1. What is a Unified Communications Engineer？

Unified communications engineers are professional technicians who establish, supervise and maintain communications systems and infrastructure for enterprises or organizations. They are responsible for the management and support of voice, video and data communications systems.

2. What does a Unified Communications Engineer do?

Unified Communications Engineers are responsible for managing and supporting voice, video, and data communications systems, and for the deployment and configuration of unified communications systems and tools. First, they monitor the operating status of communications systems, perform maintenance, and resolve issues that arise in voice, video, and messaging systems. Second, they collaborate with other IT teams to integrate communications systems into existing infrastructure, while providing technical support and guidance to users. Finally, they keep an eye on new technology developments in the unified communications field, and keep detailed records of system configurations, operating procedures, and changes.

3. Career Insights: Salary, Outlook & Related Roles

(1) Unified Communications Engineer Salary

According to data from Glassdoor, the expected total salary for communications engineers is $120,111 per year, with an average annual salary of $100,802. The expected additional salary is $19,309 per year. Additional salary may include cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing.

(2) Job Outlook of Unified Communications Engineer

With the popularity of remote working, enterprises' demand for unified communications solutions has increased significantly, which in turn has driven the demand for the recruitment of Unified Communications Engineers. According to research by MarketsandMarkets, the UCaaS market is expected to reach US$24.8 billion in 2024, a 50% increase from 2019.

(3) Similar Occupations

• Voice Engineer (VoIP Engineer)
• Collaboration Engineer
• Telecommunications Engineer
• Video Conferencing Engineer / AV Engineer
• Microsoft Teams / Skype for Business Engineer
• Cisco Collaboration Specialist / Engineer
• Contact Center Engineer (UCCE/UCCX)
• Network Engineer (with VoIP focus)
• IT Support Engineer (with UC specialization)
• Solutions Architect (UC / Collaboration)

4. What Are the Qualifications to Become a Unified Communications Engineer?

(1) Obtain a Bachelor's Degree

The recruitment of Unified Communications Engineer often requires a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology or a related technical field. In addition, relevant professional skills and internship experience are also very important, so job seekers are required to learn relevant practical experience during school.

(2) Develop professional skills

Unified Communications Engineers need to possess a variety of technical and analytical skills required to design, deploy, and maintain integrated communications systems. Key capabilities include proficiency in VoIP technology, Cisco Unified Communications platforms (such as CUCM, Unity Connection, and IM & Presence), and video conferencing solutions. Secondly, they also need to be proficient in the management of enterprise network infrastructure, monitoring complex systems for unified communications, and dedicated troubleshooting. Finally, they also need to master some other technical capabilities, which usually include working knowledge of Linux systems, TCP/IP protocols, switches and routers, and radio frequency communications. The combination of communication system expertise and IT infrastructure management makes unified communications engineers essential to ensuring a reliable, scalable, and secure enterprise collaboration environment.

(3) Earn Industry Certifications

Experience in the Unified Communications industry is crucial in your job search, so you should receive on-the-job training. Many employers want to hire people who are certified in a specific company. Cisco is one of the most common systems, so getting a Cisco certification will give you the best chance of success in the job market.
CCIE Collaboration certification demonstrates your advanced skills in planning, designing, implementing, operating, and optimizing complex enterprise collaboration solutions. Earn the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration certification to show employers your expertise in Unified Communications.