Why are systems engineers so valuable?

In a world that depends on complex technologies and a confluence of local policies and regulations and global influences, there are pressures to achieve success in service or product delivery at specific times, within specific budgets and resources, and with expected performance. This has shown leaders in government and commercial industry that they need a new breed of technical professionals—people with the attributes of a trained systems engineer.

Today, systems engineers are highly sought after and their unique combination of skills is widely recognized and rewarded. But don't take our word for it.

• In 2009, Money magazine ranked Systems Engineer "the best job in America."
• Read what the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers has to say about systems engineers and their career prospects.
• In 2011, John Thomas, senior vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton, and president-elect of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), described the attributes of a credentialed systems engineer:
  • Sense of empowerment
  • Focus on outcome
  • Collaborative
  • Problem solver
  • Sense of responsibility to complete the job
  • Broad and deep skills and knowledge

While Thomas was speaking about INCOSE certification credentials, every systems engineer strives to attain and apply these attributes. We created the University of Maryland’s Master of Science in Systems Engineering degree program to help you gain these valuable attributes.

How do I become a systems engineer?

Specialized graduate training is essential. More than 20 years ago, we at ISR predicted the rising value of this modern renaissance person. That's why we created and continue to enhance a curriculum that stays abreast of and anticipates society’s demands. Our Master of Science in Systems Engineering (MSSE) program helps you become a technical leader who can work with a team of multi-disciplinary professionals to address a complex problem and define and orchestrate a successful solution, system or service.

During this time our faculty have become pioneers, definers, and practitioners of what the systems engineering community calls “Model-Based Systems Engineering” (MBSE). The INCOSE Systems Engineering Vision identifies MBSE as a revolutionary approach that meets the challenges of today’s world. Our research at ISR is bringing MBSE into the main stream of systems engineering for all application domains. We even have created an undergraduate capstone systems engineering project course based on MSBE methods that excites and challenges our seniors from all engineering disciplines.

Regardless of your initial area of expertise, entering a career in systems engineering depends on an ability to understand the larger systems picture and apply effective methodologies to design, analyze and optimize products, services and processes, emphasizing system-level value.

"Development projects that apply good systems engineering disciplines are likely to succeed. Those that do not have a 100-percent probability of failure."
Marvin Sambur
CEO, Raptors Consulting Group
Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT...

... The MSSE degree

... Systems engineering