How To Become A Security System Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a security system engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Maryam Farahani

Security system engineers are responsible for testing and screening security software and monitoring networks and systems for security intrusions or breaches. They can often resolve possible causes of security threats early on by looking at things from a security perspective and recommending enhancements to management.

They are experts in multiple fields such as information security, network security, and mobile security.

It will help if you have an undergraduate degree in cybersecurity or a related field, such as computer science or IT. However, most employers prefer candidates who uphold a master's degree in advanced system engineering roles. Additionally, you may also need six months to one year of previous industry experience.

The BLS reports that graduates who gravitate toward this field end up laying claim to annual earnings that top out at $92,508. The current median pay for a security system engineer ranges from $88,000 to $97,434 in the US. However, this figure can vary significantly depending upon your experience, skills, or organization.

What general advice would you give to a security system engineer?

Maryam Farahani

Engineering Instructor, Bakersfield College

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.

ScoreSecurity System EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.7

Avg. Salary $103,018

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.5

Growth rate 32%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 9.64%

Black or African American 9.15%

Hispanic or Latino 8.99%

Unknown 6.09%

White 65.70%

Gender

female 12.44%

male 87.56%

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

6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a security system engineer

Explore security system engineer education requirements

Most common security system engineer degrees

Bachelor's

63.2 %

Associate

19.7 %

Master's

13.4 %

Start to develop specific security system engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Architecture	7.55%
NIST	7.50%
DOD	6.39%
RMF	5.71%
Linux	5.32%

Complete relevant security system engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New security system 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 security system engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real security system engineer resumes.

Research security system engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage 3rd party approval requests for new account creation, remote access, and site-to-site VPN connections.
Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
Perform security hardening and security testing, including applying NIST 800-53 controls.
Assist customer in development and completion of security documentation as specified by DIAPCAP and NIST.

Prepare your security system engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your security system 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 security system engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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