Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
Information TechnologyO*NET 15-1299.08United States
Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.
- Median annual earnings
- $113,638
- Projected change
- +11.4%
- Typical education
- Certificate
- Employment
- 499.03K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
40.9% of the workforce
Growing to 555.79K by 2035
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The work
What computer systems engineers/architects do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements.
- Provide customers or installation teams guidelines for implementing secure systems.
- Investigate system component suitability for specified purposes, and make recommendations regarding component use.
- Direct the analysis, development, and operation of complete computer systems.
- Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.
- Direct the installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware.
- Verify stability, interoperability, portability, security, or scalability of system architecture.
- Identify system data, hardware, or software components required to meet user needs.
- Perform ongoing hardware and software maintenance operations, including installing or upgrading hardware or software.
- Configure servers to meet functional specifications.
- Research, test, or verify proper functioning of software patches and fixes.
- Collaborate with engineers or software developers to select appropriate design solutions or ensure the compatibility of system components.
- Document design specifications, installation instructions, and other system-related information.
- Design and conduct hardware or software tests.
- Evaluate existing systems to determine effectiveness, and suggest changes to meet organizational requirements.
- Perform security analyses of developed or packaged software components.
- Provide technical guidance or support for the development or troubleshooting of systems.
- Define and analyze objectives, scope, issues, or organizational impact of information systems.
- Develop system engineering, software engineering, system integration, or distributed system architectures.
- Establish functional or system standards to address operational requirements, quality requirements, and design constraints.
- Provide advice on project costs, design concepts, or design changes.
- Evaluate current or emerging technologies to consider factors such as cost, portability, compatibility, or usability.
- Develop or approve project plans, schedules, or budgets.
- Communicate project information through presentations, technical reports, or white papers.
- Train system users in system operation or maintenance.
- Complete models and simulations, using manual or automated tools, to analyze or predict system performance under different operating conditions.
- Develop efficient and effective system controllers.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $53,796
- 25th percentile
- $76,983
- 50th percentile
- $113,638
- 75th percentile
- $155,092
- 90th percentile
- $191,936
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $113,638 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+11.4%faster than average
2025499,030 jobs
2035 projected555,787 jobs
56,757 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Certificate
- 40.9%
- Associate degree
- 27.3%
- Bachelor's degree
- 22.7%
- Some college
- 4.6%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 4.6%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Programming
- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Systems Engineers19,123 postings
- 02Cloud Engineers5,739 postings
- 03Principal Systems Engineers2,885 postings
- 04Infrastructure Engineers2,407 postings
- 05Firmware Engineers2,189 postings
- 06Cloud Solution Architects1,931 postings
- 07Cloud Infrastructure Engineers1,718 postings
- 08Cloud Architects1,715 postings
- 09Radar Systems Engineers1,146 postings
- 10Azure Cloud Engineers1,110 postings
- 11Cloud Software Engineers1,054 postings
- 12Lead Systems Engineers1,038 postings
- 13IT Systems Engineers1,002 postings
- 14AWS Cloud Engineers878 postings
- 15Staff Systems Engineers773 postings
- 16Systems Integration Engineers714 postings
- 17Cloud Data Engineers708 postings
- 18Integration Engineers658 postings
- 19Reliability Engineers589 postings
- 20Azure Architects562 postings
Top employers
- 01Lockheed Martin3,158 postings
- 02Northrop Grumman1,986 postings
- 03RTX1,940 postings
- 04Google1,901 postings
- 05L3Harris Technologies1,151 postings
- 06Leidos993 postings
- 07Insight Global896 postings
- 08General Dynamics843 postings
- 09Robert Half837 postings
- 10Peraton815 postings
- 11Actalent715 postings
- 12Boeing691 postings
- 13Lumen Technologies686 postings
- 14SAIC685 postings
- 15Accenture610 postings
- 16Apple597 postings
- 17TEKsystems584 postings
- 18Beacon Hill Staffing Group565 postings
- 19Amazon541 postings
- 20Booz Allen Hamilton537 postings
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