What Is Systems Engineering?

Summary

This video explores the value of a systems engineering degree, covering its interdisciplinary nature, earning potential, job satisfaction, and demand. Systems engineering involves managing and integrating various engineering disciplines to create complex systems. The video discusses the relatively high starting and mid-career salaries, the newness of the field, and its flexibility, suggesting it's a good investment with high lifetime earnings. It also touches on the importance of combining engineering with business skills for future opportunities, predicting strong growth in demand over the next decade.

Takeaways

• 🔧 Systems engineering involves building, managing, and analyzing complex systems across various fields like technology, chemical, mechanical, and electrical.
• 💼 It's akin to a mix of engineering and project management, requiring a broad understanding of different engineering disciplines.
• 💰 Starting salaries for systems engineers are around $74,000, with mid-career pay reaching $132,000, placing it on the higher end of the pay scale.
• 🚀 The career is relatively new and not yet listed by the BLS, but similar roles like engineering managers earn around $144,000 per year.
• 🌟 Engineering degrees, in general, lead to lifetime earnings of approximately $3.5 million, higher than the average degree.
• 🌍 Job satisfaction in systems engineering is subjective, with a meaning score of 54, indicating a positive impact on the world.
• 📉 Demand for systems engineering is growing, with 31,000 job postings on monster.com, despite fewer than a thousand graduates annually.
• 🏆 Systems engineering scores well on the X-factors, with a lifetime earning potential similar to other engineering degrees and low chances of automation.
• 📚 The field is challenging and requires a strong work ethic, but it offers flexibility and can lead to entrepreneurship.
• ⚖️ While systems engineering is competitive and may require significant experience, it is expected to become more prominent in the next 10 to 20 years.

Q & A

What is systems engineering?

Systems engineering is about building, managing, and analyzing systems across various fields such as technology, chemical, mechanical, and electrical. It involves working with different types of engineers, having expertise in each category, and ensuring all components work together to create a final product.

How does the earning potential for a systems engineering degree compare to other degrees?

According to PayScale, a systems engineering degree offers a starting salary of around $74,000 and a mid-career pay of $132,000, which is on the higher side compared to other degrees. Engineering degrees, in general, earn around $3.5 million over a lifetime, which is much higher than the average degree.

What is the job satisfaction like for systems engineering?

Job satisfaction for systems engineering is subjective and can vary greatly. However, the script suggests that engineering degrees are the third least regretted type of degree, with only around 15% of people regretting it. The meaning score for systems engineering is 54, and for job satisfaction, it's above average.

How flexible is a systems engineering degree in terms of career paths?

A systems engineering degree is relatively flexible. Graduates can work as different types of engineers, project managers, or even combine their engineering skills with business skills for diverse career opportunities.

What is the current demand for systems engineering professionals?

While systems engineering is a relatively new and rare field, the demand is growing. There are currently 31,000 job postings with 'systems engineering degree' as a keyword, indicating a potential for growth in the next 10 to 20 years.

How does the script rate systems engineering in terms of x-factors?

The script rates systems engineering highly in terms of x-factors, giving it a 9 out of 10. It highlights the high lifetime earnings, the flexibility of the skill set, and the potential for the field to become more prominent in the future.

What are some potential cons of pursuing a systems engineering degree according to the script?

Some potential cons include the competitive nature of the occupation, the challenging workload, the need for significant experience before becoming a systems engineer, and the difficulty of the engineering field in general.

How does the script suggest systems engineering compares to other engineering degrees in terms of demand?

The script suggests that while traditional engineering degrees like mechanical engineering might be more familiar to hiring managers, systems engineering is a 'dark horse candidate' that could become one of the best engineering degrees in the next 10 to 20 years.

What is the script's final rating for a systems engineering degree?

The script gives a systems engineering degree an overall rating of 8.5 out of 10, indicating a positive outlook on the degree's value and future prospects.

What advice does the script provide for someone considering a systems engineering degree?

The script advises that if someone is interested in systems engineering but wants to play it safe, they might consider getting a mechanical engineering degree first and then working towards becoming a systems engineer later.