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What does a configuration engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.

A Configuration Engineer specializes in designing and developing computer systems and products. Among their responsibilities include understanding the company's needs, performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with fellow engineers and experts, developing blueprints and prototypes, and creating test structures to be the basis for improvement. They may gather and analyze data from existing projects to identify their strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, as a configuration engineer, it is essential to monitor the progress of staff, all while implementing safety policies and standards.

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Configuration engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real configuration engineer resumes:

  • Used SharePoint application and implementing tools that help organizations manage processes and data.
  • Develop and maintains SVN source control and Jenkins CI automate builds and deployments.
  • Involve in migration of the version control systems like SVN/Git and continuous integration tools like Jenkins.
  • Maintain high availability cluster and standalone server environments and refine automation components with scripting and configuration management (Ansible).
  • Troubleshoot to resolve problems in an existing JIRA installation and implement all approve changes.
  • Track all the changes in JIRA tracking tool and provide metrics reporting for the project release activities.
  • Implement business UI functions to perform forecasting, charge back, and billing base on customer storage use and allocation.
  • Work in integrating TFS with VisualStudio
  • Facilitate retrospectives and scrum meetings.
  • Configure multiple QA and development environments.
  • Develop automated database schema & re-baseline scripts.
  • Work on migrating current application to microservices architecture.
  • Update database with ongoing information and troubleshot user problems.
  • Maintain SVN repositories for DevOps environment: automation code and configuration.
  • Automate end-to-end transit hub connectivity resource deployment in AWS via terraform.

Configuration engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Configuration Engineers are proficient in Python, Unix, and Java. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Detail oriented, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Configuration Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Python, 10%

    Involved in converting the build scripts from Python to Maven.

  • Unix, 8%

    Generated ANT, UNIX scripts for build activities in Quality Assurance, Staging and Production environments.

  • Java, 8%

    Configured the application in a Java based development environment to meet Business Requirements.

  • Linux, 5%

    Updated and configured our Linux based HEP (Head End Processor) deployed in over 2000 hotels globally.

  • Jenkins, 5%

    Maintained Continuous integration effort with Jenkins along with scheduled builds.

  • GIT, 4%

    Managed Git and Subversion (SVN) branching and merging for older projects in multiple simultaneous releases.

Common skills that a configuration engineer uses to do their job include "python," "unix," and "java." You can find details on the most important configuration engineer responsibilities below.

Creativity. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a configuration engineer to have is creativity. Their role and responsibilities require that "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." Configuration engineers often use creativity in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "created custom schema, integrated it with drupal mysql database for inventory data. "

Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform configuration engineer duties is detail oriented. Configuration engineers responsibilities require that "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." Configuration engineers also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "experience in working with odata, azure cloud services, sql server and service oriented architecture. "

Interpersonal skills. configuration engineers are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to configuration engineer responsibilities, because "software developers must be able to work well with others who contribute to designing, developing, and programming successful software." A configuration engineer resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "required: project management skills and interpersonal skills along with overall engineering understanding. "

Analytical skills. For certain configuration engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "analytical skills." The day-to-day duties of a configuration engineer rely on this skill, as "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what configuration engineers do: "developed java programs for a number of projects using various abstraction techniques and data structures like linked lists. "

Communication skills. Another common skill required for configuration engineer responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of configuration engineers all the time, as "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project." An excerpt from a real configuration engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a configuration engineer does: "keep good time management to deliver builds through effective communication with developers, qa testers, and pm. "

Problem-solving skills. Another skill commonly found on configuration engineer job descriptions is "problem-solving skills." It can come up quite often in configuration engineer duties, since "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day configuration engineer responsibilities: "supported manufacturing plants by analyzing bom errors and providing solutions. "

Most common configuration engineer skills

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Compare different configuration engineers

Configuration engineer vs. Senior systems software engineer

A senior systems software engineer is an individual responsible for managing a firm's computer network systems. The professional's roles include resolving complex application and network issues through the development of new solutions, overseeing systems developers and other information technology (IT) personnel, and integrating new technology. The job requires proficiency in the MySQL, Python, and Linux programming languages and excellent skills in organizational and time management and communication. The education requirements for the job include a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field.

