Systems Engineer: Salary and Job Description
Written by:
East Carolina University®
• Dec 17, 2024
Systems Engineer: Salary and Job Description
From public transportation to product manufacturing, complex and interconnected systems play essential roles in everyday life. In the field of information technology (IT), these duties may fall to a systems engineer—a professional who can design, maintain, and optimize IT systems in different organizations and settings.
Systems engineering jobs in IT are available across a range of industries, making this a promising career path for those who enjoy systematic thinking. An undergraduate degree in technology or a related field can be foundational for success in systems engineering.
What Is an Systems Engineer?
The basic role of a systems engineer is to design, integrate, and maintain complex systems, including IT systems within different organizations. The systems engineering professional may look at individual parts or components, and then determine how they can work together to accomplish a specific goal.
Which Industries Hire Systems Engineers?
A systems engineering professional with an IT focus may find work in virtually any field that benefits from streamlining or integrating IT processes. Some of the industries that hire systems engineering professionals most often include technology, product development and manufacturing, and transportation.
IT System Engineering Job Description
While the specific job description can vary from position to position, a general list of duties and responsibilities might look something like this:
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Studying and assessing existing information systems to ensure they are working properly, and to recommend any necessary upgrades
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Researching hardware or software solutions that could improve processes or enhance output
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Determining and installing new technologies that a business might need to improve its internal systems, including manufacturing machinery and equipment as well as IT infrastructure
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Identifying any bottlenecks or friction points in existing IT systems and processes, and then recommending strategies to mediate them
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Diagnosing and troubleshooting any technical issues that arise within an existing system
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Maintaining engineering documents
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Diagnosing systems and processes from the consumer perspective, advising on ways to make the user experience more seamless
Systems Engineer Salary and Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides the following information for computer systems analysts, a role closely related to that of the systems engineer.
Systems Engineer Salary
According to the BLS, the annual median salary for computer systems analysts was $103,800 as of May 2023. A number of factors can affect this salary range, including level of education and years of experience. Geographic location may also be a determining factor.
Systems Engineer Career Outlook
The BLS projects a job growth of 11% for computer systems analysts between 2023 and 2033, which is much faster than average for all occupations. This translates to about 37,300 new openings each year during that time period. The BLS states that many of these positions will open up due to current professionals retiring and the ongoing expansion of IT systems within different types of organizations.
How to Become a Systems Engineer
To find work in this field, it’s important to cultivate the right skill set. This requires a combination of formal education and professional experience.
Educational Requirements
Systems engineering jobs require an undergraduate degree, which may be in a field related to technology, such as information and cybersecurity technology . Earning this degree is an important way to shore up foundational knowledge, and to cultivate skills like critical thinking and problem solving.
Systems engineering jobs may also require an advanced degree, which could be a master’s in systems engineering or a tech-related field. Earning an advanced degree provides the kind of specialized knowledge required to thrive in this field.
Additional Requirements
Most systems engineering roles will require relevant experience. Internships or apprenticeships in a systems engineering department can count toward this requirement.
Certification may also be necessary for some jobs. There are a number of certifications that may be relevant to this role, including the following:
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Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
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Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
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Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)
Streamline Systems and Improve Processes
IT systems help ensure processes run smoothly in a variety of different organizations. Systems engineers can help develop and maintain these essential systems, making them an integral part of organizational success.
Students interested in this career should consider an undergraduate education in IT, such as the online Bachelor of Science in Information & Cybersecurity Technology (ICT) with a Cybersecurity concentration at East Carolina University®. With courses in software development, cybersecurity principles, and incident response, this program can equip prospective professionals with the foundational skills for success in many different IT and cybersecurity positions . Graduates from the program have also gone on to work at widely recognized technology and media corporations such as Google, Cisco, IBM, and more.
Learn more about the online ICT program at ECU, and apply today.
Recommended Readings
Cloud Computing vs. Cybersecurity: Comparing the Fields
Cybersecurity Skills by Industry
What Is Intelligence Collection, and Why Does It Matter?
Sources:
GeeksforGeeks, What Is a Systems Engineer: Skills, Roles, and Responsibilities
Indeed, 12 Essential Engineering Skills for Your Resume
Indeed, What Does a Systems Engineer Do? (Plus How To Become One)
Indeed, What Is Systems Engineering? (With Steps and Skills)
