Systems Engineering is related to the study of microdevices, chips and sensors to make human life easier. The subject area and the field are relatively new and there are very few colleges offering the course. The course is mostly taught as an elective or specialized area. The admission into these courses is based on national-level entrance exams like JEE Mains, GATE, etc.
After graduating from the engineering courses, the candidates can find jobs in various government and private organizations. The job of a system engineer is usually offered by companies that produce MEMS devices. They can also find jobs in many industries like manufacturing, information, technical services, mining, oil and gas extraction, etc.
Table of Contents
- How to Become a Systems Engineer: Quick Facts
- What Does a Systems Engineer Do
- Steps to Follow become a Systems Engineer
- Types of Systems Engineer
4.3 Radio Frequency Design Engineers
4.4 MEMS (Microelectrical Mechanical Integration) Integration Engineers
6.1 UG Preparation
6.2 PG Preparation
7.1 BTech/BE in Computer Science Engineering
7.2 BTech/BE in Electrical Engineering
7.3 BTech/BE in Mechanical Engineering
7.4 MTech in VLSI and Systems Engineering
7.5 MTech Electrical Engineering
7.6 MTech Mechanical Engineering
8.1 UK
8.2 USA
8.3 Canada
8.4 Australia
How to Become a Systems Engineer: Quick Facts
| Industry | Manufacturing, electronics, etc |
| Eligibility | Masters Degree |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 9,63,765 per annum |
| Job Opportunity | Electrical Engineer, Electronics Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, CAD Technician, Nanosystems Engineer, etc. |
What Does a Systems Engineer Do?
Systems Engineers are specialized in researching, designing, developing, and testing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. They create systematic and physical layouts of integrated MEMS components or packaged assemblies consistent with the process, functional, or package constraints.
Some of their job responsibilities include:
- They evaluate the materials used, fabrication methods, surface treatments, or packaging.
- They conduct tests and trials to validate devices using a variety of inspection tools, testing protocols, and simulation software.
- Using simulation software, they investigate characteristics like cost, processing capability, and performance of the potential MEMS device designs.
- They refine the final MEMS design to optimize designs for target dimensions, processing constraints, and/or physical tolerances.
- They oversee the conduct of prototype development or microfabrication activities.
Steps to Follow become a Systems Engineer
Some of the steps the individual may have to go through to build a career as a Systems engineer has been mentioned below:
- Step 1: Candidates should take decisions immediately after class 10th. This will help them to map out their path easily.
- Step 2: Candidates will have to choose science with mathematics in 10+2. Then at the UG level, they should go for BTech/BE in Mechanical, Electrical, or Mechatronics, followed by MTech/ME in the same fields.
- Step 3: To take up a college degree both UG and PG, they will have to clear national or state level entrance tests. The performance of these entrance exams is necessary to get admission into the top engineering institutes. Some of the entrance exams are JEE Mains, GATE, TANCET, UPSEE, etc.
- Step 4: To choose the right college, candidates should look for the criteria like ranking of the institute, facilities offered, course fee, campus placements, and the reviews of the passing students.
- Step 5: They should complete their degree with an academic score of above 50%. They should gain both theoretical and practical knowledge, attend workshops and internships to understand how these skills are used in the real world.
- Step 6: After completion of a bachelor’s degree in any of the engineering courses, the individual may require a master’s degree to work as a Systems engineer. To take a PG course, they will have to clear the GATE exam or any other institute-level exams.
- Step 7: The final process to become a Systems engineer is to go for an interview. Look for the companies that have a vacancy for Systems engineers, build their resumes and prepare for the interview.
Types of Systems Engineers
Given below are some types of jobs Systems Engineering graduates
Bio-microsystem Engineers
Bio-microsystem Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and supervising the production of products using MEMS. These chips are computer-aided software devices that are used for manufacturing products or other bio-equipments.
Opto-Systems Engineers
Opto-Systems Engineers are responsible for manufacturing products using optical engineering. They use applications of MEMS or MOEMS to build more futuristic micro products.
Radio Frequency Design Engineers
Radio Frequency Design Engineers study the engineering behind the design or application of transmission lines, waveguides, electromagnetic field principles, and antennas. They are responsible for analyzing, designing and implementing new enhancements to wireless telecommunication networks in hopes of improving them.
MEMS (Microelectrical Mechanical Integration) Integration Engineers
MEMS Integration Engineers are responsible for producing new and cost-effective MEMS fabrication processes and products. They are also responsible for providing support to existing MEMS technology by an organisation.
