Computer Systems Engineer

Also called: Automation Engineer, Computer Systems Architect, Electronic Data Interchange System Developer (EDI System Developer), Enterprise Architect, Firmware Engineer

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Computer systems engineer to design and develop solutions to complex application problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.

Verify stability, interoperability, portability, security, or scalability of system architecture.
Develop system engineering, software engineering, system integration, or distributed system architectures.
Collaborate with engineers or software developers to select appropriate design solutions or ensure the compatibility of system components.
Identify system data, hardware, or software components required to meet user needs.
Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements.
Research, test, or verify proper functioning of software patches and fixes.
Provide advice on project costs, design concepts, or design changes.
Perform security analyses of developed or packaged software components.
Provide technical guidance or support for the development or troubleshooting of systems.
Document design specifications, installation instructions, and other system-related information.
Communicate project information through presentations, technical reports, or white papers.
Define and analyze objectives, scope, issues, or organizational impact of information systems.
Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.
Design and conduct hardware or software tests.
Evaluate current or emerging technologies to consider factors such as cost, portability, compatibility, or usability.
Provide customers or installation teams guidelines for implementing secure systems.
Establish functional or system standards to address operational requirements, quality requirements, and design constraints.
Investigate system component suitability for specified purposes and make recommendations regarding component use.
Complete models and simulations, using manual or automated tools, to analyze or predict system performance under different operating conditions.
Develop or approve project plans, schedules, or budgets.
Develop efficient and effective system controllers.
Evaluate existing systems to determine effectiveness and suggest changes to meet organizational requirements.
Configure servers to meet functional specifications.
Direct the analysis, development, and operation of complete computer systems.
Develop application-specific software.
Perform ongoing hardware and software maintenance operations, including installing or upgrading hardware or software.
Direct the installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware.
Train system users in system operation or maintenance.

Work Context

Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 84% responded "Every day".
Spend Time Sitting — 69% responded "Continually or almost continually".
Telephone — 74% responded "Every day".
Work With Work Group or Team — 66% responded "Extremely important".
Face-to-Face Discussions — 71% responded "Every day".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 47% responded "A lot of freedom".

Work Activities

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Detailed Work Activities

Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
Document technical specifications or requirements.
Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.
Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Systems Evaluation

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Operations Analysis

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Programming

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Negotiation

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Persuasion

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Flexibility of Closure