Computer Systems Engineers/Architects - 15-1199.02

Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.

Sample of reported job titles: Architect, Electronic Data Interchange System Developer (EDI System Developer), Information Technology Architect (IT Architect), Network and Infrastructure Engineer, Network Engineer, Research Systems Architect, Solution Architect, System Architect, Systems Consultant, Systems Engineer

Tasks

• Verify stability, interoperability, portability, security, or scalability of system architecture.
• Develop system engineering, software engineering, system integration, or distributed system architectures.
• Collaborate with engineers or software developers to select appropriate design solutions or ensure the compatibility of system components.
• Identify system data, hardware, or software components required to meet user needs.
• Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements.
• Research, test, or verify proper functioning of software patches and fixes.
• Provide advice on project costs, design concepts, or design changes.
• Perform security analyses of developed or packaged software components.
• Provide technical guidance or support for the development or troubleshooting of systems.
• Document design specifications, installation instructions, and other system-related information.
• Communicate project information through presentations, technical reports, or white papers.
• Define and analyze objectives, scope, issues, or organizational impact of information systems.
• Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.
• Design and conduct hardware or software tests.
• Evaluate current or emerging technologies to consider factors such as cost, portability, compatibility, or usability.
• Provide customers or installation teams guidelines for implementing secure systems.
• Establish functional or system standards to address operational requirements, quality requirements, and design constraints.
• Investigate system component suitability for specified purposes and make recommendations regarding component use.
• Complete models and simulations, using manual or automated tools, to analyze or predict system performance under different operating conditions.
• Develop or approve project plans, schedules, or budgets.
• Develop efficient and effective system controllers.
• Evaluate existing systems to determine effectiveness and suggest changes to meet organizational requirements.
• Configure servers to meet functional specifications.
• Direct the analysis, development, and operation of complete computer systems.
• Develop application-specific software.
• Perform ongoing hardware and software maintenance operations, including installing or upgrading hardware or software.
• Direct the installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware.
• Train system users in system operation or maintenance.

Technology Skills

• Access software - Citrix ; Symark PowerBroker
• Analytical or scientific software - Minitab ; SAS ; StataCorp Stata ; The MathWorks MATLAB (see all 5 examples)
• Application server software - Docker ; GitHub ; Oracle WebLogic Server ; Spring Boot (see all 6 examples)
• Backup or archival software - Veritas NetBackup
• Business intelligence and data analysis software - IBM Cognos Impromptu ; MicroStrategy ; Qlik Tech QlikView ; Tableau (see all 5 examples)
• Communications server software - IBM Domino
• Computer aided design CAD software - Autodesk AutoCAD ; Bentley MicroStation ; Dassault Systemes CATIA ; PTC Creo Parametric (see all 7 examples)
• Configuration management software - Chef ; IBM Rational ClearCase; Perforce Helix software ; Puppet (see all 5 examples)
• Content workflow software - Atlassian JIRA
• Customer relationship management CRM software - Oracle Eloqua ; Salesforce software
• Data base management system software - Apache Hadoop ; MongoDB ; Oracle PL/SQL ; Teradata Database (see all 14 examples)
• Data base reporting software - Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services ; SAP Crystal Reports
• Data base user interface and query software - AWS Redshift ; Microsoft Access ; Oracle JDBC ; Transact-SQL (see all 10 examples)
• Data mining software - Google Analytics
• Desktop publishing software - Adobe Systems Adobe FrameMaker
• Development environment software - Apache Maven ; Microsoft PowerShell ; National Instruments LabVIEW ; Verilog (see all 26 examples)
• Document management software - Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Electronic mail software - IBM Notes ; Microsoft Exchange Server
• Enterprise application integration software - Atlassian Bamboo ; Extensible markup language XML ; IBM InfoSphere DataStage ; IBM WebSphere
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Microsoft Dynamics GP ; NetSuite ERP ; Oracle PeopleSoft ; SAP (see all 10 examples)
• Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software ; Splunk Enterprise
• Expert system software - Ansible software
• File versioning software - Apache Subversion SVN ; Git
• Financial analysis software - Delphi Technology ; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
• Graphical user interface development software - Altia Design
• Graphics or photo imaging software - Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud ; Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop ; Microsoft Visio (see all 5 examples)
• Human resources software - Human resource management software HRMS ; Oracle Taleo
• Industrial control software - Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• Information retrieval or search software - LexisNexis
• Internet browser software - Web browser software
• Internet directory services software - Microsoft Active Directory
• LAN software - Local area network LAN software
• Map creation software - ESRI ArcGIS software ; Geographic information system GIS software
• Medical software - Epic Systems ; MEDITECH software
• Metadata management software - CA Erwin Data Modeler
• Network conferencing software - IBM Lotus SameTime
• Network monitoring software - Nagios ; Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS; Snort; Wireshark
• Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software - Firewall software
• Network security or virtual private network VPN management software - Intrusion detection system IDS; Virtual private networking VPN software
• Object or component oriented development software - C++ ; Oracle Java ; Python ; Swift (see all 16 examples)
• Object oriented data base management software - Hibernate ORM ; PostgreSQL
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office
• Operating system software - Linux ; Shell script ; Ubuntu ; UNIX (see all 14 examples)
• Portal server software - Apache HTTP Server
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Program testing software - Hewlett Packard LoadRunner ; JUnit ; Selenium
• Project management software - 37signals Basecamp; Confluence ; Microsoft SharePoint ; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (see all 5 examples)
• Requirements analysis and system architecture software - Unified modeling language UML
• Sales and marketing software - Google AdWords ; Marketo Marketing Automation
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Storage networking software - Storage area network SAN software
• Transaction security and virus protection software - McAfee ; Symantec
• Transaction server software - BEA Tuxedo; Customer information control system CICS ; Microsoft Internet Information Service IIS
• Video creation and editing software - Apple Final Cut Pro
• WAN switching software and firmware - Wide area network WAN software
• Web page creation and editing software - Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
• Web platform development software - AJAX ; Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML ; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP ; Node.js (see all 28 examples)

Tools Used

• Access servers - Lightweight directory access protocol LDAP servers
• Computer servers - Blade servers; Web servers
• Desktop computers
• Graphics or video accelerator cards - Graphics display cards
• High capacity removable media drives - Mass storage devices
• Mainframe computers
• Mobile phones - Smartphones
• Motherboards
• Network routers - Computer network routers
• Notebook computers - Laptop computers
• Personal computers
• Radio frequency RF cable - Radio frequency cables
• Signal cable - Multi-conductor cables
• Tablet computers

Knowledge

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• 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.
• 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.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• 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.
• Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
• 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.
• Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Interests

• Interest code: IRC
  • Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Context

• Electronic Mail - 100% responded “Every day.”
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 83% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Sitting - 69% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Telephone - 73% responded “Every day.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 66% responded “Extremely important.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 70% responded “Every day.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 77% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 47% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 43% responded “Extremely important.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 62% responded “Some freedom.”
• Contact With Others - 52% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 40% responded “Extremely important.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 43% responded “Important results.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 37% responded “Every day.”
• Level of Competition - 67% responded “Highly competitive.”
• Time Pressure - 43% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Consequence of Error - 27% responded “Extremely serious.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 33% responded “High responsibility.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 27% responded “Very important.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 32% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Frequency of Conflict Situations - 33% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
57%	Bachelor's degree
17%	Master's degree
10%	Post-secondary certificate

Work Styles

• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values

• Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
• Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
• Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $42.56 hourly, $88,510 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 287,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Average (5% to 9%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 22,400