The structure of the database

 

What is application systems?

 application systems

An application system normally consists of a user interface, business logic and a database of some sort.

The user interface is something that you can see and something that is used to interact with the computer.  It could consist of set of screens, web pages or reports.  Sometimes the user interface is an input device such as a bar code reader or a voice recognition device.

Some application systems have non-visual interfaces.  These application systems exchange data electronically with other applications via a network.

Programming logic consists of one or more computer programs, scripts or other type of computer instructions that are used to validate data, perform calculations or navigate the user through the application system. Most large computer systems use multiple computer languages.

A database is a repository of data that is used to store information of interest to the organization in a structured format.  The database could be a set of flat files and/or database tables.  The structure of the database is designed to facilitate data access and/or updates. 

A computer system is simply a set of computer components that are assembled into an integrated package.  The components can be large or small and can be designed for a single purpose or for multiple purposes.

Data Center Technician Job Description

  data center technician salary

Data center technicians are skilled, hands-on professionals who provide a variety of services to keep computer data servers and hardware networks operating smoothly. They are the first line of defense in safeguarding a company ‘s valuable information. Most data center technicians have full-time schedules but do not work a typical 9 to 5 shift. They work shifts that are 8-12 hours long on nights, weekends, and holidays. They normally work in server rooms where usual office noise, machine noise, or construction noise is present. Data technicians must be willing to respond to emergency calls 24 hours a day, since data support is vital to any business’s core operations.

 Data Center Technician Duties and Responsibilities

Specific job responsibilities of a data center technician differ according to where they work. However, there are several core tasks associated with the role. Based on our analysis of multiple job listings, these include:

Perform Preventative Maintenance

On a daily basis, data center technicians complete preventative maintenance of equipment and data network devices. They operate in tight spaces, run cables, and improve physical security around their assigned data center. Data center technicians engage in building projects and check utilities. To make sure the center does not overheat, they carefully examine power sources and heating and cooling controls.

Server Management and Repair

Data center technicians troubleshoot and repair servers that have hardware and network issues. They run hardware diagnostics and replace failing parts. They are responsible for day-to-day performance and capacity management of servers. If something goes wrong, data center technicians are called on to quickly fix it in order to keep business data flowing.

Monitor System Processes

Monitoring and maintaining operation of all network processes is the primary duty of data technicians. They evaluate machine temperature levels for optimal performance. Data technicians are expected to maintain accurate work records and event logs. They also create concise virtual information reports to keep company management informed of status updates.

Cross-Collaborate to Protect Data

Data technicians install and arrange new equipment for data centers. This may include physically upgrading internal system components (CPU), memory hard drives, fiber cables, copper, and more. Once they install new equipment, data technicians often collaborate with software and networking engineering teams to ensure cybersecurity and network efficiency.

Technical Support and Education

Data center technicians provide live support to clients and coworkers, and are expected to troubleshoot problems as they occur. They act as a main point person in the field, putting out fires and working on projects simultaneously. Educating other data center staff on how to properly troubleshoot hardware and software is also a key part of their role.

Data Center Technician Skills and Qualifications

Successful data center technicians are self-driven and work effectively with little supervision. Employers typically seek out candidates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in a technical field. They also prefer candidates who possess the following abilities:

• Hardware repair – data center technicians are hired to complete basic repair of damaged or faulty network equipment and devices
• IT computer networking – technicians are in charge of running servers, switches, routers, monitors, and computer networking
• Troubleshooting skills – performing tests to identify and fix errors in computer networks including LAN and WAN is a key component of their work
• Physical Requirements – data technicians stay on their feet, and regularly crawl, crouch, kneel, lift, and move up to 40lbs over short distances
• Inventory management – data technicians are required to maintain accurate inventory of tools, equipment, and network devices
• Communication skills – being able to explain complicated technical process in a simple to way to non-technical staff is a requirement for successful data technicians
• Technical writing skills – data technicians often develop standard operating procedures and manuals for the networks they are in charge of

Becoming An Aerospace Engineer

  different engineering jobs

and air and space craft structure. These aerospace engineers oversee the upgrades to these subsystems and assess the risks or benefits to the overall system.

