We surveyed 1,839 systems engineers to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical systems engineer. Here are the results.
How much intelligence is required as a systems engineer?
Low
High
Working as a systems engineer typically requires higher levels of intelligence when compared with the average career. This means that systems engineers are required to actively learn new things related to their discipline and solve complex problems.
Can I learn to become a systems engineer?
Intrinsic Talent
Acquired Talent
A career as a systems engineer typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.
Is it easy to get a job as a systems engineer?
Easy
Hard
It’s typically difficult to find a job as a systems engineer. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for systems engineers.
Do systems engineers work full-time or part-time?
90% of systems engineers work in full-time roles while 10% work part-time.
Is being a systems engineer stressful?
Low
High
Stress is not uncommon amongst systems engineers, with daily work sometimes being quite demanding.
Is being organized important as a systems engineer?
Low
High
Some level of organization is generally required to be a systems engineer.
How competitive is the workplace for systems engineers?
Low
High
Systems engineers tend to see lots of competition in the workplace, with desire to get ahead of co-workers being common.
Does being a systems engineer require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?
Low
High
Systems engineers will have to sometimes face time pressure on the job.
Are systems engineers allowed to express themselves creatively?
Low
High
Systems engineers rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.
Do systems engineers have control over the direction of their work?
Low
High
While sometimes the direction is set, occasionally systems engineers will have some flexibility over the direction of their work.
Is being a systems engineer physically demanding?
Low
High
Work as a systems engineers is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.
Are systems engineers exposed to a wide variety of work?
Low
High
Systems engineers tend to have a monotonous work routine, with little variety in their day-to-day tasks.
Does being a systems engineer require attention to detail?
Low
High
As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for systems engineers.
Does being a good systems engineer require compassion and empathy?
Low
High
Being compassionate and empathetic is considered helpful to those looking to pursue careers as systems engineers.