Control Systems Engineers
Control Systems Engineers are responsible for using the control theory to develop, design and sustain systems used for electrical and mechanical engineering. They are responsible for making sure of the smooth operation of machines that require minimal to zero human involvement like dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, and more
How to Become a Systems Engineer in India?
School Level Preparation
- After completion of class 10th, the candidates should choose science with mathematics as their stream of study.
- The final exam scores of class 12th should be above 50%, as it is considered during the UG admission.
- During their 10+2 studies, they should either join coaching centres or do their self-study to prepare for college entrances.
- They should figure out the syllabus of the exams they will be appearing in and start preparing according to it.
How to Become a Systems Engineer after 12th?
Below are some tips to help with your career.
UG Preparation
UG studies are important to enter the field of engineering, below are some tips to take benefit of the courses.
- The UG studies in the field of electrical, mechanical, mechatronics, etc will help them gain basic knowledge in the field of Systems. It will help them create a foundation in the field of Systems.
- They will also gain some hands-on skills and will be able to design and create small circuits and systems.
- The internships in the final year will help them understand how this theoretical knowledge would be applied in the real world.
- The UG course will make them eligible to take up jobs in the field of Systems or pursue higher studies.
PG Preparation
PG studies are mandatory to build a career as a Systems engineer. It can be counted as a minimum requirement to become one. Benefits of taking the postgraduate courses are:
- PG courses will provide advanced and in-depth knowledge in the field of Systems.
- The PG course will also allow them to work on projects that will provide them with an opportunity for the practical implementation of engineering knowledge.
- It is a professional qualification and will help them to build a strong social industrial network through which they could get top-notch jobs.
- A PG degree will also help an individual to shift into managerial roles after they have gained enough experience in the technical field.
Courses to Become a Systems Engineer
There are very few courses offering System Engineering. Most courses include microsystem engineering as an elective. Some of the courses the candidates should refer to build a course as a Systems engineer are mentioned in the sections below:
BTech/BE in Computer Science Engineering
BTech in Computer Science Engineering is a 4-year undergraduate course that deals with computers and all their different software. Students learn the theoretical and practical ways to study, analyse, fix and solve problems or issues in the field.
Admissions Process
Admissions to BTech/BE in Computer Science Engineering is merit and entrance based.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have passed their 12th in Science/Mathematics with at least 45% aggregate as a minimum.
BTech/BE in Electrical Engineering
BTech in Electrical Engineering is a 4-year undergraduate course that deals with electronics and electrical of all varieties.
Admissions Process
Admissions to BTech/BE in Computer Science Engineering is merit and entrance based.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have passed their 12th in Science/Mathematics with at least 50% aggregate as a minimum.
Entrance Exam
JEE Mains, BITSAT, VITEEE, are some of the accepted entrance exams for admissions to the course. The important dates for the entrance exams are provided above.
BTech/BE in Mechanical Engineering
BTech in Mechanical Engineering is a 4-year undergraduate course that deals with the study of designing, manufacturing, and maintenance of various mechanical systems.
Admissions Process
Admissions to BTech/BE in Computer Science Engineering is merit and entrance based.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have passed their 12th in Science/Mathematics with at least 50% aggregate as a minimum.
Entrance Exam
JEE Mains, BITSAT, are some of the accepted entrance exams for admissions to the course. The important dates for the entrance exams are provided above.
MTech in VLSI and Systems Engineering
MTech in VLSI and Systems Engineering is a 2-year postgraduate that deals with the study of linear and non-linear control systems. It covers topics such as optimal, intelligent and automatic control systems
Admission Process
Admissions to MTech in VLSI and Systems Engineering is done based on the entrance exam.
Eligibility Criteria
The candidates who have completed their BTech in a related field with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
Entrance Exam
GATE is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the IITs and IISc Bangalore on a rotational basis. It offers admission into M.Tech/ ME courses offered by various engineering institutes across India.
How to Become a Systems Engineer Abroad?
To build a career as a microsystem engineer in abroad countries like the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, an individual may require to take up courses in these countries. To take any course abroad, they will have to prove their English proficiency by taking up exams like TOEFL and IELTS. They will have to apply to the institute and will have to apply for the visa, once their application has been accepted. The requirements for the 4 countries have been mentioned in the sections below:
UK
About 6% of the Indian migrants choose to shift to the UK for higher studies and in search of better jobs. The average salary of a Systems engineer in the UK is around £45,739 (INR 40,03,992) per annum. Whereas in India, a Systems engineer earns an average of INR 9,63,765 per annum, which is much lower as compared to the UK salary.