Becoming An Aerospace Engineer

To become an aerospace engineer, one must earn an engineering degree from an accredited university. There are three types of aerospace degree programs available including undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs. To work as a junior-level aerospace engineer, one must start by earning an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an example of a highly ranked school offering undergraduate degrees in aerospace engineering. As their name implies, Embry-Riddle's degree program is aircraft focused and not spacecraft centric.

The University of Southern California is also a top ranked aerospace engineering degree program provider, and its undergraduate courses include both air and space studies.

Aerospace engineers looking for a career edge typically embark upon graduate and doctoral studies. Georgia Institute of Technology and Wichita State University have two of the top aerospace engineering advanced degree programs in the country; Wichita State University is also famous for the amount of research funding it has secured for its graduate students, doctoral candidates, and professors.

Aerospace Engineering Employment & Outlook

Although aerospace engineering is an exciting career field, those wishing to enter the industry expect strong competition for positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth for this engineering specialty is only projected to rise at a rate of five percent over the next seven years. This specialty lags behind other engineering disciplines in job growth by six percent and is well under the national average growth rate for jobs in other industries.

Typical Aerospace Engineer Salary

Aerospace engineering salaries depend upon many factors including experience, industry segment, job location, and educational credentials. Senior-level aerospace engineers obviously command higher salaries than their junior-level counterparts. Additionally, aerospace engineers that work on defense systems that require security clearances often have higher salaries than those simply working on commercial aircraft upgrades.

These engineers working in the defense industry also experience a greater amount of job security while their colleagues who work on commercial aircraft worry about manufacturing jobs being sent overseas. According to the BLS, the average annual salary earned by an aerospace engineer in 2010 was $97,480.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Even though the experts expect slow growth in this career field, career advancement opportunities still exist for those with the right skills. According to BLS, aerospace engineers that set themselves apart from the rest are the ones who have modeling and simulation skills in addition to a standard aerospace engineering background. The aerospace industry mainly conducts upgrades of its original air and space craft, and these upgrades require extensive testing to make sure that improvements work as expected and when implemented no original functionality is lost.

Most engineering and information technology organizations now rely heavily on modeling and simulation and computer based testing as a cost-effective way to test their systems. Aerospace engineers who know how to use these collaborative test tools save their organizations time and budget on projects.

Career tips for all aerospace engineers are to keep skills fresh and relevant through continued education and training and to network with other professionals by joining the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics an aerospace professional association.

Career Information about Cable Technicians

 Cable technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing residential cable television and Internet services. They can service feeder lines that provide cable access to several homes or they can work with drop lines that only allow access for one home. Advanced cable technicians often work on the trunk line, which is the main line for an entire service area. Job duties for cable technicians include inspecting cable lines, laying ground cable, repairing poles and towers and driving work vehicles to jobs.

Required Education	High school, technical school, or community college degree
Necessary Skills	Mathematics, science, dexterity, communication, problem solving
Median Salary (2019)**	$38,780 for cable television installer
Job Outlook (2016-2026)*	8% growth for line installers and repairers

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **Payscale.com

Necessary Education

Most cable service providers will provide training to new employees who have a high school diploma, but some job seekers enroll in training programs offered by technical schools and community colleges. Programs can last up to five years depending on the depth and breadth of the material, and the programs cover subjects like basic electrical engineering, telecommunications, physics, and mechanical engineering.

The completion of apprenticeship programs is common for this field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Additionally, cable technicians can earn voluntary certifications through associations like the Fiber Optics Association.

Job Skills Required

Cable technicians need to have a high level of manual dexterity and need to have a strong background in math and science. They also need to be good communicators and should be able to solve problems independently.

Economic and Career Outlook

Despite the fact that cable television and Internet equipment is already installed in most residential areas, job growth for line installers and repairers, including cable technicians, is expected to be at 8% from 2016-2026, according to the BLS (www.bls.gov). The median annual wage for cable installers was $38,780 as of March 2019, per Payscale.com.

Alternative Career Options

Some skills necessary to become a cable technician will help prepare you for jobs in other areas.

Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer

There are several types of technicians included in this category, all of which generally install and maintain technical equipment for numerous clients. This career usually requires workers to have some form of postsecondary education; however, on-the-job training is often provided. The number of jobs was projected to increase by 1% from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS. In 2017, the median income for telecommunication line installers and repairers was $55,060 annually.

