What does a senior applications engineer do?
A senior applications engineer specializes in designing and developing a variety of applications and systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around utilizing feedback and client needs when making decisions, creating test structures for applications, performing installment and repairs, troubleshooting, and performing regular maintenance checks and upgrades. Furthermore, as a senior applications engineer, it is essential to lead and encourage the engineering team to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Senior applications engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior applications engineer resumes:
- Develop UNIX scripts and FORTRAN sub-routines to add to the existing functionality of the code to achieve customer-specify goals.
- Write SQL and UNIX scripts to automate the system as this report is scheduled as daily and on demand report.
- Support DOD agency needs in accomplishing engineer technical and non-technical goals associate with wireless LAN technology products.
- Translate prototype designs into HTML and CSS elements.
- Customize eProcurement web UI for on-line purchase workflows, utilizing XSLT for HTML transformation, and Servlet for customize workflow control.
- Participate in all aspects of SDLC.
- Follow corporate SDLC standards and release management standards.
- Implement the MVC framework for the front end.
- Convert VSAM applications to DB2 and develop on-line systems.
- Used TCA API's to create customers under a party.
- Create and maintain ETL scripts for data loads and transfers.
- Develop OMAP + embed Linux base application board for USB2.0 PHY+switch IC
- Develop ETL process and implement most of business logic in PL/SQL.
- Provide a platform for functional, systems, and regression testing.
- Build out Linux ftp server to support file transfer over the firewall.
Senior applications engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Senior Applications Engineers are proficient in Java, C++, and Database. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Math skills, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Applications Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Java, 17%
Mentored and supervised other Java developers in application design and development of sub modules.
- C++, 8%
Designed and implemented a graphic user interface for SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) using C++.
- Database, 6%
Managed company's Global Center of Excellence database to provide quality and reliability support to customers based on latest available data.
- Linux, 4%
Searched Log Files to ensure the system is performing to its utmost efficiency; including working in a Linux environment.
- Technical Support, 4%
Diagnose and troubleshoot Amazon Cloud-based application issues, interact with internal and external users/customers to provide technical support and application feedback.
- JavaScript, 3%
Developed applications in BizFlow Process Management Software with extensive JavaScript applications.
Common skills that a senior applications engineer uses to do their job include "java," "c++," and "database." You can find details on the most important senior applications engineer responsibilities below.
Listening skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior applications engineer to carry out their responsibilities is listening skills. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." Additionally, a senior applications engineer resume shows how their duties depend on listening skills: "collaborated and communicated with other key functional areas in product development organization. "
Math skills. Another essential skill to perform senior applications engineer duties is math skills. Senior applications engineers responsibilities require that "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." Senior applications engineers also use math skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provided presales technical support to customers of mathworks' asic/fpga design and verification solutions. "
Mechanical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of senior applications engineers is mechanical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday senior applications engineer duties, as "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provide technical customer support of precision electro-mechanical/opto-mechanical 3d metrology equipment and supporting software to high profile domestic and international customers. "
Creativity. For certain senior applications engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "creativity." The day-to-day duties of a senior applications engineer rely on this skill, as "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what senior applications engineers do: "worked independently using engineering problem solving, creative thinking, and cad to develop solutions for complex problems. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for senior applications engineer responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of senior applications engineers all the time, as "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." An excerpt from a real senior applications engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a senior applications engineer does: "extended on site customer support for design project issue resolution of all compass tools. "
The three companies that hire the most senior applications engineers are:
- Applied Materials410 senior applications engineers jobs
- Oracle92 senior applications engineers jobs
- Centene76 senior applications engineers jobs
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Compare different senior applications engineers
Senior applications engineer vs. Software engineer-consultant
A software engineer consultant develops and recommends strategies to optimize a company's software engineering operations. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis to find new opportunities, performing software evaluations and risk assessments, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, and developing solutions against problem areas. Through the findings of their research, a software engineer consultant draws conclusions and recommendations that will help the company to reach their short and long-term goals and resolve issues or concerns.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between senior applications engineers and software engineer-consultant. For instance, senior applications engineer responsibilities require skills such as "c #," "technical support," "javascript," and "provide customer support." Whereas a software engineer-consultant is skilled in "python," "architecture," "software development," and "scrum." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Software engineers-consultant tend to make the most money working in the insurance industry, where they earn an average salary of $118,185. In contrast, senior applications engineers make the biggest average salary, $111,125, in the insurance industry.On average, software engineers-consultant reach similar levels of education than senior applications engineers. Software engineers-consultant are 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior applications engineer vs. Principal software engineer
A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization's projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior applications engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "c #," "application development," "help support," and "sr." Meanwhile, a principal software engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "software development," "aws," and "git." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, principal software engineers earn a higher salary than senior applications engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, principal software engineers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $154,293. Whereas senior applications engineers have higher pay in the insurance industry, with an average salary of $111,125.principal software engineers earn higher levels of education than senior applications engineers in general. They're 6.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior applications engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Craig Tidwell Ph.D.
Professor/Program Manager, Seminole State College of Florida
Senior applications engineer vs. Software engineer lead
A Software Engineer Lead is focused on developing and testing software programs. They manage a team of software engineers that design enterprise software products and operating systems.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior applications engineers are more likely to have skills like "c #," "provide customer support," "application development," and "sr." But a software engineer lead is more likely to have skills like "python," "software development," "aws," and "git."
Software engineers lead earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $125,218. Senior applications engineers earn the highest pay from the insurance industry, with an average salary of $111,125.Most software engineers lead achieve a similar degree level compared to senior applications engineers. For example, they're 4.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior applications engineer vs. Associate software engineer
An associate software engineer is an individual who is responsible for improving existing software or designing new application software. Working under the supervision of a senior software engineer and together with a team of engineering professionals, associate software engineers must be able to code software and ensure that it can run with different types of technology. They must have the technical knowledge and expertise of commanding programming languages such as JAVA, HTML, and CSS. Associate software engineers are also required to assist the QA team in testing the software before it is released to the customers.
Types of senior applications engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
