What Is a Computer Scientist and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Computer scientists solve problems using technology. They write and program software, create applications for mobile devices, and develop websites. Their primary objectives are to validate and to develop mathematical models capable of computer interaction between people and other computers. They do this by running computer programs and improving computer processes and performance. Beyond working within theoretical frameworks, computer scientists can also research and focus in areas such as data structure and algorithms, information and database theory, software engineering, numerical analysis, computational complexity theory, computer graphics, programming language theory, and computer vision.

The majority of computer scientists hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in computer science or a related field like CIS, physics, or mathematics. Possessing strong communication skills is also an important part of the job, as the job often requires explaining results and findings to others through publications and presentations. Computer scientists are typically hired by software publishing and development firms where they will create new theories that allow further technology development within the organization. It is not uncommon for computer scientists to work in software engineering or in IT consulting. They are also frequently employed by educational institutions, such as universities.

A computer scientist has deep knowledge of computer science and uses their understanding of its theoretical framework to handle information, computation, and application. Typically, computer scientists focus solely on the theoretical aspects of computers, but unlike computer engineers, they do not usually deal with the hardware aspect that computer engineers do.

Job Summary

We are currently seeking an innovative, experienced, and highly-skilled computer scientist to join our growing technology team. In this role, you will create and develop custom solutions for our users in a collaborative, fast-paced, state-of-the-art environment. To be successful in this role, you will be thorough, creative, and exceptionally well-skilled in all phases of the development lifecycle, with a passion for continued learning and collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrate exceptional analysis, planning, and coding skills
• Contribute to all phases of the development lifecycle
• Software development and deployment
• Testing and bug fixing
• Embedded software development
• Web-based application development
• Help gather requirements and make recommendations for product development
• Work collaboratively with team and stakeholders to achieve shared goals
• Commit to delivering products on time and on budget
• Current product maintenance
• Run reports, groom backlogs
• Prioritize tasks to maximize resources and efficiency

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field
• Additional certifications that demonstrate a commitment to further education preferred
• Minimum 2 years' experience as a computer scientist or other relevant role
• Exceptional coding skills, including SQL, HTML, Javascript
• Significant experience with databases
• Familiarity with Agile
• Experience gathering and decomposing requirements
• Proven record of solution development and deployment
• Familiarity with web-based application development
• Experience with testing, use case, and user stories
• Outstanding communication skills, written and verbal
• Highly-organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Team-player mentality with a positive attitude
• Keen attention to detail and solid analytical skills
• Able to articulate complex, abstract concepts concisely and effectively