Purchasing hardware and software is the ideal upgrade solution for companies to improve employee productivity in their systems. Yet, only some operating systems or separate networks are compatible and work well with each other.
Large organizations always need system integration engineers to manage and solve problems that arise in their systems. These engineers can ensure seamless and efficient operation between devices and software programs.
So what is a systems integration engineer? Do they have good career prospects? Scroll down to learn about the job description and career advice in this article.
Job Description
System integration engineers deploy and process computer operating systems, software, and hardware programs. They are also involved in the operation to ensure data flows from one application to another.
So what duties and responsibilities does a system integration engineer have? What is their workplace like? To help you answer those questions, I will provide you with helpful information in the sections below. Continue reading for more!
Duties and Responsibilities
Depending on the recruitment requirements and work size, the duties and responsibilities of system integration engineers are different. Their daily workload includes project evaluation, software design, and management planning.
Here are the tasks you need to complete to perform well as a professional integration engineer:
- Research, evaluate, and make technological equipment and system recommendations.
- Teamwork with colleagues, managers, and partners
- Conduct database collection and analysis
- Set up a suitable work plan
- Document Management
- Customer care, support for post-purchase issues such as program installation, and application integration support
- Project supervision and management
Where Do System Integration Engineers Work?
System integration engineers ensure the highest performance, availability, and security for specific systems. They will provide valuable solutions for users by testing and identifying problems, such as designing new techniques and upgrading and maintaining hardware and software.
There are no restrictions on where the system integration engineer works because they usually connect with users through the primary project manager.
It also means that you can choose to work anywhere if you provide timely information to handle arising problems.
Once you complete the training and feel confident in your abilities and skills, you can apply to global companies like Meta, Cloudflare, and Google.
Education Requirements
Education requirements are the first thing you must consider when deciding on a career path to a system integration engineer. I outline the required certifications and work experience required for this career.
Qualifications
About 69.7% of system integrators hold bachelor’s degrees, and 16.2% have master’s degrees. A university degree is a minimum requirement if you want to work as a system integration engineer.
In addition, you will still be accepted if you have obtained a degree in other related fields, such as computer science, electronic engineering, and software.
Certification
While certification is not a requirement, it will put you in a better position. Many employers will value some certifications like enterprise integration engineer and Java programmer.
They are a testament to your ability to implement systems maintenance and integration approaches. Accordingly, you will quickly have the opportunity to stand out from other candidates.
Experience
Experience is important in the resume of any system integration engineer candidate. It describes precisely what you have achieved and can do.
You should have at least 5-7 years of experience with electronic systems integration, project management, quality assurance, or project drafting.
It will help you attract potential customers and make a good impression on future employers.
Essential Skills
The skills required for a system integration engineer include two main categories, hard skills, and soft skills. Let’s review the critical points below.
Hard Skills
Because you are responsible for developing, managing models, and evaluating system performance, you need to master the following critical hard skills:
- Master the latest hardware and software techniques
- Integration of programs such as Oracle, Java, and SQL Server
- Project planning and organization skills
- Problem-solving skills
Soft skills
Soft skills will help you navigate and interact effectively and professionally with your potential customers. So, you also need to possess soft skills for work.
Some essential soft skills you need to pay attention to are:
- Teamwork skills
- Good foreign language
- Flexible thinking
- Leadership skills
- Negotiation skills
- Result-oriented skills
- Efficient data decoding capabilities
- Fluent written and spoken communication skills
- Organize and prioritize appropriate workloads and tasks
Essential Tools
In this section, let’s look at the essential tools that a system integration engineer needs to succeed in their workplace.
- Boomi: You will quickly come across this tool in connection and automation. It supports users to integrate the cloud platform and on-premises applications perfectly. It also allows you to deploy the integration anywhere if you want
- Celigo: Celigo is the ideal solution for organizing applications, transferring data, and automating connected processes. The tool includes an API, an intuitive field-mapping interface, and a consistent menu design.
- Cleo: I recommend Cleo to those who want to connect applications and SaaS with various APIs and connectors. In particular, it can automatically transform, organize and integrate data to any target.
- Cloud Elements: If you’re looking for a product that integrates APIs and offers built-in connectors, Cloud Elements is a solid choice. Also, using this tool will give you a good experience and ensure fast working performance.
- Flow gear: It is an integrated platform that offers the perfect combination of technical depth and convenience. It also allows users to quickly connect on-premises systems to the cloud and reach varying speeds.
