The responsibilities of a systems engineer are to tackle a problem by solving it in a different manner than is done by most of the engineers. The systems engineer job involves working with the client by helping them relate the scientific and commercial aspects of a project. They develop the systems that are functional, and at the same time efficient for the client to utilize and inexpensive and affordable. Some creative thinking is required for complementing your education if you are planning to embark on a career in systems engineering.
Aspiring systems engineers need to obtain an engineering degree and come from a multiplicity of engineering disciplines and streams. This degree helps you focus on a particular field, although this should be coupled with experience which is often the deciding factor for a systems engineer job. Some of the students also go for management classes while attending college. A number of engineering schools offer minor academic courses in engineering management. This is the ideal blend for a student who is looking forward to being a systems engineer as one of the important requirements is to oversee a project and relay the concerns of the client to the development teams.
Other than a bachelor's or master's degree, improvement on communication skills and customer service relations is also important in a systems engineer job. This is because you will need to provide both clients and other engineers with verbal as well as written communication as to the project details and updates. With strong skills, you can ensure customer satisfaction and at the same time get referred for more work. Systems engineers work on coordinating and planning large and complex systems.
One of the key things to focus on in a systems engineer job is to get a good training. Look for the co-ops. In fact, paid engineering co-ops are often sponsored by large companies. In the absence of a position in the paid co-op, don't hesitate to take up an unpaid one. Sign up for a trade group for career advice and help in job searching in the systems engineers careers. Certain job groups offer free access to their databases if you happen to be registered members with them. Some of them also include the International Council on Systems Engineering. A lot of groups proffer specialty courses for channeling your post graduate knowledge towards systems engineering.
Co-ops, both paid and unpaid, help gather vital work experience. Some of the areas where systems engineers work on are the following:
- Food and distribution networks
- Experimental manned space flights
- Military defense programs
Systems engineers are employed by government as well as private industries for cracking the complex engineering and scientific issues like:
- Development of novel transportation systems
- Designing rockets
- Improving communications systems
The mean annual salary for a systems engineer job is $74,140 per year.
Systems engineers perform the function of coordinating the work of several engineers and each systems engineer has expertise in a particular part of aspect of the system. In building a jet airliner, the electronics specialist is responsible for the control and guidance systems; the structural engineers design the body of the plane; other engineers determine the power source for the jet; while there are yet others who look after the take off and landing processes. The systems engineer job is to coordinate the work of the engineers who focus on a specific area. One of the important tasks of a systems engineer is systems analysis that helps solve the larger problem on multiple and smaller levels.
