An Application Support Engineer is an IT professional who provides technical support regarding a spectrum of software used within a specific business sector. Due to this broad definition, the core responsibilities of an Application Support Engineer vary depending on the industry. Some Application Support Engineers are responsible for database management, while others put more emphasis on the programming end of an application (I excluded the server/IIS part because today in IT industries we have specific team known as "infra" or "Server " team to do such tasks). The specific focus is dependent on the needs of the business.

Typically acting as a member of an IT support team, an Application Support Engineer needs both technical knowledge and “people" skills to do their job well. Given how interwoven technology and the business world have become, Application Support Engineers are employed internally by a number of companies across a wide spectrum of industries. Application Support Engineers can also work for an agency and have several different clients. When it comes to work environment, Application Support Engineers often collaborate with other team members, as well as customers.

Application Support Engineer Duties and Responsibilities

The role of Application Support Engineer is one of the more generalized positions in the IT world. A good Application Support Engineer needs to have at least a working knowledge of database management, different operating systems and different programming languages. We scoured several Application Support Engineer job postings in order to compile the following list of core responsibilities:

• Identifying and Evaluating Technology Solutions

The Application Support Engineer is a key member of the team responsible for using technology to improve business performance and strategy. This duty involves using one’s complex problem-solving skills to brainstorm software solutions, and then work together in a small group to craft a pitch to present the idea to the company’s decision makers. Performing this duty well on a consistent basis can fast track an Application Support Engineer for promotion.

• Problem Solve and Troubleshoot

Although the Application Support Engineer is the first line of defence in finding the root cause of an application malfunction, sometimes they find an issue too severe for them to address. Their duty in this scenario is to escalate the issue to their Senior Engineer. The Senior Engineer can then formulate a plan to address the issue and dictate said plan to their team of Application Support Engineers.

• Identify Potential Issues

Part of what makes a good Application Support Engineer is the foresight to anticipate and address potential issues before they become issues. This takes good organizational skills and a keen attention to detail.

• Work with Cross-Functional Teams

Rarely is the role of Application Support Engineer a one-person show. They work with the support team on a daily basis to contribute to their employer’s overall IT needs and strategy.

For more information on the world of application support or to hear about my latest open vacancies, give me a call today or drop me an email on james.platt@harringtonstarr.com