Job Outlook
Becoming a professional system integration engineer will give you excellent career opportunities. Below, I will give you the number of systems integration engineer jobs by state.
| State | Number of jobs | Annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| California | 9.561 | $135.804 |
| Texas | 4.225 | $92.179 |
| Virginia | 3.986 | $97.867 |
| Maryland | 2.722 | $95.848 |
| Massachusetts | 2.268 | $98.281 |
| New York | 2.487 | $95.502 |
| Washington | 1.987 | $124.531 |
| North Carolina | 1.861 | $100.503 |
| Arizona | 1.526 | $115.933 |
| Minnesota | 1.269 | $90.970 |
| Oregon | 1.140 | $125.444 |
| Indiana | 922 | $82.535 |
| Missouri | 918 | $88.941 |
| Ohio | 1.555 | $85.807 |
| Georgia | 1.703 | $90.376 |
Salary
The average salary for a system integration engineer in the US is $96,620 per year, which equates to $46 an hour. Naturally, they become high earners in today’s advanced technology world.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Young, experienced, enthusiastic professionals always hold an important position in system integration projects. So what are the pros and cons of becoming a system integration engineer? Continue reading for details.
Every profession has its advantages, and system integration engineers are no exception. The good news is that the benefits it offers make it a great career choice, such as:
- High income
- High career prospects
- Dynamic working environment
- Flexibility in working time and location
- Improved productivity and work efficiency
- Have the opportunity to collaborate and work with many people
Only some people are suitable and overcome all challenges in this field. You need to check out the disadvantages of being a system integration engineer below.
- Many pressures at work
- Difficulty balancing work and life
FAQs
Does a system integration engineer require coding?
The short answer is yes. Most integration engineers need coding skills and solid expertise in software engineering and coding.
They mainly work for technology-oriented organizations in industries such as IT application services, software development, and systems engineering.
Is the integration engineer a support role?
The answer is yes. Their task is to support customers, identify business needs and propose IT solutions for different projects. At the same time, they also give the most valuable assessments and solutions to solve problems in the business.
Is system integration engineering a promising career?
Sure, it’s a good career opportunity because it’s always in high demand in the modern tech world. The systems engineer earnings are very high and tend to increase with skill level and years of experience per person. Plus, it’s one of the few jobs that offer an excellent work-life balance.
Is system engineering hard?
Yes. Not to mention essential tasks and roles in projects, curricula and majors are also very difficult to track. It requires students to have a good-thinking brain, creativity, and willingness to sacrifice personal time.
Are system engineers happy?
Many studies prove that the happiness index of system engineers is average. At career explorer, they rate their happiness in their career as 3.4 out of 5 stars.
Do system engineers work from home?
A system integration engineer develops, tests, evaluates, and maintains customer computer network systems. Accordingly, they can work from anywhere, even remotely from home, if they want.
Is a system engineer a developer?
Although developers in the technology field also perform jobs similar to software engineers, for example, software development.
Yet, they are two completely different concepts because systems engineering involves specifying, building, maintaining, testing, and supporting the technical infrastructure.
Are system engineers in demand?
As businesses and organizations expand or enter the international market, the need for system engineers is enormous. Even in other fields, system engineering has a steady growth rate, so many people choose it as a solid career path.
What language is used by system engineers?
System Integration Engineers mainly use three main types of languages, including C++, Java, and Python.
Like other programmers, they must also design and write system software in these languages to complete their projects.
For example, they use C++ in research and development for macOS and Windows 10 operating systems.
Is ERP a system integration?
The truth is yes. ERP integration is one of the most convenient solutions for connecting ERP software with other systems.
This integration allows users to use and transmit the desired information flow between systems easily.
In a broad sense, it is a way to automate production and business processes and improve working efficiency in enterprises.
Career Advice
To get a good start as a system integration engineer, earning a bachelor’s degree and possessing an advanced coding skill set is essential.
Besides, you also can start by completing similar degrees in related fields such as computer science, information technology, or software engineering. It usually takes about 3-4 years to complete your study program.
During your studies, I also encourage you to seek internships to gain more experience and knowledge from experts.
At the same time, make an effort to improve your hard and soft skill sets because they will help you have better job opportunities after graduation.
Last but not least, remember to navigate your career path. The more experience you have, the higher your salary will be.
So, determine precisely your preferences and needs before making the final decision. Thank you for reading!