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Job outlook for directors of systems engineering in the United States
Director of systems engineering job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected director of systems engineering job growth rate is 2% from 2018-2028.
About 4,400 new jobs for directors of systems engineering are projected over the next decade.
Director of systems engineering salaries have increased 11% for directors of systems engineering in the last 5 years.
There are over 29,251 directors of systems engineering currently employed in the United States.
There are 123,068 active director of systems engineering job openings in the US.
The average director of systems engineering salary is $165,127.
Are director of systems engineering jobs in demand?
Director of systems engineering job and salary trends over time
Director of systems engineering jobs over time
Director of systems engineering job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,251 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 30,120 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 29,671 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 28,469 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 27,129 | 0.01% |
Average director of systems engineering salary over time
Director of systems engineering salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $165,127 | $79.39 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $159,936 | $76.89 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $155,442 | $74.73 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $152,085 | $73.12 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $148,783 | $71.53 | +1.5% |
Director of systems engineering jobs by state
Most common states for directors of systems engineering
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 368 | 53% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 228 | 30% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 219 | 30% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 392 | 29% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 306 | 29% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 278 | 29% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 161 | 28% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,905 | 26% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 207 | 24% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,561 | 23% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 238 | 23% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,221 | 22% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 463 | 22% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 418 | 22% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 377 | 22% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,793 | 21% |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 827 | 21% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 746 | 21% |
| 19 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 638 | 21% |
| 20 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 985 | 20% |
Most common cities for directors of systems engineering
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danvers | 4 | 15% | $154,347 |
| 2 | Billerica | 4 | 10% | $154,165 |
| 3 | Belmont | 2 | 8% | $154,072 |
| 4 | Melrose | 2 | 7% | $154,190 |
| 5 | Andover | 2 | 6% | $154,294 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 2 | 5% | $154,152 |
| 7 | Newton | 4 | 4% | $154,003 |
| 8 | Brookline | 2 | 3% | $154,046 |
| 9 | Malden | 2 | 3% | $154,160 |
| 10 | Medford | 2 | 3% | $154,135 |
| 11 | Sunnyvale | 3 | 2% | $200,978 |
| 12 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $154,094 |
| 13 | Cedar Rapids | 2 | 2% | $121,672 |
| 14 | Lawrence | 2 | 2% | $154,337 |
| 15 | Boston | 8 | 1% | $154,103 |
Director Of Systems Engineering job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of director of systems engineering experts
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Pennsylvania State University - Abington
University of Maryland - College Park
San Jose State University
Chapman University
Clemson University
University of Washington
Bakersfield College
Portland State University
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Indiana University Bloomington
Kennesaw State University
Pennsylvania State University - Great Valley
What Director Of Systems Engineering skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Don Gelosh Ph.D.: Being a systems engineer provides you with many opportunities to learn and grow. Systems engineers
have the opportunity to learn all they can about a specific engineering discipline field of choice (i.e.,
electrical, mechanical, chemical, power, etc.). Systems engineers are also expected to learn in general
what engineers and technicians in other disciplines do on a daily basis. Systems engineers should talk to
other systems engineers about their daily activities as much as possible. Systems engineers should learn
how to lead people and manage resources; they should learn how to both lead and serve on teams.
Systems engineers should prepare themselves through education, training, and experience for
opportunities to grow and take on new responsibilities.
One dislike may be the long hours in dealing with the challenges of developing complex systems.
However, if you enjoy this type of work, the rewards of leading and managing the creation of successful
systems will be worth the effort it takes.
What will help Directors Of Systems Engineering increase their earning potential?
Yi Yang PhD: First of all, be really good at what you do. Always negotiate for a higher salary based on your qualifications and market value. Additionally, consider exploring opportunities in management and actively contribute to strategic decision-making. Taking calculated risks, such as joining a startup, can also lead to valuable experiences and skill development that can enhance your earning potential in the long run.
What Director Of Systems Engineering skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yi Yang PhD: In the next 3-5 years, I believe management skills will become increasingly important. Engineers who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and business strategy, driving innovation and growth in their organizations will be very valuable.
Donald Yeung
Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education, Affiliate Professor, Computer Science DepartmentUniversity of Maryland - College Park
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Systems Engineering?
Donald Yeung: In terms of hard technical skills, I believe the courses students take along with their GPA in these courses is one level of demonstration. (As I mentioned above, employers know about our program probably down to specific courses, and so if someone gets an A+ in some notoriously challenging course, that's probably known and appreciated). Some employers will give technical interviews and require students to solve problems on their feet. But I think most employers will judge this based on a student's transcript.
