What is a Computer Systems Engineer?

Computer system engineering is the development of relevant technologies, methods and processes of computer-based systems using the principles and methods of engineering, science and mathematics. Computer system engineering is a problem solving activity at the system level. ^[1]

The idea of computer system engineering originally originated from the thinking activity of problem solving. With the modeling of such solving activities, corresponding computing models have been theoretically established. The development of microelectronics and digital technology has gradually realized the abstract computing model logically and physically. The invention of the computer marked the establishment of computer system engineering. ^[2]

1. System analyst

There is no doubt that the system analyst is one of the most important and active elements in computer systems engineering.

(1) Duties and work of system analyst

When starting to construct a new computer-based system, computer system engineers (system analysts and system developers) first perform system feasibility studies and system requirements analysis based on user-defined system goals and constraints. At this time, a large number of, Detailed research and demonstration work, if necessary, prototypes of the system or key parts of it need to be built in order to correctly and completely determine the functional and performance requirements of the system. The system engineer then assigns system functions and performance to the various elements of the system. It should be pointed out that there may be multiple implementation methods for assigning functions and performance to various system elements. System engineers should propose multiple pre-selected schemes, and then design and select the best scheme based on system design goals and constraints and according to certain principles. For example, make trade-offs and compromises in terms of cost, schedule, system resources, system performance, and supporting environment. Based on this, the system requirements are decomposed and allocated to system elements such as hardware and software, and then the requirements of system elements such as hardware and software are generated, and they are passed through several sub-projects such as hardware engineering, software engineering, ergonomics, and database engineering Make it happen. ^[1]