Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a senior lead systems engineer and how to become one
The next time you order something from Amazon, try to think about all the processes involved in delivering your purchase. Think of how it goes from the merchant to your hands, all because you clicked a button.
This process is designed by lead systems engineers. Their job is to ensure that all the processes of a business run smoothly and complement each other. The details of their responsibilities depend on their place of employment and the nature of the systems required.
A typical day in their life may include looking for inefficiencies in the current system and improving it, creating systems from scratch, and implementing technology solutions to improve efficiency.
You'll need a degree in computer engineering or a computer-related field to become a lead systems engineer. Some employers may also require advanced degrees as well as years of experience.
What general advice would you give to a senior 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
Avg. Salary $114,766
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%
Asian 14.06%
Black or African American 8.07%
Hispanic or Latino 11.78%
Unknown 5.01%
White 60.76%
Genderfemale 13.77%
male 86.23%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Senior lead systems engineer career paths
Key steps to become a senior lead systems engineer
Explore senior lead systems engineer education requirements
Start to develop specific senior lead systems engineer skills
Skills Percentages Java 8.83% Systems Engineering 7.33% Architecture 6.25% DOD 5.03% C++ 4.13% Complete relevant senior lead systems engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior 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 senior lead systems engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior lead systems engineer resumes.Research senior lead systems engineer duties and responsibilities
- Design and implement solutions to automate tasks across mainframes, UNIX, WINTEL using a scheduler tool.
- Manage a team responsible for the development and delivery of server and desktop solutions within the San Antonio division of HCA.
- Accomplish responsibility to configure, administer and support new infrastructure solutions on Microsoft platforms to meet enterprise level requirements.
- Support proposal development for large scale NASA and DoD proposal efforts.
Get senior lead systems engineer experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior lead systems engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior lead systems engineer include senior systems engineer, systems engineer team lead and systems administrator.Prepare your senior lead systems engineer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior 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 senior 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 senior lead systems engineer resume templates
Build a professional senior 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 senior lead systems engineer resume.
Apply for senior lead systems engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior lead systems engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior lead systems engineer job
Are you a senior lead systems engineer?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average senior lead systems engineer salary
The average senior lead systems engineer salary in the United States is $114,766 per year or $55 per hour. Senior lead systems engineer salaries range between $86,000 and $151,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior lead systems engineers rate their job?
Senior lead systems engineer reviews
Nothing not doing my job
Updated January 8, 2025