What skills will help Directors Of Systems Engineering earn the most?
Donald Yeung: Finally, in terms of compensation, I believe the Computer Engineering degree in our department garners the highest average starting salary across the entire UMD campus. The Electrical Engineering degree is not far behind. I don't know if specific skills within ECE garner more pay. But I can say that these days, Data Science (i.e., Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence) is the fastest-growing field, probably bar none. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, I think, puts the growth in this field at around 30% from now until 2026. I would expect the starting salaries in these jobs to be the very highest. So, perhaps having a background in Data Science and Machine Learning might get you a higher-paying job. But I also think it's dangerous for students to look at such statistics to guide what courses they take today (elective courses, that is). What's hot today may not be tomorrow. A career is 40 years, not the next 5 or 10 years.
Yasser Dessouky
Professor and ChairSan Jose State University
Industrial and Systems Engineering
What skills stand out on Director Of Systems Engineering resumes?
Yasser Dessouky: Besides being very comfortable with various professional social-media platforms, the new engineering students must embrace developing their skills in artificial intelligence and data science techniques. Besides being an excellent team member, today's remote world requires engineers to have independent problem-solving skills for a career to thrive.
What skills stand out on Director Of Systems Engineering resumes?
Tom Springer Ph.D.: -Classroom or work-related experience with electrical circuit design and electrical schematic analysis
-Exposure to control system design and theory, communications systems principles
-Lab experience with power/analog electronics testing or test methodology
-Understanding of digital design using hardware verification languages: System Verilog
-Experience leading engineering projects
What soft skills should all Directors Of Systems Engineering possess?
Tom Springer Ph.D.: -Good communication skills
-Ability to exercise critical thinking and innovative problem solving
-Able to work under supervision and mentoring
-Works well in a team-oriented environment
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Systems Engineering?
Tom Springer Ph.D.: -Experience/exposure to Automated Test Equipment (ATE) -Setup/Programming
-Understanding of basic software architectures and general syntax of coding languages such as C/C++
-Knowledge using Linux or Unix terminal commands
-Experience using Revision Control Systems: Subversion (SVN), CVS, Git.
-Exposure to System on Chip (SoC) hardware/software
-Experience with Robot Operating System (ROS) or equivalent is a bonus
What skills will help Directors Of Systems Engineering earn the most?
Tom Springer Ph.D.: Skill sets that span domain disciplines are very much in demand. Such as a computer architect or electrical engineer with a strong background in software development
Dr. John Ballato
J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and ProfessorClemson University
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
What skills will help Directors Of Systems Engineering earn the most?
Dr. John Ballato: Here, too, the answer depends on the field, job position (and location), and organization. MSE graduates generally are well compensated compared to other engineering fields. The most important thing is that you wake up every morning and are excited about the work you're doing. There's no substitute for enjoying your work, regardless of how much you are paid.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Directors Of Systems Engineering?
Les Atlas: Most certainly an impact, a very strong impact. The best lesson for us is from the 1919 Spanish Flu pandemic. That strain of flu still circulates as a seasonal virus. Over 100 years laters, it is now considered a Phase 6 pandemic by the World Health Organization. While it is reduced due to current social distancing and mask wearing, the 1919 Spanish Flu virus still causes community-level outbreaks in multiple parts of the globe. Societal changes from this event of over 100 years ago are still with us.
In fact, they changed society. As is well-documented, after a high level of immunity was reached in the 1920's, the resulting labor shortage enabled workers to demand better living and working conditions, as well as better wages and public health care. As just one example of the societal changes due to the 1919 pandemic, the drop in the male labor force empowered male workers, and also changed the gender composition.
The aftermath of the 1919 pandemic was the start of women joining the labour force. In the United States, the proportion of women in the labour force rose from 18 per cent in 1900 to almost 21 per cent in 1920. In that same year, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution, the Congress of the United States guaranteed all American women the right to vote.
The current COVID-19 pandemic will certainly change the way we live, be it our mobility or the kinds of career options people have. After our current year-long experience in remote learning and work, will we go back to the inefficiencies of going to our office every work day? Or will remote work be acceptable, where one's residence will not be dependent upon the locations of employment. Will we avoid future hotspots of infection, choosing to instead reside and travel in areas where infection is decreasing? Will we prefer to travel on aircraft which are certified to be virus-free and frequent restaurants which are documented to be safer? Future marketing will likely make a sharp turn in this direction.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Systems Engineering job market given the pandemic?
