A senior systems software engineer is a professional responsible for managing a firm's computer network systems. The professional's roles include resolving complex application and network issues through the development of new solutions, overseeing systems developers and other information technology (IT) personnel, and integrating new technology. The job requires proficiency in the MySQL, Python, and Linux programming languages and excellent skills in organizational and time management and communication. The education requirements for the job include a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field.

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Senior Systems Software Engineer Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior systems software engineer resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

  • Reduce company costs by developing Unix shell and Perl scripts to integrate and automate various applications and systems management solutions.
  • Maintain mature java-base web application design to automate highly detail engineering requests for the DoD.
  • Analyze front end application, report potential design error and bugs, create issue in JIRA.
  • Implement python scripts that extract silicon data and compare it with data construct by the timing group.
  • Analyze the use of XML processes across multiple networks for validation of data and integration into platform data warehouse.
  • Define requirements for software API's allowing integration of 3rd party and COTS/GOTS software in the overarching application framework.
  • Test and deliver GIS server-side web service application for the collection, visualization, and exploitation of intelligence data.
  • Enhance debugging capability in the firmware which greatly improve the problem analysis and serviceability by using out of box ideas.
  • Help with the creation of the team specific process flow in JIRA to move tasks from one activity to another.
  • Develop scheduled batch processes in PHP and SQL to load data to the data mart from application database every night.
  • Work as part of a team to develop, execute auto generate test plans and reports for the QA testing procedures.
  • Perform MATLAB simulations for design and optimization.
  • Implement Java base server for a distribute computing environment.
  • Develop departmental debugging, asset synchronization, and software release/archive tools.
  • Develop client-server applications used in real-time data capture and 3D visualization.

Senior Systems Software Engineer Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as a senior systems software engineer is "should I become a senior systems software engineer?" You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, senior systems software engineer careers are projected to have a growth rate described as "much faster than average" at 21% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What's more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a senior systems software engineer by 2028 is 284,100.

A senior systems software engineer annual salary averages $122,275, which breaks down to $58.79 an hour. However, senior systems software engineers can earn anywhere from upwards of $91,000 to $163,000 a year. This means that the top-earning senior systems software engineers make $74,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.

It's hard work to become a senior systems software engineer, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. Whether you're interested in a more challenging position or just looking for a fresh start, we've compiled extensive information on becoming a lead engineer, senior applications engineer, software engineer-consultant, and senior systems analyst.

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Senior Systems Software Engineer Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 11% of Senior Systems Software Engineers are proficient in Python, Java, and Software Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Senior Systems Software Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Python, 11%

    Developed, tested and verified Python scripts for the satellite communications (SATCOM) and encryption for the ARC210 radio.

  • Java, 10%

    Improved Java Bayes Network Simulator and proposed improvements to Mixture Model Classification and Clustering Algorithms to better infer.

  • Software Development, 7%

    Developed and documented an extensible C# library to reduce the software development effort required to implement Azure authentication.

  • Architecture, 7%

    Authored System Design documentation and architecture diagrams, conducted peer reviews, managed/mentored remote staff for test automation project support.

  • Linux, 5%

    Designed/implemented marine vessel data recording system using embedded Linux module.

  • C, 4%

    Designed and developed large C program for SCO UNIX that ran a dozen different Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) applications.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Senior Systems Software Engineer Resume templates

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Senior Systems Software Engineer Resume
Senior Systems Software Engineer Resume
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Senior Systems Software Engineer Resume
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Senior Systems Software Engineer Resume
Senior Systems Software Engineer Resume

"python," "java," and "software development" aren't the only skills we found senior systems software engineers list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of senior systems software engineer responsibilities that we found, including:

  • Analytical skills can be considered to be the most important personality trait for a senior systems software engineer to have. According to a senior systems software engineer resume, "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." Senior systems software engineers are able to use analytical skills in the following example we gathered from a resume: "developed client-server applications used in real-time data capture and 3d visualization. "
  • Another trait important for fulfilling senior systems software engineer duties is communication skills. According to a senior systems software engineer resume, "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project." Here's an example of how senior systems software engineers are able to utilize communication skills: "introduced gemfire development code to configure communication between java virtual machines. "
  • Senior systems software engineers are also known for creativity, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a senior systems software engineer resume: "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "designed and developed a prototype asp.net app to convert existing desktop client/server lims (log inventory management system). "
  • In order for certain senior systems software engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "detail oriented." According to a senior systems software engineer resume, "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." As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "applied object-oriented programming (oop) techniques and utilized the java 1.4 sdk. "
  • Yet another important skill that a senior systems software engineer must demonstrate is "problem-solving skills." Because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process. This is clearly demonstrated in this example from a senior systems software engineer who stated: "involved in design reviews, code reviews, defect resolution and technical and functional walkthrough to various teams on the application. "
  • See the full list of senior systems software engineer skills.

    After discovering the most helpful skills, we moved onto what kind of education might be helpful in becoming a senior systems software engineer. We found that 71.1% of senior systems software engineers have graduated with a bachelor's degree and 18.8% of people in this position have earned their master's degrees. While most senior systems software engineers have a college degree, you may find it's also true that generally it's impossible to be successful in this career with only a high school degree. In fact, our research shows that one out of every nine senior systems software engineers were not college graduates.

