IT systems designer - overview

As an IT systems designer, you’ll use your technical know-how and design skills to come up with ways to develop and improve business IT infrastructure. Learn more about a career as an IT systems designer, find out what it involves and what you’ll need to study and do to get a role.

Learn what the role involves below.

What does an IT systems designer do?

As an IT systems designer you’ll be involved in the early stages of the development process.

You’ll enjoy analysing the scope of a project and designing components that meet your brief. You need to be technologically savvy and an excellent problem-solver to succeed in this role.

You’ll be skilled at drawing up detailed design documents and financial information including costings for future software upgrades. You’ll also meet with internal and external stakeholders to make sure your designs are in keeping with the goals of the company. Sometimes an IT systems designer role is combined with an analyst and/or programmer role especially in smaller organisations or IT firms.

What will your days involve?

Daily tasks will vary but could involve:

Meeting with clients to discuss their needs, budget and existing systems
Creating a detailed digital design plan
Choosing the right software and hardware to use
Liaising with programmers, coders, technicians and senior colleagues
Writing guidelines for programmers
Planning test runs for teams to make sure everything works
Troubleshooting any issues that may come up
Evaluating the results of new systems and workflows

FAQs

How much can you earn as an IT systems designer?

The average salary for an IT systems designer in the UK is £49,920. Graduates start at around £32,500.

Does an IT systems designer role involve travel in the UK or overseas?

IT systems designers mostly work from an office or client’s business with occasional travel to other stakeholders. Travelling overseas for work is rare.