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Chief systems engineer vs lead systems engineer

The differences between chief systems engineers and lead systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a chief systems engineer, becoming a lead systems engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a chief systems engineer has an average salary of $128,373, which is higher than the $119,705 average annual salary of a lead systems engineer.

The top three skills for a chief systems engineer include systems engineering, system architecture and DOD. The most important skills for a lead systems engineer are systems engineering, architecture, and infrastructure.

Chief systems engineer vs lead systems engineer overview

Chief Systems EngineerLead Systems Engineer
Yearly salary$128,373$119,705
Hourly rate$61.72$57.55
Growth rate3%5%
Number of jobs92,965186,392
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4543
Years of experience62

Chief systems engineer vs lead systems engineer salary

Chief systems engineers and lead systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chief Systems EngineerLead Systems Engineer
Average salary$128,373$119,705
Salary rangeBetween $92,000 And $178,000Between $90,000 And $158,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyTA InstrumentsMeta
Best paying industryAutomotiveAutomotive

Differences between chief systems engineer and lead systems engineer education

There are a few differences between a chief systems engineer and a lead systems engineer in terms of educational background:

Chief Systems EngineerLead Systems Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Chief systems engineer vs lead systems engineer demographics

Here are the differences between chief systems engineers' and lead systems engineers' demographics:

Chief Systems EngineerLead Systems Engineer
Average age4543
Gender ratioMale, 89.4% Female, 10.6%Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 12.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage6%9%

Differences between chief systems engineer and lead systems engineer duties and responsibilities

Chief systems engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the technical performance, cost, and schedule of RF and electronic equipment subcontractors.
  • Accomplish responsibility to configure, administer and support new infrastructure solutions on Microsoft platforms to meet enterprise level requirements.
  • Implement HPVM UNIX Virtualization and configuration for all dev/test on SAN.
  • Mentore and serve as a technical resource for less experience Java developers.
  • Create regulatory strategy to ensure RF spectrum are adequate to support plan solutions.
  • Develop and submit product development technical papers throughout the DOD to receive funding for projects.
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Lead systems engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead multiple audits for manufacturing/management processes to meet ISO and CMMI requirements.
  • Create, share and manage LUN's using EqualLogic, EMC and StoreSimple.
  • Convert legacy batch scripts to PowerShell scripts, and automate them using FIM management agents.
  • Manage QA teams in local and distribute international locations.
  • Manage security, which includes monitoring and controlling database access, assigning permissions to application owners.
  • Accomplish responsibility to configure, administer and support new infrastructure solutions on Microsoft platforms to meet enterprise level requirements.
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Chief systems engineer vs lead systems engineer skills

Common chief systems engineer skills
  • Systems Engineering, 13%
  • System Architecture, 5%
  • DOD, 5%
  • Logistics, 5%
  • Program Management, 4%
  • Emerging Technologies, 4%
Common lead systems engineer skills
  • Systems Engineering, 10%
  • Architecture, 10%
  • Infrastructure, 6%
  • DOD, 5%
  • System Design, 4%
  • C++, 4%

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