MIS career spotlight: What does a systems engineer do?
Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems at William Woods University will have an opportunity to choose from a wide range of career paths upon graduation. Whether your interests lie in the traditional IT sector, business startup, or more of the creative realm, the MIS degree offers the flexibility to apply your education in versatile ways.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how an MIS major can follow the more traditional IT career track of becoming a systems engineer.
Systems engineers create and manage complex computer systems covering infrastructure, hardware and software components. Their role is critical as they help ensure that the systems that everyone in the office relies on to do their job properly. As such, on a daily basis systems engineers identify and fix system errors or improve systems as needed. They may do this by meeting with clients or colleagues to understand system requirements which they then use to inform their recommendations and solutions. They may choose new equipment, technology and methods to be implemented to improve systems’ efficacy and operation.
Typically, systems engineers work in the information technology department of a business or for a company providing IT services to other businesses. In either case, they may work alone or with a team of other systems engineers depending on the scope and complexity of systems they’ll be maintaining. Generally, they work during normal business hours, but may work afterhours or during the weekend in case of an urgent issue.
In terms of salary, they earn an average of $71,000 per year, according to Payscale.com. Some of the highest paying employers for systems engineers today are large companies such as AT&T, Amazon, Microsoft and Cisco Systems. The MIS program alumni at William Woods University have found great careers at companies such as Cerner, Sprint, IBM, State of Missouri Information Technology Service Division and more.
It’s common for systems engineers to progress into roles such as Senior Systems Engineer or Information Technology Architect which come with salary increases of $15,000 to $30,000 per year.
As systems engineers interact with their team members or employees from other departments in need of assistance, communication and interpersonal skills do come in handy. Also, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills are critical for systems engineers as they are often tasked with resolving issues.
William Woods University MIS majors will take several courses that will help prepare them for the career path of a systems engineer. Some courses include MIS 450 – Systems Analysis, MIS 225 – Database Management Systems and MIS 250 – Networks and Telecommunications.