We looked at the average configuration engineer salary and compared it with the wages of a senior systems software engineer. Generally speaking, senior systems software engineers are paid $21,251 higher than configuration engineers per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both configuration engineer and senior systems software engineer positions are skilled in python, unix, and java.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, configuration engineer responsibilities require skills like "git," "project management," "c #," and "version control." Meanwhile a typical senior systems software engineer has skills in areas such as "architecture," "c," "scrum," and "code reviews." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Senior systems software engineers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $125,048. Comparatively, configuration engineers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $112,902.The education levels that senior systems software engineers earn slightly differ from configuration engineers. In particular, senior systems software engineers are 7.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a configuration engineer. Additionally, they're 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Configuration engineer vs. Software development engineer

A software development engineer is responsible for designing and developing software systems and applications based on clients' specifications and business needs. Software development engineers manage operating systems and analyze network codes to maintain the compatibility of the software applications and control systems. They also run diagnostic tests for every software structure to ensure smooth navigations and perform immediate troubleshooting for inconsistencies. A software development engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, as well as technological processes and analytical skills.

Software development engineer positions earn higher pay than configuration engineer roles. They earn a $8,123 higher salary than configuration engineers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Configuration engineers and software development engineers both require similar skills like "python," "unix," and "java" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real configuration engineer resumes. While configuration engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "source code," "project management," "c #," and "version control," software development engineers use skills like "web services," "object oriented programming," "api," and "scrum."

Software development engineers earn a higher average salary than configuration engineers. But software development engineers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $127,910. Additionally, configuration engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $112,902 annually.software development engineers earn higher levels of education than configuration engineers in general. They're 11.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for configuration engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Allegheny College

In the next few years, technologies related to artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing, container-orchestration systems, and cybersecurity will continue to become more important and prominent. These technologies have the foundation to improve the quality of life in terms of health, education, fighting misinformation, creating better connections, fighting climate change, etc. IoT with smart devices connected online will continue to rise, thus producing more data, which will necessitate AI, data analytics, and security solutions. Additionally, I foresee 5G technology to play an essential role in the next few years, as e-commerce expands into autonomous delivery services. In the software engineering field, to enable fast, secure, and connected software development, technologies allowing to automate a part of that process, such as version control, containerization, and Kubernetes, will also become increasingly important.

Configuration engineer vs. Software engineer-consultant

A software engineer consultant develops and recommends strategies to optimize a company's software engineering operations. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis to find new opportunities, performing software evaluations and risk assessments, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, and developing solutions against problem areas. Through the findings of their research, a software engineer consultant draws conclusions and recommendations that will help the company to reach their short and long-term goals and resolve issues or concerns.

On average, software engineers-consultant earn higher salaries than configuration engineers, with a $12,963 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on configuration engineers and software engineers-consultant resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "python," "unix," and "java.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, configuration engineers are more likely to have skills like "project management," "c #," "version control," and "erp." But a software engineer-consultant is more likely to have skills like "architecture," "scrum," "api," and "ui."

Software engineers-consultant earn the highest salary when working in the insurance industry, where they receive an average salary of $118,185. Comparatively, configuration engineers have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $112,902.software engineers-consultant typically earn higher educational levels compared to configuration engineers. Specifically, they're 8.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Configuration engineer vs. Principal software engineer

A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization's projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.

Principal software engineers tend to earn a higher pay than configuration engineers by an average of $33,206 per year.While both configuration engineers and principal software engineers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like python, unix, and java, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between configuration engineers and principal software engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a configuration engineer might have more use for skills like "source code," "project management," "c #," and "version control." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of principal software engineers require skills like "object oriented programming," "javascript," "scrum," and "c."

Principal software engineers enjoy the best pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $154,293. For comparison, configuration engineers earn the highest salary in the technology industry.The average resume of principal software engineers showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to configuration engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 13.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 2.3%.

Types of configuration engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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