The individuals who want to build their career as a Systems engineer in the UK would require the following:
- The candidates should have a master’s degree in microelectronics, or Systems, or nanotechnology.
- To pursue courses in any of these, they will have to complete a bachelor's program in electrical or electronics engineering, computer engineering, applied physics, and related discipline.
Given below are some of the courses offered:
- MSc Microelectronics
- MSc in Advanced Microelectronic Systems Engineering
- MSc in Systems and Nanotechnology
Top Colleges
Some of the top engineering institutes in the UK has been mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Annual Course Fee |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford, England | INR 24,53,220 |
| University of Cambridge | - |
| University of Edinburgh | INR 27,76,302 |
| Imperial College, London | INR 34,37,259 |
| University of Manchester | INR 23,97,465 |
| University of Bristol | INR 25,33,953 |
| University of Southampton | - |
| University of Warwick | INR 18,94,778 |
| University of Birmingham | INR 23,83,192 |
| University of Nottingham | INR 25,64,730 |
USA
About 45% of the immigrants choose to shift to the US for higher studies and better job opportunities. The market is huge and there is demand for engineers is also huge. The average salary of a Systems engineer in America is around USD 83,945 (INR 62,36,274) per annum. The top 10% of the Systems engineers make around USD 1,13,000 (INR 83,94,770) per year, while the bottom 10% make around USD 61,000 (INR 45,31,690) per year.
It is one of the most popular countries in Indian and the requirements that they may need to build a career as a Systems engineer in India has been mentioned in the sections below:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or physics, with 3 - 5 years of work experience in Systems engineering, or a master’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or physics.
- Candidates who want to work as an engineering faculty or want to conduct research should have a PhD.
Some courses offered are:
- MSc Mechanical Engineering
- MSc Computer Science
- M.Eng Electrical Engineering
- M.Eng Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- MSc Electrical Engineering
Top Colleges
Some of the top engineering colleges in the US has been mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| Harvard University, Cambridge | INR 43, 28,372 |
| Stanford University | INR 57,35,182 |
| MIT, Cambridge | INR 34,88,776 |
| University of California, Berkeley | INR 19,36,037 |
| California Institute of Technology, Pasadena | INR 46,41,269 |
| Princeton University | INR 40,19,564 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | INR 19,73,281 |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | INR 19,31,799 |
| Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh | INR 39,40,020 |
| Yale University | INR 33,08,130 |
Canada
About 7% of the migrating people choose Canada for better jobs and higher salaries. The average salary earned by the Systems engineer in Canada is around CAD 1,09,054 per annum, i.e, They earn CAD 52 (INR 3,081) per hour with an average bonus of AUD 3,861 (INR 2,28,764)
The individuals looking for building a career as a Systems engineer may require the following:
The individuals should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mainly in areas like mechanical, electronics, electrical, or nanotechnology, etc.
Following are some courses taught
- MEng in Electrical Engineering
- MEng in Mechanical Engineering
Top Colleges
Some of the top-ranked engineering institutes in Canada has been mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Annual Course Fee |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | INR 37,69,261 |
| The University of British Columbia, Vancouver | INR 13,02,288 |
| Mcgill University, Montreal | INR 11,09,748 |
| University of Waterloo | INR 15,99,276 |
| University of Alberta | INR 11,01,124 |
| University of Calgary | INR 17,51,153 |
| University of Montreal | INR 6,93,146 |
| Queen's University, Kingston | INR 8.06.886 |
| Laval University, Quebec City | INR 8,23,687 |
Australia
There is a huge demand for engineers and migrant engineers can easily find a good salaried job in Australia. The average salary of a Systems engineer in Australia is around AUD 94,500 (INR 51,41,745) per year, i.e, monthly they earn around AUD 7,870 (INR 4,28,206) including housing, transport, and other benefits.
To work as a Systems engineer in Australia, the individual may require the following:
The individual should have completed their graduation in engineering, mainly in mechanical, electronics, electrical, or nanotechnology.
The following are some of the courses offered
- M.Eng in Electronics Engineering
- M.Eng in Electrical Engineering
- M.Eng in Mechanical Engineering.