Communications Technician: Job Description, Duties and Salary

 comm tech 2 salary

These days we take it for granted that we can be connected by phone and internet all the time! A communications technician is part of the labor force that keeps these systems connected and running smoothly. Earning an appropriate associate's degree or certificate will enable you to find a job building, installing, or maintaining communications equipment.

Essential Information

Communications technicians work in a broad array of settings to ensure that vital communication equipment operates properly. Earning a postsecondary education credential like a certificate or associate's degree can give aspiring communications technicians a leg up in finding employment.

Required Education	Postsecondary education, such as a certificate or associate's degree
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)	-6% for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers*
Mean Annual Salary (2018)	$56,100 annually for Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers*

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Description

Communications technicians maintain, construct, and repair the equipment used for electronic communications, cable televisions, satellites, wireless devices, phones, radio, and broadband equipment. They may work on fiber optic lines, transmitters, antennas, and signal processing equipment. They may also operate network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, power meters, and RF generators.

Workplace

Communications technicians may be on call around-the-clock and work for telephone, cable, equipment repair, and research companies. Accordingly, some may work on new equipment in factory and manufacturing settings, while others may install or repair new or existing products in the field. Technicians may also work as cable systems installers, mobile radio technicians, electronic technicians, telecommunications specialists, wireless system supporters, and fiber optics systems specialists. To perform their duties, communications technicians may need to use ladders or bucket trucks to work on aerial lines. In some cases, these workers may also use underground equipment to complete their tasks.

Duties

Communications technician duties revolve around repairing, installing, or building communications equipment. As such, these professionals may need to operate mobile test equipment in order to detect faulty equipment and perform the necessary repairs. They may also travel to remote locations in order to work on devices like switches, distributors, routers, and dialers that may support telephones, cable televisions, Internet connections, and wireless communications.

Salary

In May 2018, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) determined that the mean annual wage for telecommunications repairers and installers was $57,080, with most of these professionals receiving salaries between $32,440 and $82,860 (the median was $56,100). Those employed in scientific research and development services earned the highest wages of all telecommunications technicians, with a mean annual salary of $71,150.

With a post-secondary education in communications technology, you'll be equipped to work as a technician who builds, installs, repairs, tests, or operates the equipment that keeps our world connected. From TV to internet and cellphoness , communications technicians make it all work, traveling to the site of a problem, climbing towers and poles, or working the overnight shift. Good compensation is available in this field, but jobs are projected to decline over the next few years.

How to Become a Security Engineer | Cyber Degrees |

 security engineer requirements

urity engineers develop and supervise data and technology security systems to help prevent breaches, taps, and leaks associated with cybercrime. Alternate titles for this career include information assurance engineer, information systems security engineer, and information security engineer.

Companies may combine a security engineering role with an analyst’s role, but these positions typically focus on different things. Security analysts identify cybersecurity weaknesses, while security engineers build systems, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, to defend against attacks or leaks.

As commerce and data storage increasingly move into the cloud, organizations increasingly require robust information security systems. As a result, information security professionals can work across diverse industries, such as computer systems design, manufacturing, insurance, finance, and education.

The guide below describes security engineer degree requirements, entry-level experience, job responsibilities, and career skill sets. This page also introduces security engineer degrees that can launch young professionals toward exciting career opportunities in this growing, lucrative field. According to PayScale, security engineers make an average annual salary of $90,923.

Information Assurance Engineer Salaries

 

Steps to Become an Information Assurance Engineer

 The field of information assurance draws people from many different backgrounds, but most possess a drive and passion for cybersecurity and technology. Acquiring the right education, work experience, and skills can help people with these interests to move into a career as an information assurance engineer.

Step One: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Information assurance engineers usually hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, or an equivalent subject that provides a well-rounded background in computers. A growing number of universities provide degrees that are specific to the work of information assurance engineers, such as an online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity.

A bachelor’s in cybersecurity provides a broad computer education along with instruction tailored to meeting the demands unique to the field of cybersecurity. Students receive training in ethical hacking as well as defensive strategies in security information and event management. The curriculum covers topics including digital forensics, malware and incident response, compliance, and business processes. The degree offers the necessary knowledge and skills required for information assurance engineers to be able to respond both offensively and defensively to cyber threats.

