Occupation

Computer Systems Engineers/Architects

Human Advantage 68%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.1 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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

Also Known As: Application Systems Architect, Cloud Architect, Cloud Engineer, Cloud Software Engineer, Cloud Solution Architect, Computer Systems Architect, Enterprise Architect, Firmware Engineer +21 more

Video

Core Tasks

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

Supplemental Tasks (1)

  1. Develop application-specific software.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
41%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
27%
Bachelor's Degree
23%
Some College Courses
5%
Master's Degree
5%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • AJAX
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Amazon DynamoDB
  • Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
  • Amazon Redshift
  • Amazon Simple Storage Service S3
  • Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
  • Amazon Web Services AWS software
  • Ansible software
  • Apache Cassandra
  • Apache Hadoop
  • Apache Hive
  • Apache Kafka
  • Apache Maven
  • Apache Spark
  • Apache Subversion SVN
  • Apache Tomcat
  • Apple macOS
  • Atlassian Bamboo
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  • Atlassian Confluence
  • Atlassian JIRA
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Bash
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • Border Gateway Protocol BGP
  • C
  • C#
  • C++
  • Cascading style sheets CSS
  • Chef
  • Cisco Webex
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
  • Django
  • Docker
  • Drupal
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Eclipse IDE
  • Elasticsearch
  • Epic Systems
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Git
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Go
  • Google Analytics
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  • GraphQL
  • Hibernate ORM
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • IBM DB2
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  • JUnit
  • JavaScript
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSON
  • Jenkins CI
  • Kubernetes
  • Linux
  • MEDITECH software
  • Marketo Marketing Automation
  • Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Microsoft ASP.NET
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Active Directory
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
  • Microsoft Azure software
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft PowerShell
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS
  • Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA
  • Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows Server
  • MongoDB
  • MySQL
  • NoSQL
  • Node.js
  • Oracle Cloud software
  • Oracle Database
  • Oracle Java
  • Oracle Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EE
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
  • Oracle PL/SQL
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  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
  • PHP
  • Perl
  • PostgreSQL
  • Puppet
  • Python
  • R
  • React
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
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  • Redis
  • Ruby
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  • Scala
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  • Slack
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  • Swift
  • Tableau
  • Teradata Database
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Transact-SQL
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro
  • UNIX
  • UNIX Shell
  • jQuery

Software (263)

  • 3M Post-it App
  • Adobe AIR
  • Adobe ActionScript
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Flex
  • Adobe FrameMaker
  • Advanced business application programming ABAP
  • Altia Design
  • Aonix Software Through Pictures
  • Apache Ant
  • Apache Groovy
  • Apache HTTP Server
  • Apache Pig
  • Apache Solr
  • Apache Struts
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • BEA Tuxedo
  • Backbone.js
  • Basecamp
  • Blink
  • Borland VisiBroker
  • BroadVision software
  • Cisco IOS
  • Citrix cloud computing software
  • Clarity Systems IBM Clarity
  • Common business oriented language COBOL
  • Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
  • Customer information control system CICS
  • DBTools Software DBManager Professional
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Delphi Technology
  • Dropbox
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Eko
  • Enterprise JavaBeans
  • Ext JS
  • Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Firewall software
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Google Ads
  • Google Cloud software
  • Grails
  • Hewlett Packard HP-UX
  • Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • IBM AIX
  • IBM Cognos Impromptu
  • IBM Domino
  • IBM ILOG
  • IBM InfoSphere DataStage
  • IBM Infosphere Information Server
  • IBM Lotus SameTime
  • IBM Notes
  • IBM Power Systems software
  • IBM Rational Application Developer
  • IBM Rational Build Forge
  • IBM Rational ClearCase
  • IBM Rational Rose XDE
  • IBM WebSphere
  • IONA Orbix
  • InScribe
  • Integrated development environment IDE software
  • Intrusion detection system IDS
  • Job control language JCL
  • Jupyter Notebook
  • KornShell
  • LAMP Stack
  • LexisNexis
  • Local area network LAN software
  • Magellan Firmware
  • McAfee
  • MicroStrategy
  • Microservices Architecture
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC
  • Microsoft ActiveX
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
  • Minitab
  • Nagios
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • NetSuite ERP
  • Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS
  • NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
  • Objective C
  • Operating system software
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
  • Oracle Eloqua
  • Oracle Fusion Applications
  • Oracle Fusion Middleware
  • Oracle Hyperion
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Oracle JDBC
  • Oracle Solaris
  • Oracle Taleo
  • Oracle WebLogic Server
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • Perforce Helix software
  • Qlik Tech QlikView
  • Quest Erwin Data Modeler
  • Red Hat WildFly
  • Relational database management software
  • SAP Business Objects
  • SAP Crystal Reports
  • Salesforce Visualforce
  • Skype
  • Smalltalk
  • Snort
  • Software as a service SaaS
  • StataCorp Stata
  • Storage area network SAN software
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Symark PowerBroker
  • ToadSoft Toad
  • Ubuntu
  • Unified modeling language UML
  • VMWare ESX Server
  • VMware
  • Verilog
  • Veritas NetBackup
  • Virtual private networking VPN software
  • Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
  • Web browser software
  • Wide area network WAN software
  • Wireshark
  • xQuery

Tools & Equipment (15)

  • Blade servers
  • Computer network routers
  • Desktop computers
  • Graphics display cards
  • Laptop computers
  • Lightweight directory access protocol LDAP servers
  • Mainframe computers
  • Mass storage devices
  • Motherboards
  • Multi-conductor cables
  • Personal computers
  • Radio frequency cables
  • Smartphones
  • Tablet computers
  • Web servers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

IT Support & Services Healthcare & Human Services

Zone 3
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects You are here

Data Science & AI Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects You are here

Military & National Security Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects You are here
Zone 5
Physicists 77% match

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