How to hire a systems planner

How to hire a systems planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step systems planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a systems planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new systems planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a systems planner job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a systems planner, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A systems planner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, systems planners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of systems planners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Systems Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Systems Planner	Computer network architects design and build data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. These networks range from small connections between two offices to next-generation networking capabilities such as a cloud infrastructure that serves multiple customers.	$27-60
   Lead Data Architect	Lead Data Architects are experienced employees who manage the data architecture needs of the company. They also manage the data architects who fulfill these needs... Show more	$40-71
   Telecommunications Analyst	A Telecommunications Analyst generally finds work in a telecommunications company. His/Her job is to review, scrutinize, and maintain the telecom system of that company... Show more	$24-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • ISO
   • System Design
   • SME
   • R
   • Technical Reports
   • MRP
   • Electrical Components
   • Logistics
   • Production Schedules
   • Management System
   • Troubleshoot
   • BOM
   • Transmission Planning
   • GPS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Own and manage security for web-base systems and Intranet worldwide.
   • Manage installation, modification, and removal of C4 systems.
   • Manage HQ website (navy.mil); utilize technology to control the efficient and effective dissemination of news releases.
   • Manage system-level interface issues by consulting technical subject matter experts (SME) to discuss design concepts and overall system impact.
   • Manage multiple database platforms for potential performance issues, while conducting research and resolution with attention to detail and thorough documentation.
   • Support information operations for foreign internal defense, and military information support operations (MISO) campaigns.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your systems planner job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A systems planner salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, systems planners' average salary in florida is 39% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level systems planners earn 54% less than senior-level systems planners.
   • Certifications. A systems planner with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a systems planner's salary.

   Average systems planner salary

   $85,342yearly

   $41.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level systems planner salary

   $58,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

4. Writing a systems planner job description

   A job description for a systems planner role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a systems planner job description:

   Systems planner job description example

   Title:
   
   Systems Planner - $3,000 Sign on Bonus
   
   $3,000 Sign on Bonus
   
   KBR is currently seeking a talented Systems Planner - ACD in support of our Team located at the Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX.
   
   Responsibilities and Duties
   
   The ideal candidate will perform Mission System Planning services supporting all 33 NWS mission networks under operational direction of the 33 NWS MA Directorate and shall perform the following duties:
   
   * Perform collaborative integration management with outside organizations in support of system changes, to include: planning, testing, development, implementation, enhancement, transition, management, and operations of new initiatives.
   * Translate functional requirements into technical solutions.
   * Integrate and align information security and/or cybersecurity policies to ensure that system analysis meets security requirements.
   * Maintain system documentation, including updates required as a result of system integration.
   * Manage and track 33rd NWS mission support projects using approved project management tools such as Microsoft Project
   * Document a system's purpose and preliminary system security concept of operations.
   * Prepare and conduct daily leadership briefings on program plan milestones
   * Participate in technical meetings and discussions as needed in support of mission plans.
   
   Desired Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
   
   * Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies.
   * Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risk).
   * Knowledge of installation, integration, and optimization of system components.
   * Knowledge of system life cycle management principles, including software security and usability.
   * Skill in applying and incorporating information technologies into proposed solutions.
   * Skill in applying confidentiality, integrity, and availability principles.
   * Skill in applying organization-specific systems analysis principles and techniques.
   * Skill in conducting capabilities and requirements analysis.
   * Skill in conducting reviews of systems.
   * Ability to interpret and translate customer requirements into operational capabilities.
   * Ability to apply cybersecurity and privacy principles to organizational requirements (relevant to confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, non-repudiation).
   
   Qualifications: Contract requirement regarding education and experience will prevail.
   
   Clearance Required
   
   * Current Top-Secret Clearance with SCI Eligibility
   
   Certifications Required:
   
   (1) one certification from each area listed below - total of 3.
   
   Minimum of (2) two certifications with the ability to obtain the third certification prior to start work is acceptable.)
   
   * IAT Level 2 (CySA+, Sec+. GSEC, SSCP, GISCP, CCNA Security, CND); and
   * CSSP-IS (CySA, GICSP, SSCP, CND, CEH, CHFI, CFR, Cloud+); and
   * One of: PMP, CAPM, Project+
   
   Education:
   
   * High school diploma or equivalent.
   
   In compliance with the U.S. federal government's vaccine mandate, only candidates who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have a reasonable accommodation or approved medical exception will be considered for this position.
   
   KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find systems planners for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your systems planner job on Zippia to find and recruit systems planner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with systems planner candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a systems planner applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new systems planner

   Once you've decided on a perfect systems planner candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a systems planner?