Software Engineering vs. Systems Engineering?

Posted by Cliff on Monday July 25, 2005 @11:45AM from the what's-the-difference dept.

An anonymous reader asks: "I recently graduated with a master's degree in computer engineering. I am currently a software engineer for a defense contractor. They (same company) have now offered me a position as a systems engineer. Any advice? What are the long and short term ramifications of the change, in respect to job duties, advancement, compensation? I am pretty much fresh out of college, with only a year of co-op experience. I am a little over whelmed by the choice with no experience to go by, but I also don't want to pass up a great opportunity. Thanks for the help."

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Code or Bla? by XBL · 2005-07-25 11:59 · Score: 4, Interesting

Do you like to write code? Do you like to do analysis and design of systems? Which one do you like better?

I think that I would find Systems Engineering boring. Of course, I am a Software Engineer.

If you are in defense contracting, get the highest clearance level that you can, preferably T.S. That will give you more job security and demand on the contracting market if you do need a new job. That is way more important that Software or Systems engineer.

IMHO, you all should be worrying about your computer jobs over the next 10 years, EXCEPT in defense because they can't outsource classified projects to India.