Career guide for Software engineer

Job description

A software engineer researches, designs and develops software systems to meet with clients requirements. Once the system had been fully designed software engineers then test, debug, and maintain the systems.

They increasingly need to have knowledge of a variety of computer programming languages and applications; this is due to the wide variety of work that they can be involved in.

Software engineers are sometimes referred to as computer programmers or software developers. Depending on the type of organisation, software engineers can become specialists in either systems or applications.

Software engineering is one of the most popular professions in IT in terms of the numbers employed.

Typical work activities

Typical work activities will usually include some or all of the following:

• researching, designing and writing new software programs;
• testing new programs and fault finding;
• developing existing programs by analysing and identifying areas for modification;
• ‘bolting together’ existing software products and getting incompatible platforms to work together;
• investigating new technologies;
• creating technical specifications and test plans;
• working with computer coding languages;
• writing operational documentation with technical authors;
• maintaining systems by monitoring and correcting software defects;
• working closely with other staff, such as project managers, graphic artists, systems analysts, and sales and marketing professionals;
• consulting clients/colleagues concerning the maintenance and performance of software systems and asking questions to obtain information, clarify details and implement information;
• constantly updating technical knowledge and skills by attending in-house and/or external courses, reading manuals and accessing new applications;
• problem-solving and thinking laterally as part of a team, or individually, to meet the needs of the project.