Updated June 05, 2023
A software engineer is someone who creates the programs, or software, that allows everyday technology to function as expected. They are responsible for the entire software development cycle, from analysis and design to development and testing. They utilize principles of engineering to complete a final product that fulfills the objectives of the software.
Salary (Median Pay)
For software developers, quality assurance, analysts, and testers:
- Salary: $110,140/yr
- Hourly Rate: $52.95/hr
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Duties and Responsibilities
- Design new software;
- Develop standard operating procedures;
- Identify opportunities for improvement;
- Implement technical designs;
- Improve system quality;
- Keep up to date with advancements in coding, hardware, and systems;
- Maintain codebases; and
- Manage the software development process from start to finish.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, mathematics, software engineering, or a related field;
- Knowledge of algorithms and data structures;
- Knowledge of a variety of coding languages, most importantly C++, Java, Python, and Scala;
- Strong analytical skills;
- Strong reasoning skills; and
- Troubleshooting proficiency.