway, and helping teams deliver continuously without accumulating unsustainable technical debt.
Lead trainer
Matt Hosking
SAFe Premier Trainer & A-SPC
Matt has been working with SAFe since 2012 and brings real-world delivery and transformation experience into the classroom. Private groups allow the discussion to stay relevant to your architecture and delivery context.