It is not commonly asked of designers to understand the architecture of the software for which they are crafting a user experience. I’ve found it overall beneficial to have a grasp of the product’s DNA, and have encouraged designers on the team to appreciate this facet.
I experienced the good fortune of having the creator of the core IP regularly explain the deeper functionality of the systems the user experience was to be built upon. This became one of the determining factors to making bold design decisions.
Such an open disposition coming from engineering leadership helped defined the company’s culture. In support of this precious dynamic, I encouraged the design team to routinely engage engineers and learn about the product beyond customary requirements.