Systems Engineer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a systems engineer. Feel free to use our systems engineer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a systems engineer.
Who is a Systems Engineer?
Systems engineering refers to the study of all parts of a system and their relationships. Systems engineering examines the interdependence of system components to help understand how they contribute to the overall system and to achieve its goals. Systems principles can be used in conjunction with scientific, technological, and mechanical methods.
Engineered systems are designed for interaction with the environment in a specific way. These systems can use information, processes, and products as well as natural elements and services. This discipline is used to develop systems that achieve a specific outcome. However, the outcome of each engineer’s industry will vary. Although not all engineered systems can be considered technological, they all have a purpose.
Systems engineers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a project in many fields such as transportation, software development, manufacturing, and product development. They are responsible for creating a product system from the beginning to the end. Systems engineers can work in many industries and have different duties.
In many industries, systems engineers are integral to the success of businesses. They are responsible for creating the blueprint or foundation that starts the production, conception, and realization of value-added operations.
According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, systems engineers can achieve efficient and effective results by utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that ensures technical requirements are translated into steps. A systems engineer, for example, will often work with the project manager or the engineering team to help translate between them to achieve a successful system.
The system engineer will work at every stage of the process or system, from design and development through validation and operation. They may also perform quantitative risk assessments, which often focus on cost, performance, testing, and scheduling.
A systems engineer can work in almost any industry due to its broad nature. This includes software development, robotics, nanotechnology, civil engineering, and many other fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, systems engineering is expected to grow by six percent between 2020 and 2030. This is about the same rate as the national average.
Due to the nature of the work involved, systems engineers should be proficient in science and math. Many systems engineers must be able to communicate with project managers and engineering teams and must also have excellent interpersonal skills.
Systems engineers offer advice to clients on the best hardware and software options to meet their specific needs. They might also be involved in the hands-on aspects of the project’s acquisition, installation, testing, and implementation phases.
They will assess current systems and make recommendations about their scalability.
This occupation is becoming more important because of the increasing importance of online information sharing. It reviews a company’s security requirements and its use of online apps, from company websites to personal data exchange or online shopping, and recommends security measures that will allow the business to function in a digital environment without compromising client-sensitive data.
System engineers guide their clients regarding system capabilities, security measures, and other relevant information so that they can use the system every day and resolve minor problems.
Systems Engineer Job Description
Below are the systems engineer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a systems engineer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a systems engineer include the following:
- Identifying the problems that consumers require a solution.
- Providing step-by-step solutions to pending problems
- Planning the development of a new system.
- Conducting a cost analysis of new projects.
- Supervising the production of new systems.
- Maintaining engineering documents.
- Analyzing reliability and failure rates.
- Evaluating each stage of an operation in a system for efficiency and effectiveness.
- Performing a quantitative risk assessment of a system.
- Monitoring and studying existing systems to assess structural integrity and make recommendations for improvements
- Installing new software, operating system, and equipment
- Designing and implementing security systems
- Ensuring safety procedures are followed
- Assisting others in the process with technical assistance and support
- Monitoring all software, hardware, equipment, and systems and setting up feedback protocols
- Performing software and equipment research to optimize systems and implement updates
- Keeping records throughout the entire process of creating an embedded system is important.
- Analyzing risks and finding solutions
- Evaluating the reliability and operation of a system
- Identify and eliminate problems to improve systems performance
- Designing and installing new computing and networking infrastructures.
- Installing monitoring systems in the network to foster productivity
- Configuring operating systems and software.
- Applying best practices in data backup and system security.
- Anticipating potential problems or bottlenecks, identifying possible solutions.
- Troubleshooting and solving all technical problems that arise.
- Ensuring effective communication with IT support staff to ensure that the setup process goes smoothly.
- Liaising with vendors, and keeping all stakeholders informed about developments.
- Monitoring and managing all infrastructure and installed systems
- Assessing the current systems and giving technical direction to IT support personnel.
- Assisting in the development of custom software and hardware requirements.
- Automating your business processes as necessary to improve efficiency.
- Designing and creating a security system to protect data.
- Assuring the availability of technical resources.
- Supervising and maintaining the inventory.
- Ensuring rapid response to any problems by timely reporting on the log sheet
The following are other important tasks:
- Task definition
This is where the engineer defines the goal of a new system. They might research industry needs, identify underperforming systems, and meet with clients, managers, or other stakeholders to understand the requirements of the system.
- Conception
This is the phase where the engineer creates a model of the system that they are developing. During this stage, engineers should consider other systems.
- Design
An engineer creates blueprints, models, and plans. Throughout the entire engineering process, they must keep meticulous documentation that details the requirements for the design and procurement of system and component elements. The documentation should clearly outline each component of the plan to identify any potential impacts on the system if there are changes to the original plan.
The engineer builds and tests the system. The system engineer will evaluate the performance of the system and suggest ways to improve it. This is an important step in the process as it ensures that the system has been developed to meet all specifications.
Qualifications
Education
Entry-level system engineers need a bachelor’s degree. You can choose from systems, informational systems, industrial engineering, or computer engineering as your major. Systems engineers may obtain a degree and a minor in the field they choose.
A master’s degree can help students be more competitive in leadership positions. Many universities offer a Master’s degree in systems engineering. For those interested in teaching or research, a Doctor of Philosophy in Systems Engineering is a useful degree.
Training
The duties of a systems engineer vary according to their industry. However, most of their training will occur once they start a job. Most systems engineers receive on-the-job training in the particular systems and requirements of their employers.
Systems engineers can gain experience at entry-level jobs in their field. To gain relevant experience, they could work as a coordinator or support position before applying to systems engineer positions.
You can also get basic training in engineering or computer science while completing projects, labs, and internships. Many master’s programs require students to complete internships. Internships are a great way for students to learn more about the systems engineering field they choose. Internships can also be a way for students to connect with professionals who could help them find jobs after graduation.
Certification
System engineers can obtain multiple certifications to demonstrate their knowledge in various aspects of their job. These are just a few examples of certifications that systems engineers can receive:
- Associate Systems Engineering Professional
ASEP, which is offered by the International Council on Systems Engineering (ICSE), is the first-level certification for people who recently graduated in systems engineering. Passing an exam is required to obtain this certification.
- Certified Systems Engineering Professional
This certification is offered by INCOSE and is one of the most desired certifications in the field of systems engineering. This certification requires at least five years’ experience in systems engineering, three references, and a passing score on the exam.
- Expert Systems Engineering Professional
This certification is only for individuals who have at most 25 years of experience in systems engineering. The peer review panel is used to assess the recipients.
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional
The International Information System Security Certification Consortium offers the CISSP, which demonstrates an individual’s ability and capacity to implement cybersecurity programs. Candidates must have five years’ experience in systems security and pass an exam to obtain this certification.
- Professional Engineer
The PE license is required for engineers who intend to work with the public. While each state will have different requirements for obtaining a PE license, the minimum requirements are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, four years of work experience under the guidance of a licensed engineer, and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
Essential Skills
- Perseverance and Patience
An engineer must be patient and persistent to create complex systems. Complex systems are more difficult to create and take longer to complete. Engineers cannot see the whole picture at once. It takes time to see the whole picture and to find the small details. There will be errors, even after you test and test again. It takes patience to realize that hundreds of failed attempts will not stop you from trying again.
- Ability to know when you are done
Although a good system engineer wants every project to be perfect, it is easy to get caught up in the perfectionist trap. It’s tempting to think, “One more change, it will be perfect.” But, this could mean that you don’t complete your project, and all of your hard work will be lost. Engineers who are skilled in recognizing when a system is working well enough will know when it needs more work.
- Analytical skills
Engineers are naturally analytical and that is why they chose the field. They were always curious and analytical from the time they could speak. An excellent systems engineer will go beyond analyzing to find solutions to the questions and problems they analyze.
- Knowledge of Systems Engineering Software Tool(s)
All systems engineers need to have experience with tools in this modern age. Systems engineering software tools are used in most colleges, particularly at the grad school level. These tools enable you to create complex systems. These tools also allow you to organize and create documentation and reports much faster and with greater accuracy. You can also use them to analyze your data better. Although you may already be an expert at analyzing, a tool can make it easier to organize your information.
- Strong Organizational Skills
To manage the volume of information that systems engineers deal with every day, you need to be organized. You must be able to organize effectively so that you can track the status of your projects and create reports and documents that can easily be understood. While a tool will greatly improve your organization, it is still important to be able to comprehend organizational concepts.
- Ability to see the big picture
It is important to consider the whole system as well as the individual parts. Throughout the planning process, it is important to keep the overall goal in mind. Good systems engineers must be able to predict future requirements. They should be detail-oriented but also be able to see the bigger picture.
- Communication Skills
Although many engineering colleges don’t give English a high priority, system engineers must be able to communicate well. It takes practice and time to improve communication skills and this can be done over time.
- Leadership and interpersonal skills
As a system engineer, you will have to lead, follow, and work in a team at some point in your professional career. All three are essential skills for the best system engineers. Good leaders know how to lead and work with others. Leaders can understand and communicate what their team needs. Systems engineers are often responsible for a lot of important work. They need to be able to lead and manage a team.
How to Become a Systems Engineer
These are the steps you should take to become a system engineer.
- Earn a degree
The basic entry-level requirement is a bachelor’s degree. Doctorates and master’s degrees are also valuable when applying for management, research, or other advanced positions. To gain practical experience, you should consider doing at least one internship during your program.
- Accumulate work experience
Some certifications require that you have some work experience before you apply. Experience requirements may be required for certain positions in systems engineering. Work experience can be gained in entry-level engineering positions or similar roles.
- Earn certifications
You can get certifications depending on your field to increase your earning potential and expand your job opportunities. A PE is required if you want to work with the public. As required by the issuing institution, renew your licenses and certifications.
Where to Work
Systems engineers can work in almost any industry. A system engineer’s work environment is consistent in some aspects:
Systems engineers are constantly using technology, such as specialized software, security systems, and modeling systems. They may need special safety gear for certain equipment.
Products, standards, and requirements are always changing, just like in all technical fields. Systems engineers need to keep up-to-date with the latest technology and continue to update their knowledge.
System engineers can work remotely or in-person with many people, including clients, financial specialists, engineers, public relations personnel, and employees of plants.
They can also work from home or part-time, but they might need to inspect production lines or server storage areas depending on their industry.
These are just a few examples of where a system engineer might find work.
- Public Corporations
- Governmental organizations
- Nonprofits organizations
- Educational institutions
Systems Engineer Salary Scale
Systems engineers work full-time, but some may be part-time or contract employees. The salary of systems engineers depends on their education, experience, and the company they work for.
The average salary a system engineer earns in the U.S. is $99,871 per annum