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The differences between lead systems engineers and senior systems software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lead systems engineer, becoming a senior systems software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior systems software engineer has an average salary of $122,275, which is higher than the $119,705 average annual salary of a lead systems engineer.
The top three skills for a lead systems engineer include systems engineering, architecture and infrastructure. The most important skills for a senior systems software engineer are python, java, and software development.
| Lead Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $119,705 | $122,275 |
| Hourly rate | $57.55 | $58.79 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 186,392 | 359,248 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A lead systems engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the systems infrastructure and improving the stability of the operating systems to support business operations. Lead systems engineers install and upgrade software applications and ensure that the technical strategies meet the quality standards and business requirements. They also enhance the performance of the existing systems, configuring features for optimization. A lead systems engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in supporting the end-users with technical failures and identifying accurate resolutions.
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.
Lead systems engineers and senior systems software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $119,705 | $122,275 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $158,000 | Between $91,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Meta | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lead systems engineer and a senior systems software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between lead systems engineers' and senior systems software engineers' demographics:
| Lead Systems Engineer | Senior Systems Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 85.5% Female, 14.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 12.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |