Software Engineer: who is this and what does it do?

In the modern world, the profession of a software engineer is one of the most sought-after and is very popular among young people. This profession involves a combination of job responsibilities of two specialties: programmer and engineer. Typically, a programmer is a person who is engaged in the creation of various sites, and an engineer is one who conducts calculations and builds drawings.

Thus, the software engineer is a kind of universal, combining the skills of these two areas. In our article we will talk about what a software engineer does, what are his job responsibilities, and what qualities a person in this profession should have.

First of all, a software engineer is a person with a higher technical education, who has sufficient knowledge both in the field of engineering and in the field of programming. The task of a specialist in this profession includes the creation of new information products and technologies and the implementation of his inventions. Such products may include software, various mobile applications, online games, and much more.

There is a separate classification of specialists in this profession, each category has its own characteristics. In general terms, the highest is 1 category, an analogue of a leading specialist.

Let us consider in detail what is the competence of a software engineer, in what enterprises it is in demand and what skills make it a highly qualified employee. Typically, the job responsibilities of such specialists vary depending on the type of company or enterprise. In some organizations, a software engineer creates special control programs for CNC machines (numerical control). Their development requires special skills in software engineering. At other enterprises, his activities are related to the development and testing of software.

In general, the job description of a software engineer suggests that this specialist is not only creating new programs, but also introducing the necessary programming tools. A software engineer is also required to keep all related technical documentation.

In addition, this instruction provides:

• development of an algorithm and programs in accordance with the task;
• writing program code using one of the programming languages ​​and its subsequent verification;
• assessment of the work of the created software in accordance with the technical specifications;
• correction of detected errors of the program code;
• creation of interfaces for programs, development of the procedure for updating and data conversion;
• performance of tasks in a certain time frame.

Of course, this profession, like any other, has its own levels by which one can judge the qualifications of an employee of a company or enterprise.

• Entry level - trainee, this is a beginner in this profession, who is not responsible for anything and only learns from more experienced employees.
• Junior Programmer - possesses a level of knowledge sufficient to solve simple problems. The result of his work is also checked by senior colleagues.
• Programmer - has good development experience, is able to independently cope with almost any task. He is responsible for checking the results of the work of junior employees, as well as for the implementation of his projects.
• Senior Programmer, Lead Programmer - the highest levels of specialists in the profession of "software engineer", both deeply know several programming languages, make key decisions about development technologies. However, the Senior Programmer specializes more in technical aspects, for example, in the development of code, and the Leading Programmer, among other things, is also involved in managing the team and communicating with customers.

There is also another qualification category for programmers: System programmer. This is a person who develops operating systems and software systems, writes interfaces to databases, so the computer starts to work quickly and smoothly. System engineers are in great demand at enterprises and companies around the world.

Special instructions for labor protection have been created, their main provisions are as follows:

• in order to get a job as a programmer, you must be at least 18 years old and have the appropriate qualifications;
• to work on a computer, a specialist should read the instructions for its use, as well as get 1 group for electrical safety;
• at least once every six months, a person in this profession undergoes repeated training on occupational safety.

Different enterprises have different qualification requirements for those who apply for the position of programmer. In some cases, they can take a person without work experience with a sufficient set of specialized knowledge.However, to get the job of a software engineer, a higher education is required. Also, most enterprises prefer to hire people with experience from 1 to 3 years.

An important role is played by the professional skills and personal qualities of such applicants. Let's dwell on this point in more detail.

This includes:

• knowledge of a programming language;
• drawing up documentation for developed programs;
• competent selection of necessary information;
• ability to work with equipment;
• application of current standards in work;
• application of Russian and foreign advanced technologies;
• knowledge of the labor code and safety regulations.

Also, individual employers may have additional requirements for applicants, namely:

• knowledge of certain programs;
• ability to perform a large amount of work in a short time;
• know the specifics of this enterprise.

For successful work a software engineer must have such personal qualities as:

• logical thinking;
• attentiveness;
• responsibility;
• stress resistance;
• learning ability;
• teamwork skills.

Due to the fact that currently programming is booming, new languages ​​appear and new technologies are created, an important property of a specialist in the field of computer science is the ability to easily adapt to rapidly changing conditions, constantly learn something new and put this knowledge into practice. Otherwise, such a specialist will soon be unable to cope with the tasks.

The profession of software engineer is considered one of the highest paid and prestigious. Specialists who have achieved a high level of knowledge in the field of modern computer technology and software are in great demand both in our country and abroad. However, there is enormous competition in the labor market, including among people in this profession, therefore, in order to start earning with dignity, it is necessary to spend a lot of time on training, and subsequently on improving the knowledge and skills acquired.

To become a programmer, you can complete the relevant training courses. but cases when an employer employs a software engineer who has only courses behind is still quite rare. Training in such courses takes one to three months; in order to be enrolled in a group of students, you must already have one higher or secondary special education. There are also distance courses, at the end of which a corresponding diploma is also issued, but the level of training of such specialists remains rather low.

Much more likely get a good job in the specialty of "software engineer" are those who graduated from college and received secondary specialized education. In fact, college is the initial step to mastering this profession. During his studies, the young man receives a sufficient set of knowledge in various mathematical disciplines.

Nevertheless, in order to qualify as a software engineer, it is necessary to have a higher education, since usually very strict requirements are placed on the specialist in this profession. This is due to the seriousness of the tasks associated with IT-technologies, and a high degree of responsibility for the created information products.

In order to get the specialty of a programmer in Russia, it is necessary to graduate from a higher educational institution with a degree in software engineering, information security, or the like. This can be done at any physical and mathematical or technical university. Here, students gain knowledge in the following areas:

• mathematics and engineering;
• computer science, information technology and development tools;
• software development;
• modeling and its specifications;
• software projects;
• certification and verification of software;
• and in other professional disciplines.

Thus, the more skills and knowledge an IT specialist has, the greater professional heights he can achieve.