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Computer Systems Engineers/Architects

SOC 15-1299.08Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the design, installation, monitoring, and maintenance of enterprise computer systems and architectures, from entry-level supervised tasks through executive-level strategic leadership in technology-intensive professional services and IT environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. System requirements documentation — gather and record under direct supervision by interviewing staff or clients in a structured workplace setting.
  2. Hardware and software components — identify basic options suitable for specified user needs using provided checklists and reference guides.
  3. Operating system installation procedures — follow step-by-step protocols to install or upgrade software under the guidance of a senior engineer.
  4. System operation logs — monitor routine outputs and flag potential anomalies to a supervising engineer during standard shift operations.
  5. Secure system guidelines — distribute and explain pre-approved implementation checklists to installation teams or customers as directed.
  6. Word processing and document management software — draft basic technical reports summarizing system configurations in an office environment.
  7. Component suitability criteria — review vendor specifications and apply established evaluation criteria under close supervision on assigned projects.
  8. Network or application software — assist with installation tasks following documented procedures on supervised enterprise deployments.
  9. Active listening techniques — capture and restate client requirements accurately during intake meetings to confirm mutual understanding.
  10. Hardware maintenance tasks — perform routine scheduled maintenance activities such as component replacement under direct technician oversight.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Client system requirements — analyze and translate into preliminary technical specifications with reduced oversight in a professional services environment.
  2. Hardware and software component recommendations — evaluate suitability for defined purposes and present options to project stakeholders using structured comparison frameworks.
  3. Secure system implementation guidelines — prepare and communicate tailored security configuration instructions to installation teams for mid-scale deployments.
  4. Operating systems and network software — coordinate and execute installation or upgrade projects across multiple workstations or servers with minimal supervision.
  5. System operation monitoring — apply monitoring tools to detect performance degradation or failure indicators and initiate standard corrective responses.
  6. User need assessments — identify required system data, hardware, and software components by conducting structured needs-analysis sessions with end users.
  7. Object-oriented or web platform development software — configure and adapt development environments to support application deployment on assigned systems.
  8. Technical documentation — produce clear written procedures and configuration guides using document management software for internal or client audiences.
  9. Routine hardware and software maintenance — plan and execute scheduled maintenance cycles including upgrades to minimize operational downtime.
  10. Systems evaluation — apply analytical methods to assess existing infrastructure performance against defined benchmarks in familiar organizational contexts.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complete computer system design — direct the analysis, development, and operation of end-to-end solutions autonomously across diverse enterprise environments.
  2. Complex stakeholder requirements — elicit, reconcile, and translate conflicting client and staff needs into coherent technical architectures without supervisory input.
  3. Component suitability investigations — conduct independent technical evaluations across hardware and software options and deliver justified recommendations to decision-makers.
  4. Non-routine system failures — diagnose root causes using critical thinking and systems analysis methods and implement corrective actions under operational pressure.
  5. Secure system architectures — design and communicate comprehensive security frameworks and implementation guidelines for high-stakes enterprise or multi-site deployments.
  6. Installation and integration oversight — direct cross-functional teams executing operating system, network, application, and hardware deployments on complex infrastructure.
  7. System monitoring strategies — design proactive monitoring configurations using specialized tools to detect potential problems before service impact occurs.
  8. Data, hardware, and software requirement specifications — produce detailed bill-of-materials and architecture documents that fully address identified user needs.
  9. Ongoing maintenance programs — engineer and manage systematic maintenance schedules covering hardware replacement, software patching, and capacity upgrades across production environments.
  10. Technical writing and oral presentation — communicate architectural decisions, risk assessments, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational systems strategy — set the long-term technical direction for enterprise architecture programs, aligning infrastructure investments with business objectives at executive level.
  2. Engineering team development — mentor and evaluate junior and mid-level systems engineers, building organizational capability through structured coaching and performance feedback.
  3. Enterprise-wide security posture — lead the development and governance of organization-wide secure system policies, standards, and implementation frameworks adopted across all divisions.
  4. Cross-functional system programs — direct multi-team analysis, development, and operational initiatives for mission-critical computer systems spanning organizational boundaries.
  5. Technology evaluation governance — establish formal processes for investigating and approving component and platform selections, ensuring rigorous standards are applied organization-wide.
  6. Client and stakeholder relationships — lead executive-level engagements to shape system requirements and negotiate technical scope for large-scale or multi-year engagements.
  7. Innovation culture — champion adoption of emerging technologies, development environments, and architectural patterns by sponsoring proof-of-concept initiatives across engineering teams.
