How To Become A Lead Systems Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a lead systems engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.

A lead systems engineer manages the development, design, and implementation of complex engineering systems. They oversee the entire process, from conception to testing and maintenance. A lead systems engineer works with a team to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet technical requirements. They also collaborate with product management and quality assurance to ensure systems meet customer needs. A lead systems engineer needs technical expertise, project management experience, and communication skills.

What general advice would you give to a lead systems engineer?

Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.

Director of Graduate Studies for the Dept. of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Assistant Professor of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington

Look for a job that you would enjoy doing, even if it takes some time to find such a position. Internships are great to explore various options.

ScoreLead Systems EngineerUS Average

Salary

8.1

Avg. Salary $119,705

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 12.46%

Black or African American 8.69%

Hispanic or Latino 12.39%

Unknown 5.07%

White 61.08%

Gender

female 11.88%

male 88.12%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a lead systems engineer?

Pros

High earning potential
Chance to innovate and create new solutions
Opportunities for career advancement
High demand for experienced lead systems engineers
Collaboration with cross-functional teams

Cons

Long hours, including nights and weekends when necessary
Dealing with unexpected issues and setbacks during projects
Risk of burnout due to the intensity of the role
Difficulty maintaining work-life balance
Potential for conflicts or misunderstandings with team members or stakeholders

Key steps to become a lead systems engineer

Explore lead systems engineer education requirements

Most common lead systems engineer degrees

Bachelor's

66.2 %

Master's

19.1 %

Associate

10.2 %

Start to develop specific lead systems engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Systems Engineering	9.82%
Architecture	9.59%
Infrastructure	5.98%
DOD	4.56%
System Design	4.38%

Complete relevant lead systems engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead systems engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead systems engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead systems engineer resumes.

Gain additional lead systems engineer certifications

Lead systems engineer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific lead systems engineer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for lead systems engineers include Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

More About Certifications

Research lead systems engineer duties and 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.

Get lead systems engineer experience

Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a lead systems engineer. The most common roles before becoming a lead systems engineer include systems engineer, senior systems engineer team lead and systems administrator.

Prepare your lead systems engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead systems engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lead systems engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable lead systems engineer resume templates

Build a professional lead systems engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your lead systems engineer resume.