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Systems Engineer

A systems engineer is in charge of designing, evaluating, and installing systems in manufacturing equipment. They are responsible for assessing systems, determining problems, providing solutions to issues that arise, designing systems, upgrading systems, maintaining systems and brainstorming possible improvements that can be made to a system in the future. 

Systems engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) software to design the systems. They also analyze production processes and oversee the installation, repair, reassembly of equipment. Their ultimate objective is to ensure production processes are efficient and that products are produced at the lowest cost in the shortest time.

Systems Engineer

What does a Systems Engineer do?

Systems Engineer

A systems engineer works to integrate entire manufacturing processes. The role of a manufacturing system engineer includes integrating a wide range of systems from production to supplies and sales, participating in a project from beginning to end, budgeting and performing resource allocation. They must also integrate the manufacturing process to allow for maximum production volume at lower costs and within a shorter time period.

These engineers are in charge of designing, implementing and maintaining the information technology systems for an organization. Their duties include designing the basic computing infrastructure to accomplish key tasks, establishing networking rules for cybersecurity and troubleshooting network errors or other technical issues.

  • Team Player

    These engineers speak to and collaborate with a variety of people, such as clients, vendors, management and information technology (IT) staff during the creation and maintenance of a system.

  • Project Management

    Systems engineers establish milestones for necessary contributions from departments and develop processes to facilitate their collaboration.

  • Quality Assurance

    Systems engineers create control features to ensure systems effectively meet the organization’s quality standards. They engage in quality control procedures to ensure that systems are efficient and operational.

  • Detail Oriented

    Systems engineers provide detailed specifications for proposed solutions including materials, manpower and time necessary.

Manufacturing Systems Engineer

A manufacturing systems engineer is in charge of designing, evaluating, and installing systems in manufacturing equipment. They are responsible for assessing systems, determining problems, providing solutions to issues that arise, designing systems, upgrading systems, maintaining systems and brainstorming possible improvements that can be made to a system in the future. 

Manufacturing Engineer

A manufacturing engineer designs and manages the manufacturing systems for a product. Their main goal is to create the stages of a manufacturing system that turn raw materials such as metal, plastic or wood into a finished (discrete) product in the most time-efficient and cost-effective way possible, while always maintaining staff safety and product quality.

Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineers similar to production engineers but much more emphasis on working with people. They look for ways to make the workers’ routines more efficient to improve production.

Salary

Salary

The estimated total pay for a systems engineer is $92,000 per year.

Starting-level

Starting-level systems engineer earnings begin at:

 
$35 per hour
$73,000 per year
 
Senior-level

Senior-level systems engineer earnings begin at:

 
$50 per hour
$103,000 per year
 
Mid-level

Mid-level systems engineer earnings begin at:

 
$44 per hour
$92,131 per year
 
Top-level

Top-level systems engineer earnings begin at:

 
$55 per hour
$115,000 per year
 
Junior-level

Junior-level systems engineer earnings begin at:

 
$39 per hour
$81,000 per year
 

These are 2021 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.

What does the workplace for a Systems Engineer look like?

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Systems engineers work closely with other stakeholders such as designers, plant managers, researchers, engineering consultants, and other non-technical staff. They mostly work in factories. A successful systems engineer should have strong technical skills, teamwork skills, communication skills, analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and attention to detail.

A systems engineer works 40 hours a week Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. They can work in an office setting, a factory, or in a laboratory. Depending on their area of work, they may work beyond the 40 hours in case they have urgent project deadlines.

How to Become a Systems Engineer?

Systems Engineer

The typical education and training for a systems engineer career includes post-secondary education such as a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in engineering. However, there are specialty roles within systems engineering that have specific educational requirements. For example, mechanical systems engineering or computer systems engineering are specific degrees leading to a specialization in related fields. On-the-job training is generally not required unless the individual is attempting to transition into a higher or managerial position.

In many cases, entry-level systems engineers start off working under the supervision of trained systems engineers and thus learn the functions and requirements of the job hands-on. Independence during projects occurs as learning is mastered on the job over time. After obtaining enough related experience in this field as well as earning a master’s degree in a related field, a systems engineer may become a technical specialist.

Similar Careers

Sources:
Canva.com, 2022 | Glassdoor.com, 2022 | GetReSkilled.com, 2022 | Indeed.com, 2022 | Interviewbit.com, 2022 | Zippia.com, 2022

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