What does a communications engineer do?
The duties of a communications engineer depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around designing and developing new systems to optimize operations, performing research and assessments to identify company needs, determining the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, and providing solutions on issues and concerns. Furthermore, as a communications engineer, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Communications engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real communications engineer resumes:
- Manage project to migrate over to the new manage firewall system.
- Manage Internet connectivity using redundant Cisco routers and manage Nokia firewalls.
- Manage multiple construction and service provisioning projects within several service centers in south-east Michigan.
- Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
- Develop DFMEA's, PPAP'd parts and support all builds.
- Design and prepare pre-production drawings using CAD-CATIA to customer-base specifications, maintaining PPAP requirements.
- Verify VPN connectivity to host servers.
- Ensure TCP/IP connectivity to various NOAA own networks.
- Perform network monitoring using Solarwinds, Netdisco and LogRhythm.
- Design and configure UC deployments for new and existing customers.
- Program analog ports in VG224 analog gateways for fax/modem use.
- Configure unity server to act in co ordination with CUCM.
- Integrate PC's for network control stations and routers in data networks
- Perform debug and integration of SATCOM system prototype / development model.
- Install, configure and update in-house and data center UNIX base servers.
Communications engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Communications Engineers are proficient in RF, Unified Communications, and Unity. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Communications Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- RF, 7%
Authored Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) reports for the implementation of new systems into existing RF environments located aboard Navy ships.
- Unified Communications, 6%
Support corporate and store locations with unified communications problems or concerns.
- Unity, 6%
Execute the installation, configuration and troubleshooting of Cisco Call manager 6.x, 7.x and 8.x, CME/CUE and Unity Connection.
- Troubleshoot, 6%
Perform monitoring, investigation, analyze, and troubleshoot all telecommunication networks assigned to all sites.
- VoIP, 5%
Assist where applicable to identify Circuits interfacing to Session Border Controllers within site VoIP specific requirements.
- IP, 4%
Provided on-site end-user Cisco IP phone training and demonstrations of Communications Manager Express features.
Most communications engineers use their skills in "rf," "unified communications," and "unity" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential communications engineer responsibilities here:
Initiative. One of the key soft skills for a communications engineer to have is initiative. You can see how this relates to what communications engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Additionally, a communications engineer resume shows how communications engineers use initiative: "monitored and surveillance network connectivity for over 200 locations using wireshark, supporting the network performance and reliability initiative. "
Speaking skills. Another essential skill to perform communications engineer duties is speaking skills. Communications engineers responsibilities require that "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." Communications engineers also use speaking skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "researched and presented numerous internal telecommunications studies for pipeline supervisory control and data acquisition (scada) communications. "
Writing skills. communications engineers are also known for writing skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to communications engineer responsibilities, because "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." A communications engineer resume example shows how writing skills is used in the workplace: "assisted in writing bom, proposals and rfp currently leading effort to move entire company from pri to sip trunks"
Math skills. For certain communications engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a communications engineer rely on this skill, as "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what communications engineers do: "check daily statistics to trend network performance and identify potential problems. "
The three companies that hire the most communications engineers are:
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Compare different communications engineers
Communications engineer vs. Senior pcb designer
An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research. They also identify cost-efficient materials and resources that meet quality standards and client specifications. An engineering trainee must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports, attending meetings, and ensuring that all reports are submitted for management's reviews, such as contracts from suppliers and vendors.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a communications engineer are more likely to require skills like "unified communications," "unity," "troubleshoot," and "voip." On the other hand, a job as a senior pcb designer requires skills like "schematic capture," "pcb layout," "mentor graphics," and "cadence allegro." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, senior pcb designers reach lower levels of education than communications engineers. Senior pcb designers are 10.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Communications engineer vs. Engineering trainee
Staff design engineers are tasked to assess the efficiency of instruments, technologies, and equipment by collaborating with the engineering team to plan, design, and develop technologies efficiently. Their responsibilities include building and setting up, as wells as improving systems and procedures. They should possess strong attention to detail, good visual and spatial awareness, creativity, problem-solving, excellent verbal, written, and project management skills, and strong mathematical and IT skills to become efficient and effective staff design engineers.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real communications engineer resumes. While communications engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "unified communications," "unity," "troubleshoot," and "voip," engineering trainees use skills like "excellent interpersonal," "fire protection," "r," and "boilers."
Engineering trainees earn a lower average salary than communications engineers. But engineering trainees earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $63,253. Additionally, communications engineers earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $100,702 annually.In general, engineering trainees achieve similar levels of education than communications engineers. They're 4.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for communications engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Galen Duree
Head of the Department of Physics and Optical Engineering and Professor, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Communications engineer vs. Staff design engineer
A special project engineer is in-charged in the preparation, scheduling, coordination, and monitoring of engineering projects. He/She or she should be able to establish good relationships with prospective clients to gain information on engineering requirements and delegate tasks to staff. The core skills that a special project engineer should possess include good creative ability and excellent mechanical and listening skills. Other requirements to qualify for the position include a college degree in business or mechanical engineering.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, communications engineers are more likely to have skills like "unified communications," "unity," "troubleshoot," and "voip." But a staff design engineer is more likely to have skills like "architecture," "cad," "synthesis," and "soc."
Staff design engineers earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $127,511. Comparatively, communications engineers have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $100,702.When it comes to education, staff design engineers tend to earn higher degree levels compared to communications engineers. In fact, they're 7.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Communications engineer vs. Special project engineer
Types of communications engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
