What Does a Software Engineer Do? | 5 Things You Should Know

by Patrick Watt, Guest Contributor

Just like other engineers, Software engineer's work is to find solutions through research, their knowledge and the tools they have to find solutions for problems. Software engineering is a branch of computer science that deals with the development of computer application software and system software. 

As technology evolves, software engineering is among the fastest-growing fields in the world today.

---

---

The field has grown into other specialisations such as robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and many more. The growing need for computer and mobile software is increasing opportunities for these professionals in this digital era and the demand for their skills is not expected to end soon.

Software Engineer Job Overview
A software engineer can have varying functions depending on the company type. These professionals are skilled in software structures, computing systems, and identifying the limitations of existing hardware. 

They can, therefore, work in any industry by applying engineering principles to develop computer software. They can also work directly with clients, where they analyse the client's needs and design computer software to meet those needs. 

After designing, software engineers develop and test their new software until it is ready for use by the general public. They also have the responsibility to continue researching and learning new technologies that can be applied to solve problems.

Software Engineering Categories
The following are the broad categories of software engineering are application engineers and system engineers.

Application Engineers
These engineers are mostly involved in coming up with software for businesses and organisations after analysing the user's needs. Their job is to design, develop, test, install and conduct regular maintenance for the applications. Some of the specialisations in application engineering include:

• Games and entertainment Systems 

Engineers in this field design game applications and the software utilised by the platform on which the games run.

• Modelling and Simulations

Software engineers in this field create and maintain applications that simulate specific processes. Simulations help researchers acquire useful information without actual testing.

• Networking Software Engineering

Engineers in this specialisation work on network architecture, network programming and network security.

System Engineers
System engineers help in the creation and maintenance of organisations and businesses' computer systems. These professionals must work with every department to identify their needs and come up with a solution for the whole company. Businesses nowadays require software and application for e-commerce and internal functions.

Best Personality and Skills for a Software Engineer
Software engineers are investigative, meaning they are inquisitive and curious individuals. They are also analytical, rational and logical in everything they do.

They must have strong interpersonal skills to be able to communicate with clients effectively as well as to properly move software through all the processes from design to the end product. 

Competent software engineers must also have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to help them in solving problems as well as working with a team throughout the software development process.

The skills required include Programming and coding, design and architecture, information analysis, fundamentals of computer science, testing software, debugging software and many more.

How to Become a Software Engineer
There are different paths to becoming a software engineer. One way is to complete a computer science degree courses or other math and science-related courses. You can also gain the required skills through coding boot camps. 

The boot camps are new learning programs popularly used by people who want to learn the skills needed for the IT market and the programming jobs available for software engineers.

Conclusion
The above description clearly shows that Software engineering is a broad field with varying responsibilities and competencies. Nevertheless, there are some of the skills and personalities that should be common in everyone in the profession. The field is projected to continue growing as the demand for both software and application increase, meaning there will be more and more specialisations in the field.

About the author:

Patrick Watt is a content writer, writing in several areas, primarily in business growth, value creation, M&A, and finance. Other interests also include content marketing and self-development. Say hi to Patrick on Twitter @patrickwattpat.

---