What does a senior system support specialist do?
Senior system support specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior system support specialist resumes:
- Maintain Internet and VPN connectivity.
- Support development team by providing SQL and PL/SQL review.
- Support hardware and software upgrades on operating system (OS).
- Maintain and write custom UNIX shell scripts for automate processing by customers.
- Support the local Lync EV, VOIP and digital Nortel/Avaya telecommunications systems.
- Walk pre-open hotels through setting up LAN hardware for dial up connection.
- Service lead for Citrix, VPN, service desk and cross functional services.
- Assist telecom with upgrading to VOIP system and train end-user on VOIP phone.
- Schedule and perform routine firmware, BIOS, systems OS, and security patches weekly.
- Institute company standard for naming printers, reducing need to move individual printers with department moves.
- Diagnose and resolve problems of workstations network connectivity.
- Document common hardware/software issues and resolutions on SharePoint site.
- Plan and coordinate Linux compute and infrastructure activities in several successful downtimes, including a data center relocation.
- Provide integral support including the re-wiring of phones and moving of printers and computers that facilitate efficient relocation of internal customers.
- Execute daily operational procedures according to SOX requirements.
Senior system support specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Senior System Support Specialists are proficient in SQL, Technical Support, and Linux. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior System Support Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- SQL, 13%
Developed SQL Server stored procedures to retrieve data for reporting, daily, weekly, and monthly data integrity checks.
- Technical Support, 8%
Processed inbound and outbound technical support calls at 20% faster rate than team average.
- Linux, 7%
Experience with LINUX/UNIX environment for providing Support.
- Application Software, 7%
Connected networks, system hardware, printers, and preparatory application software systems.
- Customer Service, 5%
Provided local and remote desktop support and customer service to library staffs located throughout the United States.
- Unix, 5%
Maintained all updates to existing custom and out-of-box applications (and system patched) including SAP back-end (UNIX based).
Most senior system support specialists use their skills in "sql," "technical support," and "linux" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior system support specialist responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior system support specialist to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, a senior system support specialist resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "monitored computer and peripheral equipment, researched error messages, and performed first-level diagnosis and customer support for data processing-related issues. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior system support specialist duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." According to a senior system support specialist resume, here's how senior system support specialists can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated with vendors from saic and at&t; to upgrade the court's phone system. "
Problem-solving skills. senior system support specialists are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior system support specialist responsibilities, because "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." A senior system support specialist resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "developed problem resolution knowledge base, used to execute on specific problems and to train lower level support personnel. "
Speaking skills. A big part of what senior system support specialists do relies on "speaking skills." You can see how essential it is to senior system support specialist responsibilities because "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior system support specialist tasks: "represented the navair office of general council (air 11.0) as the technical support lead. "
Writing skills. Another crucial skill for a senior system support specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "writing skills." A big part of what senior system support specialists relies on this skill, since "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." How this skill relates to senior system support specialist duties can be seen in an example from a senior system support specialist resume snippet: "research and escalate complex technical issues within the automated underwriting systems. "
The three companies that hire the most senior system support specialists are:
- The PNC Financial Services Group13 senior system support specialists jobs
- PNC6 senior system support specialists jobs
- LogixHealth2 senior system support specialists jobs
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Senior system support specialist vs. Supervisor, technical support
A supervisor of technical support oversees the technical support operations in a company, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. It is their duty to set guidelines and timelines, monitor the daily operations of staff, coordinate with managers and engineers, delegate tasks among teams, and liaise with potential business partners. There are also instances where they assist clients through calls and correspondence, assisting them with their concerns and inquiries. Moreover, a technical support supervisor must lead teams while enforcing the company's standards and policies.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior system support specialist are more likely to require skills like "technical support," "application software," "windows server," and "application support." On the other hand, a job as a supervisor, technical support requires skills like "customer satisfaction," "direct reports," "performance reviews," and "pcs." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Supervisors, technical support really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $90,464. Comparatively, senior system support specialists tend to make the most money in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $102,176.supervisors, technical support tend to reach similar levels of education than senior system support specialists. In fact, supervisors, technical support are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Senior system support specialist vs. Support lead
A support lead is typically in charge of overseeing the performance of a technical support team, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing the performance of the workforce, resolving complex issues, identifying customer needs and sales opportunities, and training new team members. They may also perform calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries, and resolve issues promptly. Furthermore, as a support lead, it is essential to perform clerical tasks such as preparing progress reports, managing schedules, and maintaining records of transactions.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior system support specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "sql," "application software," "windows server," and "printers." Meanwhile, a support lead has duties that require skills in areas such as "cash management," "sales floor," "payroll," and "infrastructure." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Support leads tend to reach similar levels of education than senior system support specialists. In fact, they're 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior system support specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
Senior system support specialist vs. Technical support senior engineer
A technical support senior engineer is primarily in charge of resolving complicated issues and concerns through calls and correspondence, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities include coordinating with customer support staff to gather data, studying records of initial assessments, liaising with clients to identify their needs, utilizing their expertise to develop solutions, and maintaining records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a technical support senior engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to others, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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 support specialist resumes include skills like "sql," "technical support," "application software," and "application support," whereas a technical support senior engineer is more likely to list skills in "java," "azure," "customer satisfaction," and "troubleshoot. "
Technical support senior engineers make a very good living in the telecommunication industry with an average annual salary of $104,548. On the other hand, senior system support specialists are paid the highest salary in the pharmaceutical industry, with average annual pay of $102,176.Most technical support senior engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to senior system support specialists. For example, they're 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior system support specialist vs. Support analyst
The role of support analysts is to resolve problems with hardware, computer programs, and peripherals. They may focus on a particular aspect of the information technology (IT) department or give technical support to end-users. They mainly detect issues with IT equipment and software and devise solutions to resolve these issues. Also, they are responsible for answering queries from users, preparing service records, and handling escalations. Support analysts also support the company's IT operations and best practices by creating and distributing relevant IT documents.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior system support specialists and support analysts, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior system support specialist might have more use for skills like "sql," "application software," "printers," and "remedy." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of support analysts require skills like "troubleshoot," "patients," "issue resolution," and "excellent interpersonal. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for support analysts, with average annual pay of $93,871. Comparatively, the highest senior system support specialist annual salary comes from the pharmaceutical industry.The average resume of support analysts showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to senior system support specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of senior system support specialist
Updated January 8, 2025











