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Your Next Move: Systems Engineer

January 3, 2025

If you like computer software and designing solutions for specific problems, a career as a systems engineer could be for you. Invaluable and irreplaceable, systems engineers are the team players that everyone needs. They create a system that is both user-friendly and robust. They innovate and investigate to create the best system possible for their business objectives. 

What is a systems engineer?

A systems engineer has a multifaceted role that encompasses all parts of a business model. This person works with computer science, engineering, mathematics, and analytics to build a system to suit an organization's needs. They monitor and manage hardware and software and provide guidance when needed to their team to keep everything running smoothly.

Some responsibilities of a systems engineer include:

  • Communicating with a team to understand specific requirements of the system regarding design, installation, and usage of data, hardware, and software components
  • Documenting specifications about design, installation, and other system-related information
  • Guiding project costs, design concepts and changes, and support in the development or troubleshooting of systems
  • Verifying stability, operability, portability, security, and scalability of system architecture
  • Evaluating current and emerging technologies to consider the implementation of upgrades for security portability, compatibility, and usability
  • Monitoring systems to detect and prevent potential problems
  • Providing guidelines for the implementation of secure systems through design and ensuring compatibility of system components

How to become a systems engineer

Systems engineers usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in a technical field, such as computer science or computer engineering. Some senior-level positions may require a master’s degree.

Most systems engineers also have several years of experience on top of their degree in areas such as information security, systems engineering, integration, or systems architecture.

A career along the CompTIA Infrastructure Career Pathway may include systems engineer, and CompTIA Network+ can validate the skills needed in such a role. Most systems engineers also gain experience as programmers before moving into systems engineering.

Job titles related to systems engineer

  • Computer systems analyst
  • Information security analyst
  • Network analyst
  • Network architect
  • Software developer

 

Want to become a systems engineer? Check out the new CompTIA Network+.