Deployment managers are IT professionals who coordinate the analysis, acquisition, implementation and installation of new hardware and software. Their job is to take newly-designed systems and software packages and roll them out for full operational use. This crucial role has made them invaluable and highly-paid personnel.

Salary Data

As of June 2014, deployment managers earned an average annual salary of $96,756 in the United States, according to Glassdoor.com. By way of comparison, the average annual salary for all occupations nationwide was $46,440 as of May 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS expects IT manager positions to increase 15 percent during the 2012 to 2022 decade, compared to 11 percent on average for all occupations.

Job Requirements

These jobs require a bachelor’s or master's degree in computer science, software engineering or network design. The deployment manger candidate must also possess several years of varied IT-related experience, including successful IT implementation or design experience. Deployment managers must be available to work after normal business hours and on weekends to conduct tests. Other job requirements include excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to work without supervision and meet strict deadlines.

Nature of the Work

Deployment managers work in the comfort of climate-controlled office buildings and job site offices. IT-related equipment and software is delicate and must be kept dry and cool. The role is hands-on and requires working with hardware and software solutions. These opportunities also require the ability to work as a team with other IT professionals and department managers. The position requires a lot of interoffice communication.

Job Duties

Deployment managers ensure that hardware and software systems are fully deployed, implemented and functioning. They plan the roll-out process and the sequence of new systems and platforms. This includes all IT-related systems, communication systems and, in some cases, IT-driven security systems. In many instances, deployment managers must prepare engineering plans, instructions, mapped IT system diagrams and installation technical design packages. They are responsible for the going-live phase of the project. They must communicate with all departments on the progress of the project.

Other Job Duties

The deployment manager must have the ability to travel and must have strong project management or supervisory skills. He is in charge of the deployment and connected IT staff, and he must supervise, review and evaluate their work.