  8. Quality assurance frameworks — design and institutionalize quality control analysis programs that govern system performance, reliability, and compliance across the organization.
  9. Resource and personnel management — allocate engineering personnel, tools, and budgets strategically across competing system projects to optimize delivery outcomes.
  10. Organizational risk and decision governance — lead judgment-based decisions on system modernization, major infrastructure changes, and risk trade-offs with enterprise-wide impact.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted requirements capture — uses an LLM to draft clarifying questions and summarize client-provided system requirements documents, while manually validating accuracy against stakeholder notes Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Basic component research delegation — prompts an AI assistant to compile compatibility information on candidate hardware or software components, then cross-checks vendor specifications before making any recommendation Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Security guideline drafting — directs an AI tool to generate first-draft secure-system implementation guidelines for installation teams, then edits for environment-specific constraints and organizational policy Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. System evaluation support — feeds architecture diagrams and requirement lists into an AI assistant to surface potential mismatches or missing components, retaining personal judgment on final suitability decisions Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Meeting summarization — hands off recorded or transcribed stakeholder sessions to an AI tool for action-item extraction, then reviews the output to ensure technical nuances are accurately captured Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. End-to-end system design review — orchestrates an AI assistant through iterative critique passes of a complete architecture proposal, directing it to test assumptions against stated requirements and flag single points of failure, while authoring all design decisions Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Installation directive generation — uses an AI tool to convert high-level architecture decisions into step-by-step OS, network, and application deployment runbooks, then verifies each step against environment baselines before distribution Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  3. Cross-functional communication drafting — delegates production of technical briefings and client-facing reports to an AI writing assistant, editing for precision and audience appropriateness before delivery Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  4. Comparative analysis acceleration — tasks an AI agent with generating structured trade-off matrices across competing system components or topologies, then applies systems-evaluation expertise to select and justify the final recommendation Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. Autonomous agent orchestration for complex systems — directs multi-step AI agents to perform dependency mapping, configuration drift analysis, and compliance gap assessments across large-scale architectures, retaining oversight of all remediation decisions and sign-offs Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. AI-augmented risk modeling — integrates LLM-generated threat-surface analyses with personal expertise to produce comprehensive security and resilience assessments for enterprise systems, establishing team-wide standards for how AI outputs are validated and escalated Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Methodology and governance leadership — defines the organization's protocols for when and how AI tools are applied across the systems engineering lifecycle, including autonomy boundaries and human-review checkpoints, grounded in measured time-savings and collaboration patterns Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 642
Augment share: 64.2%
Time saved: 86%
AI autonomy: 3.18
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Active Listening
Score: 42.2 / 100
Quadrant: Q2_ai_augmented
precision: exact
WEF cluster
Artificial Intelligence
artificial_intelligence
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication10 statements
Emerging
  1. System requirements elicitation — gathers initial client needs through structured conversation while documenting functional and non-functional constraints Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Technical documentation — drafts basic system specifications and architecture diagrams using standard templates for internal review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Stakeholder briefing — explains system architecture decisions and trade-offs to non-technical clients using plain language and visual aids Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Installation guidance — communicates secure system implementation guidelines to installation teams through written procedures and verbal walkthroughs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Cross-functional correspondence — writes clear status updates on system development milestones and incidents for both technical and management audiences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Requirements translation — converts ambiguous client needs into precise technical specifications through active listening and iterative clarification sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Incident reporting — authors detailed post-mortem documents capturing root cause, system impact, and corrective actions for executive and engineering audiences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Architecture presentation — delivers structured system design reviews to diverse stakeholders, fielding technical objections with evidence-based responses Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Enterprise communication strategy — establishes documentation standards and communication protocols across engineering teams to ensure consistent system knowledge transfer Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Executive advisory communication — translates complex infrastructure trade-offs into risk-framed business narratives that drive organizational technology investment decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
2Leadership9 statements
Emerging
  1. Team contribution — follows direction from senior architects while taking ownership of assigned system component analysis tasks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Initiative demonstration — proactively flags potential system component mismatches to team leads before formal review cycles Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Installation oversight — directs small teams through operating system and network hardware deployment following established procedures Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Task delegation — assigns system analysis subtasks to junior engineers with clear success criteria and checkpoints Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. System development direction — leads the analysis, development, and operational planning of complete computer systems across cross-functional engineering teams Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Technical mentorship — coaches junior engineers on architecture decision frameworks and component evaluation methodologies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Project accountability — owns delivery timelines and quality outcomes for system integration projects, escalating blockers with proposed solutions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Organizational systems leadership — defines architectural vision and engineering standards that govern technology decisions across multiple departments or product lines Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Engineering culture development — builds high-performing systems engineering teams by establishing learning rituals, accountability structures, and growth pathways Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition8 statements
