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What does an operations engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
What does an operations engineer do

An operations engineer is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the operations of a company are working properly in industries such as manufacturing or shipping. Operations engineers are required to handle repairs or upgrades to the company's machinery and coordinate with department heads to assist in fine-tuning their operations system. When they have upgraded their system, operations engineers should conduct training with managers as well as employees and other workers. They are also required to examine machinery for defects and communicate maintenance schedules with department heads.

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Operations engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real operations engineer resumes:

  • Design, implement, and manage an enterprise class DNS and DHCP solution.
  • Used bug tracking tool JIRA to manage and track all the bugs by creating bug tickets.
  • Manage network cabling and server racking for both Ethernet and optical configurations for SAN and EMC.
  • Manage VMWARE ESXi servers to allocate virtual resources to developers, QA team and maximize the performances.
  • Create LabVIEW programs to automate test and characterization of optical components, perform testing, and analyze data.
  • Contribute PowerShell functions to a PowerShell module used to automate software upgrades.
  • Reinforce site compliance to all relevant regulations (ISO, OSHA, ASME, DOD, NASA).
  • Create secured cloud infrastructure using VPC for staging and development environment on AWS.
  • Build Java code on to different Jenkins servers as per the schedule, as a DevOps engineer.
  • Receive a deeper education into DNS routing, SQL querying, and utilizing metrics data to diagnose and prevent issues.
  • Execute basic general maintenance: mechanical, electrical, plumbing and painting
  • Provide technical support to NOC teams through database administration, configuration and remote troubleshooting.
  • Experience with Linux installations, configuration management and patch administration as member of a production support team.
  • Maintain NRTL and local certifications; UL, ETL, CSA, ATEX, MEA, LADBS, CSFM.
  • Azure CDN migration for core services.

Operations engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Operations Engineers are proficient in Python, Cloud, and AWS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.

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

  • Python, 9%

    Created and maintained inbound and outbound data integration projects utilizing custom SQL, XML, XSLT, and Python scripting.

  • Cloud, 6%

    Suggested tools and related implementation to engineering teams regarding cloud based services.

  • AWS, 5%

    Implemented Amazon IAM to grant fine access of AWS resources by policies to users and groups as per requirement.

  • Linux, 5%

    Managed over 30 high-availability Windows and Linux servers in a Microsoft Hyper-V environment.

  • Troubleshoot, 5%

    Position required extensive travel to troubleshoot engineering and operational problems at Gulf's production facilities world-wide.

  • HVAC, 4%

    Lead Engineer overseeing operation maintenance and repairs for over fifty pieces of reciprocating HVAC equipment supporting critical data center.

"python," "cloud," and "aws" are among the most common skills that operations engineers use at work. You can find even more operations engineer responsibilities below, including:

Creativity. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an operations engineer to have is creativity. Their role and responsibilities require that "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Operations engineers often use creativity in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "diagnose, troubleshoot and provide creative solutions to problems with highly complex software. "

Listening skills. Many operations engineer duties rely on listening skills. "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists," so an operations engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways operations engineer responsibilities rely on listening skills: "communicated effectively with qa project and operations manager via daily reports, weekly meetings, and emails. "

Problem-solving skills. operations engineers are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to operations engineer responsibilities, because "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." An operations engineer resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "used advanced scripting solutions to deploy and manage applications on over 1,000 servers using the jenkins framework. "

Math skills. operations engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This resume example shows what operations engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "maintain, compile and update plant operations logs and reports; perform and record mathematical calculations related to plant operational activities. "

Mechanical skills. Another crucial skill for an operations engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "mechanical skills." A big part of what operations engineers relies on this skill, since "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." How this skill relates to operations engineer duties can be seen in an example from an operations engineer resume snippet: "gravel pack jobs in san tome and morichal area (venezuela) using either mechanical setting and hydraulic setting hangers. "

Most common operations engineer skills

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Compare different operations engineers

Operations engineer vs. Senior principal engineer

A senior principal engineer is responsible for leading engineering tasks within an organization and reports project updates to senior management. Senior principal engineers develop strategic methods and principles to improve the technical stability and efficiency of the company's systems, creating business proposals according to clients' specifications, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and other service providers. They also train new staff and identify innovations and business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the company.

We looked at the average operations engineer salary and compared it with the wages of a senior principal engineer. Generally speaking, senior principal engineers are paid $39,120 higher than operations engineers per year.Even though operations engineers and senior principal engineers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require python, cloud, and linux in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, operations engineer responsibilities require skills like "aws," "troubleshoot," "hvac," and "plumbing." Meanwhile a typical senior principal engineer has skills in areas such as "architecture," "c #," "dod," and "software development." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Senior principal engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $123,997. On the other hand, operations engineers are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $100,087.senior principal engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than operations engineers. In fact, senior principal engineers are 12.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 4.9% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Operations engineer vs. Engineer

Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.

On average, engineers earn a $555 higher salary than operations engineers a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Operations engineers and engineers both require similar skills like "python," "cloud," and "aws" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that operations engineer responsibilities requires skills like "sql," "docker," "powershell," and "configuration management." But an engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "c++," "c #," "javascript," and "windows."

Engineers may earn a higher salary than operations engineers, but engineers earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $97,672. On the other hand, operations engineers receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $100,087.engineers earn similar levels of education than operations engineers in general. They're 3.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 4.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

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

Andrea Welker Ph.D.Andrea Welker Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Virtual/augmented reality will play an increasingly important role in visualizing designs and interacting with them.

Operations engineer vs. Team lead engineer

A team leads engineer is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of an engineering team, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the duties may depend on one's industry of employment, it typically includes designing and developing systems according to project requirements, setting objectives and construction guidelines, delegating tasks, managing budgets and schedules, and monitoring the workflow, performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, as a team leads engineer, it is essential to encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while enforcing the company's safety standards and regulations.

An average team lead engineer eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of operations engineers. The difference in salaries amounts to team lead engineers earning a $23,345 higher average salary than operations engineers.By looking over several operations engineers and team lead engineers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "python," "linux," and "troubleshoot." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, operations engineers are more likely to have skills like "cloud," "aws," "plumbing," and "git." But a team lead engineer is more likely to have skills like "architecture," "c++," "c #," and "infrastructure."

Team lead engineers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $117,918. Operations engineers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $100,087.team lead engineers typically earn higher educational levels compared to operations engineers. Specifically, they're 5.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Operations engineer vs. Chief engineer

A chief engineer is responsible for monitoring the engineering department's overall operations, ensuring performance efficiency, and everyone's strict compliance with the safety standards and regulatory procedures. Chief engineers manage the distribution of the tasks to the team, communicate with the clients and management for instructions and specifications, monitor expenses and forecast sales reports, analyze and approve designs, negotiate contracts, and process disputes. A chief engineer must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and exemplary leadership skills to handle the team's performance towards the company's objectives.

Chief engineers average a higher salary than the annual salary of operations engineers. The difference is about $16,528 per year.According to resumes from operations engineers and chief engineers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "troubleshoot," "hvac," and "plumbing. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. An operations engineer uses "python," "cloud," "aws," and "linux." Chief engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "customer service," "life safety systems," "boilers," and "project management. "The transportation industry tends to pay the highest salaries for chief engineers, with average annual pay of $114,862. Comparatively, the highest operations engineer annual salary comes from the technology industry.The average resume of chief engineers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to operations engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.6%.

Types of operations 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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