Software Engineer career

The Software Engineer Career

You’re a problem solver at heart, and have superb programming skills, as well as mathematical knowledge. Not to be confused with software developers, software engineers start with the problem in mind, and use engineering principles to develop a robust solution. That means understanding everything about the problems, the solutions, the limitations of those solutions and their implications.

Sounds like your cup of tea? You’d also be happy to know that you’ll be in demand - always.

But, perhaps the best part about being a software engineer (other than the ridiculously high salary) is the constantly evolving role. You get to change the world - in your own quiet way. Look at how companies like Slack and Airbnb are changing our lives today.

What do software engineers do

On top of programming, software engineers apply mathematical and engineering principles to design computer software. The range of software an engineer can work on is varied; these include computer games, business applications, operating systems and network control systems.

The rise of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Machine Learning, and Blockchain, has also seen an increased demand for software engineers.

At the heart of software engineering is problem solving, which means analyzing the client’s needs, then designing, testing and developing computer software to fix them.

There are two main types of software engineers -- applications engineers and systems engineers. Application engineers focus on building applications or programs for businesses, and systems engineers focus on creating a business’ computer systems.

How to become a software engineer

The first step is to attain a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems or information technology, and be very good in programming. That said, you don’t always need a degree to meet the requirements of software engineering, as the Mark Zuckerbergs of the world have taught us. Proven skills, a good work ethic, and the drive to solve problems far outweigh credentials. As always, we recommend getting an internship or work experience to showcase your expertise in software engineering.

What kind of people thrive in this profession? (Three traits)

1. Highly analytical and creative
To fix complicated problems, great software engineers have to reason and use logic very well. At the same time, cracking a problem requires engineers to think out of the box.

2. Incredible patience
There will be many issues when fixing a problem, like compatibility issues, unexpected bugs to fix, and even clients to report to. Software engineers who have lots of patient to iron out these issues will thrive.

3. Superb teamplayer
Software engineers also need to work together with the rest of the product team to build a robust solution. This means knowing how to collaborate well with others.