Emerging
  1. Skill gap identification — recognizes personal knowledge boundaries in telecommunications or hardware domains and seeks targeted learning resources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Learning reflection — reviews completed system component investigations to identify gaps in evaluation methodology Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Knowledge strategy planning — develops a structured self-study plan for emerging system technologies such as cloud architectures or network protocols Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Decision review — revisits prior architecture recommendations after implementation to assess accuracy of original reasoning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Cognitive bias monitoring — actively identifies and corrects for familiarity bias when evaluating unfamiliar system components against established preferences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Problem-solving calibration — adjusts diagnostic reasoning strategies when initial system troubleshooting approaches fail to isolate root cause Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Meta-architectural reflection — critically evaluates own design philosophy across multiple completed systems to identify recurring blind spots and evolve architecture practice Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Team cognition facilitation — leads structured retrospectives that surface collective reasoning errors in system design processes across engineering teams Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking9 statements
Emerging
  1. Component suitability assessment — evaluates basic hardware or software components against documented user requirements using vendor specifications Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Assumption identification — surfaces unstated assumptions in system requirement documents before analysis begins Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Systems evaluation — applies structured frameworks to assess whether existing system components meet performance, security, and scalability criteria Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Evidence-based recommendation — supports component selection decisions with comparative data from benchmarks, vendor documentation, and peer review sources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Complex problem diagnosis — isolates root causes of system failures by systematically ruling out hardware, software, and configuration variables through logical elimination Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Trade-off analysis — weighs competing architectural options across cost, performance, security, and maintainability dimensions to produce reasoned design recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Requirements gap detection — identifies contradictions and omissions in client-provided system specifications before design work commences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Architectural risk evaluation — constructs formal risk models for enterprise system designs, quantifying failure modes and their organizational impact Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Second-order effects analysis — anticipates cascading consequences of system architecture decisions on adjacent organizational systems and business processes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration8 statements
Emerging
  1. Cross-team participation — contributes system component knowledge to joint planning sessions with network, security, and application engineering teams Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Perspective integration — incorporates feedback from client interviews and peer reviews into revised system specifications Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Multi-stakeholder coordination — aligns system design requirements across clients, installation teams, and internal engineering staff through structured working sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict navigation — resolves technical disagreements between team members by redirecting discussion to shared requirements and measurable evaluation criteria Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Integrated system delivery — coordinates parallel workstreams across hardware, software, and network teams to deliver cohesive system implementations on schedule Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Customer partnership — builds collaborative working relationships with client technical staff to iteratively refine system requirements and validate design decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Enterprise collaboration architecture — designs cross-functional engineering collaboration models that reduce integration failures and accelerate system delivery across large organizations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Community of practice leadership — facilitates knowledge-sharing communities across systems engineering disciplines to elevate collective technical capability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
6Character9 statements
Emerging
  1. Professional accountability — acknowledges errors in system component analysis and documents corrective steps transparently Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Ethical awareness — recognizes the security and privacy implications of system design decisions during initial architecture work Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Client integrity — delivers honest assessments of system limitations and risks to clients even when findings contradict client expectations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Confidentiality adherence — handles sensitive client system data and access credentials with strict discretion and policy compliance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Security ethics — designs system access controls and data handling procedures that prioritize user privacy and organizational compliance obligations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Commitment reliability — delivers system recommendations, documentation, and implementations to agreed quality standards and timelines consistently Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Transparent escalation — surfaces system vulnerabilities or design flaws to leadership and clients promptly rather than deferring disclosure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Ethical architecture stewardship — champions responsible technology design principles across the engineering organization, embedding security and privacy into system development standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Accountability modeling — demonstrates consistent professional integrity in high-stakes system decisions, setting behavioral standards that shape team culture Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
7Creativity8 statements
Emerging
  1. Solution exploration — proposes alternative component configurations when standard approaches fail to meet user system requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Analogical thinking — draws on architecture patterns from adjacent technology domains to generate candidate solutions for novel system problems Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Architecture innovation — designs non-standard system topologies that address unique client constraints in performance, cost, or security Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Prototype experimentation — builds proof-of-concept system configurations to test unconventional hardware or software integration approaches before full commitment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Creative problem framing — redefines ambiguous system performance problems as design challenges, generating solution spaces that clients had not considered Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Hybrid architecture design — combines on-premises, cloud, and edge computing components in novel configurations to solve complex organizational system requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Emergent technology integration — pioneers the incorporation of nascent computing paradigms into production system architectures ahead of industry mainstream adoption Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Innovation culture cultivation — establishes structured experimentation practices within engineering teams that systematically generate and validate novel architectural approaches Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset8 statements