Step Two: Gain On-the-Job Experience

Getting the right education is an important stepping stone to a career as an information assurance engineer. But most employers also want candidates for entry-level positions to have at least one to two years of experience in a related field. The specifics for this requirement usually depends on the size of the organization. Many information assurance engineers initially work as network or systems administrators.

Mid-level information assurance engineer positions usually require several years of work in information assurance, and more senior positions tend to require five to 10 years of experience. For these more advanced positions, employers want to have confidence that candidates possess sufficiently strong technical skills in a variety of networks, platforms, and databases, which only come with experience.

Step Three: Attain Training and Certification

Securing employment as an information assurance engineer can also rely on acquiring the right certifications. Employers seek some way to validate that a potential employee possesses knowledge of industry best practices. For this reason, they often require candidates to hold relevant certifications that serve as proof of their competencies.

While not mandatory, the following certifications may help build a career in information assurance engineering:

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional Security (CCNP Security)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Being competitive means keeping up with the latest developments in cybersecurity, which can mean subscribing to newsletters published by industry leaders, attending hackathons and tech conferences, and following news stories about data breaches. There are also a myriad of seminars, webinars, and courses available that can expand and hone the skills of information assurance engineers.

Step Four: Consider Earning a Master’s Degree for Advancement

Information assurance engineers with work experience can also advance their careers by earning an online master’s in cybersecurity. According to the data analytics company Burning Glass Technologies, this degree may bump the salary of an information assurance engineer by $6,500 a year. The degree delves into the intricacies of cyber technology and sharpens the leadership and business skills critical to positions in upper management.

The curriculum expands upon the foundational knowledge provided by bachelor’s degree programs in areas including digital forensics and incident breaches, deepening analysis and providing for the development of a more sophisticated skill set. Earning a master’s in cybersecurity can offer information assurance engineers more opportunities for advancement in their careers than they’d have with experience and a bachelor’s degree alone.

Information Assurance Engineer Salaries

Information assurance engineers’ salaries vary depending on experience as well as the location of the job, and compensation packages tend to be larger for professionals who have spent more time working in the field. The median annual salary for information assurance engineers in 2018 was $85,367, according to PayScale. The compensation website reports salaries ranging from $56,603 to $132,769 a year.

PayScale reports that the average entry-level salary for information assurance engineers is $75,000 a year. Those with five to 10 years of experience garner salaries that average $90,000 a year. Senior information engineers earn on average $93,000 a year. And those with more than 20 years of experience earn on average $118,000 a year.

What is the role of a security engineer?

  security systems engineer job description

Systems Engineers implement, support, maintain, and manage IT services, including networking, IT security, email, and disaster recovery. Systems Engineers provide advanced technical support for desktop, server, and networking issues. Systems Engineers ensure all IT services are properly maintained and upgraded, including anti-virus, backups, imaging, and patching. Systems Engineers provide subject matter expertise for both hardware and software.

A great job title typically includes a general term, level of experience and any special requirements. The general term will optimize your job title to show up in a general search for jobs of the same nature. The level of experience will help you attract the most qualified applicants by outlining the amount of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if your position is specialized, consider including the specialization in the job title as well. But avoid using internal titles, abbreviations or acronyms to make sure people understand what your job posting is before clicking.

What Does a Cyber Security Engineer Do?

 infosec engineer

“Individuals with strong communication skills, a penchant for teamwork and a natural curiosity are prime candidates to join the ranks of the nation’s cyber security workforce,” according to CompTIA, the world’s leading technology association.

Across the United States, there were more than 300,000 job openings for cyber security workers in 2018, according to CyberSeek, a free cybersecurity career and workforce resource supported by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

In 2018, US employers posted more than 103,000 job openings for cybersecurity engineers and analysts, a 30 percent increase over the same period in 2017.

There were more than 300,000 job openings for cybersecurity workers in 2018.

These statistics promise excellent job opportunities and salary gains for graduates of Houston Baptist University with a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Engineering.

Worldwide, there’s a need for 2 million cyber security professionals, given that every small, medium and large business is dealing with cyber security issues. HBU graduates with a Cyber Engineering degree will be prepared to fill high-demand cyber engineering and cyber security jobs in energy, healthcare, marine transportation and other industries. Any company involved in critical infrastructure needs at least some cyber engineers who understand both the operational technology and the information technology relevant to that organization.

