Software Engineering Specialist
Careers Explorer:
Responsible for researching, designing and writing new software programs and computer operating systems.
Overview
As a Software Engineering Specialist you will apply your scientific and mathematical knowledge to develop computer software and solve problems.
You’ll create and improve systems to meet particular needs, testing both hard and software systems to diagnose and resolve system faults.
You’ll lead on the design and development of bespoke secure and scalable software solutions and services for distributed web, mobile and fixed PC and mainframe platforms.
As an expert you’ll work across different platforms and develop software using programming languages appropriate to the applications being developed.
Top 5 Tasks
- Drive the technological advances
- Write and test code, refining and rewriting it as necessary
- Evaluate the software and systems that make computers and hardware work
- Create technical specifications
- Be the go to person for advice.
Salary
Typical graduate software engineer salaries start from £18,000 a year, while the average annual salary for a software engineer is between £25,000 and £50,000.
At senior or management level, software engineers can earn £45,000 to £70,000, and bonus schemes may also be available.
Am I Suited?
- Technical competency
- Excellent maths skills
- Logical
- Analytical thinker
- Leader
Occupations within software development are in demand and that demand looks set to increase much faster than the average for other occupations, thanks to the expanding need for new applications on smartphones and tablets.
Qualifications
To get into this profession, you’ll typically need to complete a university course, college course or apprenticeship in a relevant subject, such as software development or software engineering.
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or a degree in:
- computer science
- information technology
- software development
- financial technology
- software engineering for business
- maths
