AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 15-1299.08

Will AI replace Computer Systems Engineers/Architects?

Computer Systems Engineers/Architects: AI can already handle 14 of 28 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 28 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Computer Systems Engineers/Architects, from most to least exposed. 14 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Provide technical guidance or support for the development or troubleshooting of systems. 98 Observed Frontier 3.6
Evaluate existing systems to determine effectiveness, and suggest changes to meet organizational requirements. 88 Observed Standard 3.7
Monitor system operation to detect potential problems. 86 Observed Frontier 4.1
Investigate system component suitability for specified purposes, and make recommendations regarding component use. 85 Observed Standard 4.2
Document design specifications, installation instructions, and other system-related information. 85 Observed Efficient 3.7
Develop application-specific software. 85 Observed Frontier 3.1
Develop system engineering, software engineering, system integration, or distributed system architectures. 82 Observed Frontier 3.6
Verify stability, interoperability, portability, security, or scalability of system architecture. 80 Estimated Standard 4.0
Research, test, or verify proper functioning of software patches and fixes. 80 Estimated Standard 3.9
Communicate project information through presentations, technical reports, or white papers. 74 Observed Efficient 3.4
Configure servers to meet functional specifications. 65 Observed Frontier 3.9
Perform security analyses of developed or packaged software components. 65 Observed Frontier 3.7
Provide advice on project costs, design concepts, or design changes. 65 Observed Standard 3.5
Develop or approve project plans, schedules, or budgets. 65 Observed Standard 3.4
Direct the analysis, development, and operation of complete computer systems. 50 Estimated Frontier 4.2
Collaborate with engineers or software developers to select appropriate design solutions or ensure the compatibility of system components. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.8
Design and conduct hardware or software tests. 50 Estimated Standard 3.7
Establish functional or system standards to address operational requirements, quality requirements, and design constraints. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.6
Develop efficient and effective system controllers. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.1
Perform ongoing hardware and software maintenance operations, including installing or upgrading hardware or software. 40 Observed Standard 4.0
Evaluate current or emerging technologies to consider factors such as cost, portability, compatibility, or usability. 40 Observed Efficient 3.5
Train system users in system operation or maintenance. 35 Estimated Efficient 3.3
Communicate with staff or clients to understand specific system requirements. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Identify system data, hardware, or software components required to meet user needs. 30 Estimated Standard 4.0
Define and analyze objectives, scope, issues, or organizational impact of information systems. 30 Estimated Efficient 3.6
Complete models and simulations, using manual or automated tools, to analyze or predict system performance under different operating conditions. 30 Estimated Standard 3.3
Provide customers or installation teams guidelines for implementing secure systems. 20 Estimated Standard 4.2
Direct the installation of operating systems, network or application software, or computer or network hardware. 20 Estimated Standard 4.1

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 14 of 28 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 14 of 28. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
435,370
Median annual wage
$116,580
Middle half of earners
$79,370 to $157,500
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+8.2%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034. BLS publishes these figures by SOC code, so O*NET occupations that share a SOC code show the same figures.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Computer Systems Engineers/Architects and AI

Will AI replace Computer Systems Engineers/Architects?

AI already handles 14 of the 28 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 58 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +8.2% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Computer Systems Engineers/Architects?

58 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 14 of the 28 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 14 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Computer Systems Engineers/Architects tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Provide technical guidance or support for the development or troubleshooting of systems; Evaluate existing systems to determine effectiveness, and suggest changes to meet organizational requirements; Monitor system operation to detect potential problems. They are three of the 14 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Computer Systems Engineers/Architects, and what do they earn?

435,370 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $116,580 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +8.2% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Computer Systems Engineers/Architects. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/computer-systems-engineers-architects

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