Top Colleges
Some of the top engineering institutes in Australia are mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Annual Course Fee |
|---|---|
| University of New South Wales, Sydney | INR 23,51,300 |
| University of Melbourne | INR 22,94,653 |
| University of Sydney | INR 22,82,610 |
| University of Queensland, Brisbane | INR 25,82,720 |
| Monash University, Melbourne | INR 24,27,944 |
| University of Adelaide | INR 25,47,260 |
| University of Western Australia, Perth | INR 35,70,179 |
| The University of Wollongong | INR 19,25,332 |
| Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane | INR 29,21,562 |
| University of Technology, Sydney | INR 17,05,137 |
Benefits of Career as Systems Engineers
Every job has its perks and losses. Some of the advantages that the Systems engineers have after working in the position are:
- Higher Salary - The average salary of a Systems engineer in India is around INR 9 lakhs per annum, which eventually increases with experience. The salary of a Systems engineer is much higher in abroad countries.
- Job Security - The Systems engineers are hired by semi-government organizations that deal with production and manufacturing. These organizations offer jobs till retirement and also have retirement plans for their employees.
- Exciting Projects - They make devices that help humans in making their life comfortable and easy. Thus every time working on a new project and designing a new device that could shake the market is exciting.
- Help the Community - They make devices that help the community, like the sensor systems for saving electricity and water, car airbag systems that could prevent losses due to accidents, small microphones for surveillance, etc.
Skills Required for Systems Engineer
Skills required to be a Systems engineer has been mentioned in the table below:
| Interpret and analyze the collected data | Record Test Data |
| Perform Data Analysis | Ability to read Engineering Drawings |
| Conduct Literature Research | Design MEMS designs |
| Scientific Research | Adjust Engineering Designs |
| Operate Scientific Measuring Equipments | Preparation of Production Prototype |
| Use technical drawing software | Conduct Quality Control Analysis |
| Design Prototypes | - |
Salary of Systems Engineer in India
The salary of a Systems engineer varies based on various factors like location, experience, gender, type of organization, etc. Salaries based on certain factors have been mentioned in the tables below:
Average Annual Salary
The average salary of engineers in the government sector is a bit higher than that of the ones working in the private sector. The average salary in both types of organizations has been mentioned below:
| Name of Organisation | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Govt | INR 32,700 |
| Private | INR 31,000 |
Experience Wise Salary
The salary of a candidate usually increases with experience. The average salary based on the years of experience has been mentioned in the table below:
| Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| 0 - 2 years | INR 17,400 |
| 2 - 5 years | INR 22,800 |
| 5 - 10 years | INR 31,900 |
| 10 - 15 years | INR 38,300 |
| 15 - 20 years | INR 41,600 |
| 20+ years | INR 44,900 |
How to Become a Systems Engineer: FAQs
Ques. Who is a Systems engineer?
Ans. The engineer who researches, designs, develops, and tests the microelectromechanical devices or MEMS devices and also prepares systematic and physical layouts of integrated MEMS components or packaged assemblies consistent with the process, functional, or package constraints.
Ques. How do I become a Systems engineer?
Ans. To become a Systems engineer, the individual should have any of the following:
- A post-graduate degree in the field of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or physics.
- A bachelor’s degree with 3 - 5 years of experience in Systems engineering.
Ques. How much does a Systems engineer make?
Ans. The average salary of a Systems engineer in India is around INR 9,63,765 per annum, which eventually increases with experience. The salary of a Systems engineer is much higher in abroad countries.
Ques. What are the other alternative job options for Systems engineers?
Ans. A Systems engineer can also work as an Electrical engineer, Electronics Engineer, Mechanical engineer, CAD technician, Nanosystems engineer, etc.
Ques. Do Systems engineers find a job in government organizations?
Ans. Yes, in India, a Systems engineer can find jobs in semi-government organizations. They can clear GATE and apply for the PSUs.
Ques. Can I become a Systems engineer with a mechanical or electrical engineering degree?
Ans. For a bachelors degree, mechanical or electrical engineering or computer science engineering is more than enough for the field. The candidates, however, will be required to have electives or specialized areas in the field.
Ques. What is the difference between Systems Engineering or Nanosystems Engineering?
Ans. Systems engineering is a study of engineering that deals with using electronics and mechanical principles to create micro products used for various fields. Nanosystems engineering is a branch of study that deals with analysing and improving materials on a molecular level.
Ques. Is a nanosystems engineer the same as a Systems engineer?
Ans. Systems engineers make use of electromechanical, optical, thermal, fluidic or magnetic devices to study and improve micro-sized products. Nanosystems engineers design and manufacture materials of a nanoscale level.
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