If you already work as a systems engineer, or you'd like to get in the door of this expanding industry, a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certification on your resume can help. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of computer systems software engineers is expected to grow by 28 percent over the next 8 years, creating nearly 100,000 new jobs. The exams are challenging, but online training courses can remove the logistical hassles from test preparation. In 2006, systems engineers reported median annual salaries of $85,000.