Emerging
  1. Technology curiosity — independently explores new hardware, operating system, or network software capabilities between formal training opportunities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Feedback receptivity — incorporates peer review feedback on system designs without defensiveness and documents lessons learned Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Skill stretch — volunteers for system architecture assignments that require learning unfamiliar technology domains such as new cloud platforms or security frameworks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Setback processing — analyzes system implementation failures as learning events, extracting reusable diagnostic knowledge for future engagements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Continuous capability development — maintains current knowledge of evolving computer systems technologies through deliberate study, certifications, and applied experimentation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Challenge pursuit — actively seeks technically complex system design problems that accelerate growth beyond current competency boundaries Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Learning organization building — creates team learning systems including knowledge-sharing sessions, external study programs, and stretch assignment pipelines that raise engineering capability over time Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Mastery modeling — publicly demonstrates learning behaviors such as studying failed architectures and sharing growth narratives, normalizing development effort across the engineering team Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness8 statements
Emerging
  1. Attentional focus — maintains concentration during extended system monitoring sessions to detect subtle anomalies in operational behavior Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stress recognition — identifies personal stress signals during high-pressure system incidents and applies basic self-regulation techniques before responding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Deliberate requirements listening — practices active listening during client interviews, suspending internal solution-generation to fully capture stated and unstated system needs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cognitive load management — breaks complex system analysis tasks into time-bounded segments to sustain analytical quality across long work sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Incident presence — maintains calm, focused attention during live system outages, sequencing diagnostic actions methodically rather than reacting impulsively Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Intentional communication — pauses before responding to ambiguous client requirements to verify comprehension before committing to design direction Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Team emotional regulation — models and coaches mindful response practices within engineering teams during high-stakes system failures, stabilizing collective performance under pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Reflective practice integration — embeds regular structured reflection into system architecture processes, ensuring design decisions are made with full situational awareness rather than habit Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude8 statements
Emerging
  1. Persistence under ambiguity — continues system component investigation when requirements are incomplete or contradictory rather than halting progress Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Discomfort tolerance — engages with technically unfamiliar system domains without avoidance, accepting the difficulty of the learning process Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Sustained troubleshooting — maintains systematic diagnostic effort through extended system failure investigations without abandoning structured methodology Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Criticism resilience — receives negative feedback on architecture proposals without withdrawing effort, using critique to strengthen subsequent design iterations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. High-stakes perseverance — sustains effective performance during critical system outages or security incidents that involve prolonged uncertainty and organizational pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Courageous recommendation — delivers technically sound but unpopular system assessments to clients or leadership when evidence supports conclusions that contradict preferences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Organizational resilience leadership — guides engineering teams through sustained periods of system complexity, resource constraints, or failed implementations by maintaining strategic focus and morale Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Long-horizon commitment — drives multi-year enterprise system architecture programs through organizational resistance and technical setbacks without loss of purpose or quality standard Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Application Systems Architect · Cloud Architect · Cloud Engineer · Cloud Infrastructure Engineer · Cloud Platform Engineer · Cloud Software Engineer · Cloud Solution Architect · Computer Systems Architect · Data Platform Engineer · Enterprise Architect · Firmware Engineer · Information Architect
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSystems EvaluationWritingSpeakingSystems AnalysisComplex Problem SolvingOperations AnalysisActive LearningProgrammingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingQuality Control AnalysisTime ManagementManagement of Personnel ResourcesMathematicsScienceLearning StrategiesSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationInstructingService OrientationOperations Monitoring
Knowledge domains
Computers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageTelecommunicationsCustomer and Personal ServiceEngineering and TechnologyAdministration and Management
Abilities
Written ComprehensionOral ComprehensionInductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionInformation OrderingOriginalityNear Vision
Work styles
DependabilityAttention to DetailInnovationIntellectual CuriosityAdaptabilityCautiousness
Technology
Word processing softwareDocument management softwareDevelopment environment softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareWeb platform development softwareDesktop publishing softwareObject or component oriented development softwareGraphical user interface development softwareData base management system software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements.
  2. Investigate system component suitability for specified purposes, and make recommendations regarding component use.
  3. Provide customers or installation teams guidelines for implementing secure systems.
  4. Direct the analysis, development, and operation of complete computer systems.
  5. Direct the installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware.
  6. Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.
  7. Identify system data, hardware, or software components required to meet user needs.
  8. Perform ongoing hardware and software maintenance operations, including installing or upgrading hardware or software.
CIP education codes
11.010111.030111.040111.070111.100526.110326.110430.080130.160130.300130.310140.051243.040351.2706

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.