Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.
$116,580 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 67%
- 32%
- 1%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 11%. Today's estimate: 16%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 28 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct the analysis, development, and operation of complete computer systems.Done daily by most who do it. | 15% | 2.1 work days6.7 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Direct the installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 14% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Verify stability, interoperability, portability, security, or scalability of system architecture.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 10% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Evaluate current or emerging technologies to consider factors such as cost, portability, compatibility, or usability.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Investigate system component suitability for specified purposes, and make recommendations regarding component use.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 1.3 work days | 32%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Evaluate existing systems to determine effectiveness, and suggest changes to meet organizational requirements.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 5% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.5 work days | 10%Half by May 2027 | |
| Provide customers or installation teams guidelines for implementing secure systems.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 3.3 h50 min to 1 work day | 28%Half by Feb 2027 | |
| Design and conduct hardware or software tests.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Develop application-specific software.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 4% | 2.8 work days6.7 h to 2.8 work weeks | 1%Half by Nov 2028 | |
| Define and analyze objectives, scope, issues, or organizational impact of information systems.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 38%Half by Nov 2026 | |
| Develop system engineering, software engineering, system integration, or distributed system architectures.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 3% | 2.1 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 1%Half by Apr 2028 | |
| Monitor system operation to detect potential problems.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 50 min17 min to 3.3 h | 78%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
- Federal Executive Branch86,390 people
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services76,660 people
- Management of Companies and Enterprises25,080 people
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services16,520 people
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services15,100 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.