    Those senior systems software engineers who do attend college, typically earn either a computer science degree or a electrical engineering degree. Less commonly earned degrees for senior systems software engineers include a computer engineering degree or a business degree.

    Once you're ready to become a senior systems software engineer, you should explore the companies that typically hire senior systems software engineers. According to senior systems software engineer resumes that we searched through, senior systems software engineers are hired the most by General Dynamics Mission Systems, Micro Focus (US), Inc., and NVIDIA. Currently, General Dynamics Mission Systems has 216 senior systems software engineer job openings, while there are 201 at Micro Focus (US), Inc. and 133 at NVIDIA.

    Since salary is important to some senior systems software engineers, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at Netflix, Twitter, and Flexport. If you were to take a closer look at Netflix, you'd find that the average senior systems software engineer salary is $182,233. Then at Twitter, senior systems software engineers receive an average salary of $173,256, while the salary at Flexport is $170,483.

    View more details on senior systems software engineer salaries across the United States.

    Some other companies you might be interested in as a senior systems software engineer include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Motorola Solutions. These three companies were found to hire the most senior systems software engineers from the top 100 U.S. educational institutions.

    The three companies that hire the most prestigious senior systems software engineers are:

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    What Lead Engineers Do

    A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.

    In this section, we compare the average senior systems software engineer annual salary with that of a lead engineer. Typically, lead engineers earn a $37,348 lower salary than senior systems software engineers earn annually.

    While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both senior systems software engineers and lead engineers positions are skilled in python, java, and architecture.

    As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a senior systems software engineer responsibility requires skills such as "software development," "c," "scrum," and "code reviews." Whereas a lead engineer is skilled in "c #," "javascript," "git," and "project management." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

    Lead engineers really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $110,872. Whereas senior systems software engineers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $125,048.

    The education levels that lead engineers earn is a bit different than that of senior systems software engineers. In particular, lead engineers are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior systems software engineer. Additionally, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    What Are The Duties Of a Senior Applications Engineer?

    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.

    Now we're going to look at the senior applications engineer profession. On average, senior applications engineers earn a $14,286 lower salary than senior systems software engineers a year.

    While the salary may be different for these job positions, there is one similarity and that's a few of the skills needed to perform certain duties. We used info from lots of resumes to find that both senior systems software engineers and senior applications engineers are known to have skills such as "java," "linux," and "c++. "

    While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that senior systems software engineer responsibilities requires skills like "python," "software development," "architecture," and "c." But a senior applications engineer might use skills, such as, "c #," "javascript," "application development," and "help support."

    It's been discovered that senior applications engineers earn lower salaries compared to senior systems software engineers, but we wanted to find out where senior applications engineers earned the most pay. The answer? The insurance industry. The average salary in the industry is $111,125. Additionally, senior systems software engineers earn the highest paychecks in the technology with an average salary of $125,048.

    In general, senior applications engineers study at similar levels of education than senior systems software engineers. They're 0.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    How a Software Engineer-Consultant Compares

    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.

    The software engineer-consultant profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of senior systems software engineers. The difference in salaries is software engineers-consultant making $8,288 lower than senior systems software engineers.

    Using senior systems software engineers and software engineers-consultant resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "python," "java," and "software development," but the other skills required are very different.

    There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, a senior systems software engineer is likely to be skilled in "code reviews," "software design," "matlab," and "dod," while a typical software engineer-consultant is skilled in "web application," "application development," "git," and "junit."

    Additionally, software engineers-consultant earn a higher salary in the insurance industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $118,185. Additionally, senior systems software engineers earn an average salary of $125,048 in the technology industry.

    When it comes to education, software engineers-consultant tend to earn similar education levels than senior systems software engineers. In fact, they're 1.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

    Description Of a Senior Systems Analyst

    A senior systems analyst is responsible for analyzing IT systems and networks, modifying existing systems for better optimization, and designing efficient technology systems from clients' specifications and business needs. Senior systems analysts regularly inspect the performance of the system networks, ensuring its efficiency and accuracy to support daily operations. They perform troubleshooting, upgrade network infrastructures, and maintain the highest security of the database. A senior systems analyst must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry and a strong command of system languages to mitigate system complexities and improve network processes.

    The fourth career we look at typically earns lower pay than senior systems software engineers. On average, senior systems analysts earn a difference of $39,558 lower per year.

    According to resumes from both senior systems software engineers and senior systems analysts, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "java," "linux," and "c++. "

    Each job requires different skills like "python," "software development," "architecture," and "c," which might show up on a senior systems software engineer resume. Whereas senior systems analyst might include skills like "project management," "c #," "data analysis," and "troubleshoot."

    Now, let's take a closer look at the financials in each career. The health care industry tends to pay more for senior systems analysts with an average of $108,296. While the highest senior systems software engineer annual salary comes from the technology industry.

    In general, senior systems analysts reach similar levels of education when compared to senior systems software engineers resumes. Senior systems analysts are 1.9% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.