Even has a wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_astronaut
Joel's post was the genesis https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2001/04/21/dont-let-architect...
Salient indeed!
> They tend to work for really big companies that can afford to have lots of unproductive people with really advanced degrees that don’t contribute to the bottom line.
Interesting. I'm an architect by title because my employer doesn't have the career path of a "senior specialist who really knows their stuff and wants to keep going at it". No. We have only two paths: either Manager (not interested in the slightest), or the almighty Architect. Every time I'm forced to architect something, that bit about the bottom line comes to my mind.
I'd say an architect is kind of the opposite from a specialist. The specialists cares about the stuff only they know. The architects care about the stuff everybody should know.
Anyways, it's similar in my company. People get the architect title, so managers can justify the salary promotion.
Not sure how I haven't heard this one before, but I'm stealing it. Salient descriptor.