What Is a Software Engineer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Software engineers design, build, and maintain software systems for electronic devices. A software engineer may operate alone, but typically they spend their time collaborating with other engineers, scientists, and various specialists to come up with creative solutions.

On a day-to-day basis, software engineers operate as the creative brain behind electronic devices. They ensure active programs run smoothly and may recommend software updates for product optimization. In some cases, a software engineer may write or program code. Software engineers may also spend time troubleshooting and explaining programs to clients.

Most software engineers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, mathematics, or a related field. Master a variety of programming languages, such as C++, C#, JavaScript, and Python and practice building software. Seek an internship or an entry-level position at a software company or in the IT department of a corporation to learn from experienced software engineers. You may need to start as a programmer and work your way up to software engineer positions.

Software engineers may work in computer systems design firms or electronic product manufacturing companies. Some are employed by software publishers or in applications development offices, such as insurance carriers and corporate institutions. They may choose to pursue a career in academia, educating aspiring software engineers in the skills required for the profession. Some software engineers are self-employed and contract their expertise to short-term employers.

Do your skills line up with what hiring managers are looking for when they are reviewing resumes for a Software Engineer position? ZipRecruiter scanned over 9,000,000 job postings and created a list of the most commonly required abilities for Software Engineers below.

Based on our assessment, mastering the skills below and listing them on your resume is critical in getting your Software Engineer job application to the top of the stack.

1. Computer Science
2. Software Development
3. Java
4. SQL
5. JavaScript
6. Communication Skills
7. Linux
8. Python
9. Design Development
10. HTML

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly-skilled, experienced Software Engineer to join our growing development team. You will analyze the needs of our clients and design, develop, and install software systems to meet those needs. When necessary, you will recommend software upgrades to existing systems or present newly available options that may better meet the needs of their organization. After installation, you will be responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the new software and troubleshoot any issues that surface.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop a new software product from the ground up, while working closely with company stakeholders
• Create fault-tolerant programming and a thorough QC process
• Expand existing software to meet the changing needs of key demographics
• Create scalable, automated solutions to save time and resources and/or increase profitability
• Write tests for both existing and created code to ensure compatibility and stability

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in software engineering, information technology, computer science, or a related field
• 5+ years of software development or programming experience
• Extensive experience of Java, Python, C++ and other programming languages
• In-depth understanding of HTML5, CSS3 and CMSs
• Working knowledge of SQL