Maryam Farahani: In my opinion, technology will play a much bigger role in our day-to-day life compared to the pre-pandemic world. Artificial intelligence and robotics will have a boost in employment numbers. Companies like Amazon, Walmart, Targets and etc, will need more IT and technology specialists to meet their customer's need for online shopping and supplying/delivering products to their customers. Jobs like programmers, data analysts, and technology support positions will have a rise in response to the change in the market due to pandemic.
For so many of the jobs, the need for a physical office is under question now, many employees are working from home and managing/coordinating their projects virtually. This will change the job market forever and job seekers need to learn new skills to adjust to this change.
Right now, healthcare-related job opportunities are growing in response to the rising need. In addition to doctors and nurses, there will be needs for management roles, accountants, technology supports, and lab technicians in health care industry.
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Systems Engineering?
Maryam Farahani: Thinking about the fields they want to experience or try. And to be intentional about their job search. The best advice is learning as much as they can about what company offers. Visualizing themselves in the next 5 years as a starting point. Do they want to travel a lot, or be in management positions? Do they want to be subject matter expert, or a hands-on engineer or technologist? Their goal may change as they progress in their career but having one makes a big difference in their career choices and keeping them on track.
Dr. Wayne Wakeland Ph.D.
Professor and Systems Science Program ChairPortland State University
Systems science program
What Director Of Systems Engineering skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Wayne Wakeland Ph.D.: For analyst positions, I think that employers want to hire people with strong data analysis skills, which, of course, includes statistics, but also big data, machine learning (algorithms), computer-based modeling, and programming. And, in addition to these apparently rather specialized skills, there is growing recognition that a talent for thinking, communicating, and problem-solving in a very general sense, and being able to cope with/address complexity, is also quite important.
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Systems Engineering?
Dr. Wayne Wakeland Ph.D.: Develop a thoughtful combination of technical skills/expertise and qualitative resources/assets/prowess. Purely technical savvy can go a long way, but it is not enough. Employers are eager to hire well-rounded, easy to work with employees and leaders who can go deeper technically as required.
Dr. T.S. Kalkur
Department ChairUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
What type of skills will young Directors Of Systems Engineering need?
Dr. T.S. Kalkur: They should be have the fundamentals down: good computer skills, knowledge of software tools used in design, good communication skills. They should also have a team spirit and internship experience before graduation.
Austin McCoy
Director of Javelina Engineering Student Success CenterTexas A&M University - Kingsville
Engineering Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Directors Of Systems Engineering to find work opportunities?
Austin McCoy: -I think that if enough effort is put into looking for a job, there is an ability to find a job in just about any location
-The ABC's of job searching: Any job, Better job, Career job
Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies for the Dept. of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Assistant Professor of Intelligent Systems EngineeringIndiana University Bloomington
Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering
What Director Of Systems Engineering skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.: I recommend enhancing skills in data analytics, if a graduate lacks such skills. Revitalizing business practices by analyzing user or inventory data is an integral part of almost all business applications. Hence, skills in data analytics will give a graduate an edge in the changing job market. Data analytics comes in various flavors: from gathering simple statistics to advanced machine learning. Hence, a graduate can always improve their skill from freely available online lectures, online classes such as Coursera, or on-ramp classes offered by many universities.
What experience really stands out on Director Of Systems Engineering resumes?
Adeel Khalid Ph.D.: It is the age of diversity. A graduate can stand out when their resume shows a broad portfolio of experiences. In addition to a solid academic record, students who demonstrate that they can take on challenging tasks and work beyond a degree's basic requirements are more likely to be successful. I advise students to get involved in various activities, including undergraduate research projects, student design competitions, student organizations, internships, co-ops, etc. All of these should be highlighted on the resume. When a recruiter sees an overview of a student that shows relevant work experience in the form of work-study, internships, or co-op or research, their resume automatically comes to the top of the pile.
How do you envision technology impacting Directors Of Systems Engineering in the next 5 years?
Nil Ergin Ph.D.: Advances in sensors, networking, communication, and computing are shaping the systems and services that are designed and deployed. Systems are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected; thus, more challenging to manage. Systems engineering discipline is becoming an essential element of managing and designing these systems. The field is evolving to address the challenges emerging from these advances in technology, including but not limited to, methods and tools to improve system resiliency, flexibility, agility, security, privacy, along with new ways to manage, design, and evaluate complexity.