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Communications systems engineer vs senior systems engineer

The differences between communications systems engineers and senior systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a communications systems engineer has an average salary of $127,832, which is higher than the $108,121 average annual salary of a senior systems engineer.

The top three skills for a communications systems engineer include RF, communications systems and C++. The most important skills for a senior systems engineer are architecture, linux, and java.

Communications systems engineer vs senior systems engineer overview

Communications Systems EngineerSenior Systems Engineer
Yearly salary$127,832$108,121
Hourly rate$61.46$51.98
Growth rate5%21%
Number of jobs105,092166,742
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4539
Years of experience-2

What does a communications systems engineer do?

Communication systems engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for developing communication systems and general electrical designs for their clients. These engineers are required to prepare communication designs, including diagrams, instructions, and the cost of materials for large-scale telecommunications projects. They must undergo certification training so that they can perform maintenance on communication and navigation systems. Communication systems engineers must also work with the development and test engineering to select for proper communication system components and to ensure that features are working properly.

What does a senior systems engineer do?

A senior systems engineer specializes in overseeing network systems, management tools, software, and hardware within a company or an organization. Their primary responsibility is to install, maintain, and resolve complex system issues using their years of extensive knowledge and expertise. They can also provide insights, troubleshooting, and technical support should it be needed. Furthermore, as a senior systems engineer, it is also their responsibility to lead, supervise, and coordinate with a team of skilled system engineers while in adherence to company policies and regulations.

Communications systems engineer vs senior systems engineer salary

Communications systems engineers and senior systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications Systems EngineerSenior Systems Engineer
Average salary$127,832$108,121
Salary rangeBetween $90,000 And $179,000Between $82,000 And $141,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateNew MexicoWashington
Best paying companyMetaRoku
Best paying industryTelecommunicationRetail

Differences between communications systems engineer and senior systems engineer education

There are a few differences between a communications systems engineer and a senior systems engineer in terms of educational background:

Communications Systems EngineerSenior Systems Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Communications systems engineer vs senior systems engineer demographics

Here are the differences between communications systems engineers' and senior systems engineers' demographics:

Communications Systems EngineerSenior Systems Engineer
Average age4539
Gender ratioMale, 85.4% Female, 14.6%Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 12.7% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%8%

Differences between communications systems engineer and senior systems engineer duties and responsibilities

Communications systems engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the day-to-day operation of a large-scale military airfield RF communications-electronics planning, integration and maintenance facility.
  • Develop and integrate software that drives flight control system hardware and achieves product requirements for an international avionics customer base.
  • Lead person in evaluating, researching, and testing of LAN communications Software/Hardware.
  • Design premise wiring to support both voice and data during new facilities installations and LAN upgrades.
  • Conduct documentation, PBX cutover vendor coordination and initial site turnover and signoff of (UAT) user acceptance testing.
  • Perform communications interference analyses involving various customer spacecraft and NASA assets, including characterization of communications degradation due to co-channel interferers.
  • Show more

Senior systems engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage EMC Celerra NAS environment.
  • Implement CITRIX solution to support a centralize model for accessing and managing customer's financial software suite.
  • Manage many high visibility projects, including a project to upgrade all desktop computers for largest bank in the state.
  • File for exceptions on tickets that breach the SLA that have to go to upper management, and the managing agencies.
  • Collaborate with outsource managed services company locate in San Francisco to monitor hardware/OS/applications.
  • Secure remote work capability achieve by implementing Citrix virtual desktop technology for remote access to essential agency functions.
  • Show more

Communications systems engineer vs senior systems engineer skills

Common communications systems engineer skills
  • RF, 21%
  • Communications Systems, 13%
  • C++, 7%
  • DOD, 5%
  • Engineering Support, 4%
  • Design Reviews, 4%
Common senior systems engineer skills
  • Architecture, 9%
  • Linux, 5%
  • Java, 4%
  • C++, 4%
  • C #, 4%
  • DOD, 4%

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