The Cyber Engineering Program at Houston Baptist University is a four-year undergraduate degree that prepares students for future careers in the cyberspace domain. HBU students in the College of Engineering study Cyber Engineering, along with courses in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

Cyber engineers incorporate electrical engineering and computer science to understand cyberspace and use skills developed in digital forensics, security policy and network defense to perform cyber security tasks, as well as work on engineering hardware and software. Cyber engineers design secure systems at the interface of operational technology (sensors and things that move) and information technology (the digital world).

Why is information security?

 information security engineer

For many organisations, information is their most important asset, so protecting it is crucial.

Information security is “the practice of preventing unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, inspection, recording or destruction of information”. Information can take many forms, such as electronic and physical.

Information security performs four important roles:

1. Protects the organisation’s ability to function.
2. Enables the safe operation of applications implemented on the organisation’s IT systems.
3. Protects the data the organisation collects and uses.
4. Safeguards the technology the organisation uses.

The challenges

In an increasingly interconnected environment, information is exposed to a growing number and wider variety of risks. Threats such as malicious code, computer hacking and denial-of-service attacks have become more common, ambitious and sophisticated, making implementing, maintaining and updating information security in an organisation more of a challenge.

How do you move forward?

Implementing information security in an organisation can protect the technology and information assets it uses by preventing, detecting and responding to threats, both internal and external.

Both senior management and IT are responsible for the organisation’s information security strategy, although in smaller organisations this job will likely sit with risk and security, data and compliance, and IT and information security managers and directors (sometimes this is just one person).

To support the information security strategy, it’s important to improve staff awareness of information security issues through training and initiatives. Organisations also need to enforce their information security policies and review them regularly in order to meet security requirements.

Threats and vulnerabilities must be evaluated and analysed. This means establishing and implementing control measures and procedures to minimise risk, and auditing to measure the performance of controls.

Another key part of your information security strategy and project is GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance. Cisco’s 2019 Data Privacy Benchmark Study found that organisations that met the majority of the GDPR’s requirements were 15% less likely to be breached than organisations that were more than a year away from compliance.

Introducing CyberComply – Save time and money, and maintain and accelerate your cyber compliance

 Vigilant Software aims to make data protection, cyber security, information security and risk management straightforward and affordable for all. Drawing on our years of experience developing and deploying risk management tools and services, our products reduce the complexity of your implementation project.

Our CyberComply platform guides organisations through cyber risk and privacy monitoring and compliance. It’s designed for risk and security, data and compliance, and IT and information security professionals working in small- and medium-sized organisations for which cyber risk and privacy management are critical.

It has been developed to:

• Be scalable to address evolving and increasing threats;
• Be repeatable for frequent risks assessments;
• Reduce variability by helping you make consistent decisions based on fact rather than human interpretation;
• Be maintainable for multiple stakeholders across your organisation; and
• Have everything you need in one place for governance, risk and compliance, making it a quick and cost-effective route to compliance.

Integrated into the platform are the cyber risk management tools vsRisk Cloud and Compliance Manager, the privacy management tools the Data Flow Mapping Tool and the DPIA Tool, and the GDPR compliance tool GDPR Manager.

For more information on CyberComply or to see the full suite of products available, visit our website.

senior information security engineer

 senior information security engineer

Do you want to be part of software development but also have a desire to work with hardware? If so, a job as a systems engineer may be the ideal hybrid job for you.

A systems engineer helps design and implement software. But what separates this IT professional from a software engineer is that a systems engineer also plays a large role in the infrastructure side of the solution.

Here’s a rundown of what these engineers do, what they earn and what qualifications are needed to be hired for this job.

Job duties and responsibilities

A systems engineer designs, implements and maintains the infrastructure necessary to run traditional client/server platforms, mainframes and web applications. This role includes installing and supporting software, debugging multiple systems and supporting an enterprise’s users. This specialist also performs high-level root cause analysis for service interruption recovery and implements preventive measures.

On any given day, the system engineer’s duties may overlap with those of a software engineer, systems administrator or network engineer.

Job skills and expertise

The best systems engineers are flexible employees who thrive in complex and rapidly changing work environments and have a solid mix of technical and nontechnical skills.

On the technical side, an engineer must be able to perform analysis, troubleshooting and systems design. Some employers seek candidates with experience in software development, including specification, documentation and quality assurance. Most hiring managers require at least three years of direct experience in the software or hardware the company uses. Experience in a specific industry is also beneficial. As for education requirements, a bachelor's degree in systems engineering or a related field is generally preferred.

