Pursuing an IT Systems Engineer Career Path? What You Need to Know

Jobstreet content team – updated on 10 March, 2022

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With businesses Many opportunities in the technology sector are opening up in Asia. With the strong fundamentals and business-friendly reputation of Singapore, it’s a widely regarded view among techprenuers that Singapore could be Asia’s Silicon Valley. If you’ve been looking for a sign to step onto an IT systems engineer career path, this could be it.

If you enjoy the process of creating efficient and affordable operational systems, consider pursuing a tech engineer career path.

What does an IT Systems Engineer do?

An IT Systems Engineer handles the development of hardware and software, as well as the process of engineering computer-based systems. They are responsible for designing, implementing, and ensuring that computer systems remain secure and reliable.

Moreover, an IT Systems Engineer is involved in conceptualising and implementing a system to address its business goals. They use different disciplines of engineering to be able to do this well.

Here’s a breakdown of what an IT Systems Engineer does regularly:

Establishes the needs and challenges of a requirement. They collect, clarify and then prioritise requirements to prepare for the next step.
Formulates strategies and assesses risks. They also study possible ways to maximise the product and its performance
Evaluates design solutions to uncover problems. An efficient review of the design will help save time and reduce cost. It will also mitigate risks
Comes up with alternative solutions to tech issues
Runs finished design through various verification processes

Salary Range

Companies these days are producing highly complex products. As “smart” has become the byword for systems and solutions, the need for engineers has been on the rise.

In fact, in JobStreet’s 2019 salary report, those working in the Computer and Information Technology industry recorded the highest average monthly salary.

In Singapore, the average annual base salary of an IT Systems Engineer is S$42,685/year. Entry-level employees who are most likely fresh graduates from university can receive an annual salary that starts at S$35,000. The compensation can go up to S$38,000, if backed by up to four years of experience.

Mid-Level IT Systems Engineers with five to nine years of experience can receive an annual base salary that starts at S$49,000 and goes all the way to S$ 51,000. When the prospective employee has 10 or more years in the field, they can command a starting salary beginning at S$ 51,000, going all the way to S$ 68,000 per year.

Still, skill can count for more than experience sometimes. If you think you can walk the talk, then you can try these tips to negotiate your salary.

What is the career path of an IT Systems Engineer?

Junior Level (1-3 years experience)

Mid Level (4-8 years experience)

Senior Level (8 years or more)

What requirements do you need to become an IT Systems Engineer?

Required skills

Broad Technical Knowledge

A solid background in math, computer science, and systems architecture is required of a good IT Systems Engineer. These combined areas of study will help them see both the big and small picture when they formulate, create, and finally implement a design.

Experience in Software Development

More often than not, IT Systems Engineers will directly work with the team that develops software. On top of programming, they will help with the specification and quality control of such software.

Well-Versed on Information Security

Strong knowledge in security best practices is one of the core skills expected of an IT Systems Engineer. Because the efficacy of their role is a company’s first and best line of defence, they need to be able to anticipate potential disruptions.

Other skills

Communication Skills

IT Systems Engineers will interact with different stakeholders. They need to understand the requirements of people with little or no technical background to help build solutions for them. These requirements then need to be translated successfully to the technical team working on said solutions.

Organisational Skills

Documentation by an IT Systems Engineer of the processes involved in creating the systems will help keep it functioning well. They need to have a good system for validating findings, ensuring they are done regularly to keep the system current.

Collaborative Skills

Because of the nature of their role, IT Systems Engineers need to be good collaborators. They need to be able to rally the members of the team towards the desired result by motivating them effectively. Likewise, they need to be able to receive suggestions from internal and external customers to make the systems better.

Educational background

Aside from a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering, it is helpful to have knowledge in the following:

Computer Security Systems
Cloud Experience
Wireless Networking
Data Architecture

Specialisations are offered in these Post-Grad degrees:

Masters in Software Engineering
Masters of Science and Engineering
Master in System and Software Engineering

Required certification and training

How to write an IT Systems Engineer resume

Here is a resume you can refer to help you create your own. It highlights the details that are relevant for the job search of an IT Systems Engineer. It will also give you an idea of how to arrange the information in the most practical way.

Download this IT Systems Engineer resume HERE.

If you’re all set to go after that IT Systems Engineer role, update your MyJobStreet Profile and add the #WorkNow tag to alert potential hirers that you are available to work right away.

The more you search for #JobsThatMatter, the more JobStreet understands your needs, so you can be matched with jobs that will bring you professional and personal fulfilment.

Do not forget to check out our Career Resources Hub for more expert advice to help you develop yourself and develop a rewarding career.

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