Post job

What does a senior system designer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
On this page

Senior system designer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior system designer resumes:

  • Manage relationships through CRM documentation and complete post-sale customer follow ups.
  • Work in the entire SDLC.
  • Improve architecture and design of website.
  • Participate in HEB's first venture into UNIX.
  • Provide IP routing and switching networks training to the internal engineering team.
  • Service orient architecture are used to isolate the services independent of each other.
  • Test and debug PLC program operation with the switchgear under test in test bay.
  • Analyze large volume of quality testing data and formulate a decision, facilitating business for TCS.
  • Develop loop diagrams, PLC panels, schematics, wiring diagrams and location plans for refinery uggrade.
  • Have importing and exporting data into the instrument index and configuration into the overall DCS control system.
  • Produce fire alarm systems while adhering to job requirements and specifications and all applicable codes (NFPA).
  • Act as the highly trust data network specialist and the RF coverage division point of contact for Motorola Canada.
  • Involve in writing PL/SQL store procedures and optimizing the queries, which increase the performance of the application enormously.
  • Create I/O diagrams, instrumentation lists, wiring termination schedules, and control panel enclosures and hookups all from INtools.
  • Design with AutoCAD drafting of HVAC and plumbing systems for commercial office buildings, medical facility design and medical facility upgrades.

Senior system designer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 33% of Senior System Designers are proficient in Sketch, CAD, and Control Systems. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Problem-solving skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Senior System Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Sketch, 33%

    Developed electrical schematic of switching power supply from engineering sketch.

  • CAD, 10%

    Total responsibility for the company Cad system, standards and supervision of engineering and design personnel.

  • Control Systems, 6%

    CONTROL SYSTEMS DESIGNER: Worked on Groundwater Remediation Project for Occidental Chemical Corporation, Taft, Louisiana.

  • SR, 5%

    Coordinated manpower and workload for the L-1011 drawing preparation cycle, provided leadership and guidance to designers and other Sr.

  • Java, 5%

    Team leader in charge of development of Access Network Management Systems GUI using MVC (Model-View-Controller) concept and Java.

  • UI, 4%

    Translated business and customer requirements into functional UI that met business objectives.

Most senior system designers use their skills in "sketch," "cad," and "control systems" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior system designer responsibilities here:

Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a senior system designer to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." Additionally, a senior system designer resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "worked on a large enterprise intranet application using object oriented methodology, java, jsp and visual age. "

Problem-solving skills. Another essential skill to perform senior system designer duties is problem-solving skills. Senior system designers responsibilities require that "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." Senior system designers also use problem-solving skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "resolved operational issues through simulation using helioscope, pv syst, and improved system components. "

Creativity. This is an important skill for senior system designers to perform their duties. For an example of how senior system designer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior system designer: "utilize solidworks 2011, autocad 2013 & inventor 2013 utilize windows 7, including microsoft office package".

Analytical skills. senior system designer responsibilities often require "analytical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." This resume example shows what senior system designers do with analytical skills on a typical day: "designed and drafted instrument loop diagrams, control schematics, control panels, installation details, and analyzer sample systems. "

Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a senior system designer to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what senior system designers relies on this skill, since "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project." How this skill relates to senior system designer duties can be seen in an example from a senior system designer resume snippet: "control systems designer on capital project nuclear waste treatment plants using autocad.developed location plans, plc panels, fiber-optic/antenna communications systems. "

See the full list of senior system designer skills

Choose from 10+ customizable senior system designer resume templates

Build a professional senior system designer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior system designer resume.
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume
Senior System Designer Resume

Compare different senior system designers

Senior system designer vs. Firmware engineer

The job of firmware engineers focuses on the hardware from which the software runs. They play an important role in supporting the life cycle of products from its development to implementation. Their duties typically include testing the product properly and troubleshooting technical issues in collaboration with other engineering personnel, evaluating the performance of the system and ensuring that it adheres to the company's standards, and analyzing the design and needs of a system. Firmware engineers are also responsible for improvising the software as requested by clients.

We looked at the average senior system designer salary and compared it with the wages of a firmware engineer. Generally speaking, firmware engineers are paid $20,357 lower than senior system designers per year.Even though senior system designers and firmware engineers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require control systems, java, and ui in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior system designer are more likely to require skills like "sketch," "cad," "sr," and "drawing packages." On the other hand, a job as a firmware engineer requires skills like "c #," "python," "i2c," and "software development." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Firmware engineers really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $111,715. Comparatively, senior system designers tend to make the most money in the transportation industry with an average salary of $112,015.firmware engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than senior system designers. In fact, firmware engineers are 9.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Senior system designer vs. Embedded engineer

Embedded engineers are skilled professionals who are responsible for conducting all activities that are related to embedded systems. These engineers are required to design and configure hardware components of embedded systems such as processor, controller, memory, and serial communication port. They must participate in reviewing the requirements, design, and source code of embedded systems as well as identify opportunities for software process and development cycle time improvements. Embedded engineers must troubleshoot malfunctioning embedded systems while providing written updates to managers and their clients.

On average, embedded engineers earn a $22,121 lower salary than senior system designers a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Senior system designers and embedded engineers both require similar skills like "control systems," "java," and "ui" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior system designer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "sketch," "cad," "sr," and "drawing packages." Meanwhile, an embedded engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "firmware," "software development," and "embedded c." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Embedded engineers earn a lower average salary than senior system designers. But embedded engineers earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $95,604. Additionally, senior system designers earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $112,015 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Embedded engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than senior system designers. In fact, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior system designer vs. Systems software specialist

An embedded software developer designs and develops software embedded into systems and devices. They are primarily in charge of writing codes that implement systems and solutions, ensuring the embedded software adheres to project goals and requirements. They also develop test structures to find and improve weaknesses, troubleshoot issues, monitor systems, and perform regular maintenance checks. Most embedded software developers work in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.

On average, systems software specialists earn lower salaries than senior system designers, with a $19,459 difference per year.By looking over several senior system designers and systems software specialists resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "java," "qa," and "sql server." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior system designer resumes include skills like "sketch," "cad," "control systems," and "sr," whereas a systems software specialist is more likely to list skills in "python," "system software," "linux," and "computer system. "

Systems software specialists earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $117,283. Senior system designers earn the highest pay from the transportation industry, with an average salary of $112,015.systems software specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior system designers. Specifically, they're 2.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior system designer vs. Embedded software developer

Embedded software developers tend to earn a lower pay than senior system designers by an average of $28,034 per year.According to resumes from senior system designers and embedded software developers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "java," "ui," and "debugging. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A senior system designer uses "sketch," "cad," "control systems," and "sr." embedded software developers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "c #," "python," "software development," and "linux. "The automotive industry tends to pay the highest salaries for embedded software developers, with average annual pay of $103,971. Comparatively, the highest senior system designer annual salary comes from the transportation industry.embedded software developers reach higher levels of education compared to senior system designers, in general. The difference is that they're 15.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior system designer

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.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs