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Computer Systems Engineers/Architects

Also called: Systems Engineer, Electronic Data Interchange System Developer (EDI System Developer), System Architect

What they do:
Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.
On the job, you would:
  • Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements.
  • Provide advice on project costs, design concepts, or design changes.
  • Document design specifications, installation instructions, and other system-related information.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Communications
  • telecommunications

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Persistence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Development environment software
  • C
  • IONA Orbix
Web platform development software
  • JavaScript
  • Ruby on Rails
Operating system software
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Windows

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$79,930
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about computer systems engineers/architects.