On the nontechnical front, systems engineers spend much of their time working with others to determine requirements and solve problems, so solid soft skills are an absolute must. They need top-notch abilities in communication, customer service, time management and teamwork.

Project management skills can be valuable in an engineering job as well, given the central role the systems engineer has in large projects that involve many different aspects of the enterprise.

10 Qualities that Make a Good Systems Engineer

  security systems engineer job description

All systems engineers should have an understanding of basic concepts and a strong technical background, but these qualities go beyond just the necessities. From 40+ years of experience, I have found that a good systems engineer must have the following 10 qualities.

#1 Patience and Perseverance

To create a complicated system, an engineer must have a lot of patience and perseverance. The more complex the system the longer and more tedious a project it becomes. An engineer cannot figure out everything at once. It takes time to see the big picture, to look for all the small details. You will test and test and still find errors. You have to have patience to know that it takes time and determination to keep going after hundreds of failed attempts.

#2 Ability to Know When You Are Done

A good systems engineer wants their project to be flawless, but often it’s too easy to fall into a perfectionist trap. You tell yourself, “One more change and it will be perfect.” However, doing this may mean you never complete your project and all that hard work will become obsolete. The best engineers know when their system is good enough and when the system needs a little more re-engineering.

#3 An Analytical Brain

Most engineers are naturally analytical, which is probably why they were attracted to the field in the first place. From the moment they could talk, they were the ones that continually asked questions and analyzed the world around them. A good systems engineer can go one step further than just analyzing and look for solutions to the problems and questions they analyze.

#4 Knowledge of Systems Engineering Software Tool(s)

In this day and age all systems engineers should have some experience with tools. Most colleges, especially grad school level, use systems engineering software tools. These tools allow you to create complex systems. They help you organize your information and develop documentation and reports at a much quicker pace and with higher accuracy. They can also help you analyze your information better. Even though you should already be a pro at analyzing, using a tool can help your organize the information in a way that makes analyzing faster and easier. Tools can make you into a better systems engineer. Tools, such as Innoslate®, are capable of improving you as a systems engineer.

#5 Strong Organizational Skills

You need organizational skills in order to handle the amount of information that a systems engineer deals with on a regular basis. It is important to organize well, so you are able to track status and history accurately and create documents and reports that are understandable. Although a tool can greatly improve the way you organize, you still need to understand organizational concepts.

#6 Ability to See the Small Picture

One of the greatest qualities a systems engineer can have is to be detailed oriented. You should be able to look at the small picture and see that all the details are thoroughly reviewed and that no errors occur. You need to be detail oriented type of person. Much of what we do is planning. Just like if you are an event planner, you have to make sure all the details are just right to make the ultimate goal (the event) a success.

#7 Ability to See the Big Picture

The overall system needs to be looked at just as much as the small details that make up the system. You need to make sure that the goal of the entire system is kept in mind throughout the planning. A good systems engineer needs to be able to determine future needs as well. They must have vision (I talk about this in my upcoming book on LML) and be detail oriented, but still be able to see the big picture.

#8 Well Rounded Background

A bad systems engineer knows systems engineering concepts and definitions like the back of his hand, but knows nothing else. A good systems engineering tries to be knowledgeable in other subjects relating to their field. A great systems engineer understands the importance of being well-rounded. A well rounded background will help a systems engineer analyze and find potential issues better than anyone else.

#9 Communication Skills

Unfortunately, English is not a high priority for many engineering colleges. Systems engineers need to communicate well. They need to be able to communicate to non-engineers. Communication skills take time and practice to perfect. If you are a systems engineer and you know that communication is not a strong skill of yours, make the effort to improve.

#10 Ability to Lead, Follow and Work Well in a Team

At some point in your career you will have led, followed, and worked in a team. The best systems engineers know how to do all three well. A good leader knows how to follow and work together with others. A leader understands what his or her team needs to know and understand. The inability to do all three can be detrimental to a project. Systems engineers, more often than not, do extremely important work and need a good leader and a good team to follow.

It takes a lot of time to develop all these qualities. I know I did not have all of them when I began my career. Don’t let this discourage you, but make it a goal to obtain each one of these qualities.