Systems Engineer

Every business has some sort of system that keeps information organized and the product or service flowing to the customer. While the mom-and-pop doughnut shop down the street might be structurally informal, a multi-building international corporation will require more of a plan.

A Systems Engineer designs and implements large-scale systems. Examples might include systems that outline bank security, organize myriad military teams in the field, or initiate a massive project, such as the launch of a space shuttle.

Regardless of the industry or the project, one thing you can count on is that, as a Systems Engineer, you’ll be working with various other people. That’s because while you’re the systems expert, you’ll need input from Materials Engineers, Structural Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Architects, Project Managers, and employees.

Speaking of employees, that’s where your job as a Systems Engineer starts. You can’t design or improve upon a system if you don’t know what it’s used for. So you interview employees and management as well, watch the flow of work, and ask questions.

What is the new system supposed to accomplish? How many people will use it? What limitations are there? What is the timeline and budget? The answers to these questions allow you to formulate a design.

You calculate all the material, delivery, employee, and other costs, organize the system’s flow, and visually present the information to the client. Following a few tweaks, the project obtains approval, then you oversee its implementation, testing, and repairs until the system is flawless.