How To Become a Software Engineer
In This Article:
- What Is a Software Engineer?
- What Does a Software Engineer Do?
- Software Engineer Requirements and Career Pathway
- What To Study To Become a Software Engineer
- What Skills Do You Need To Become a Software Engineer?
- Median Annual Wage
- Projected Job Growth
- Where Do Software Engineers Work?
What Is a Software Engineer?
A software engineer is an expert in the design, development and testing of software applications and programs. Software engineers combine an engineering and computer science mindset to create solutions to technical problems. If you’ve ever used a GPS application on your phone, browsed through a menu of TV shows from a streaming service on your smart TV or used a fitness tracker to count how many calories you’ve burned, then you’ve benefited from the hard work of software engineers.
Before considering how to become a software engineer, it’s helpful to learn what this career entails. The term “software engineering” is often used interchangeably with “software development,” but they aren’t quite the same thing. Software engineers work on the entire lifecycle of a project, supervising everything from infrastructure to security. Software development — a subset of software engineering — is focused more narrowly on coding tasks.1
What Does a Software Engineer Do?
Software engineers can work on a wide range of projects and within a variety of areas, including video games, cybersecurity, cloud storage, apps and web apps.3 To become a software engineer, it’s helpful to know how to look at the big picture. Software engineers are charged with managing and working on all different aspects of the project — from initial design to quality testing and maintenance.1
A day in the life of a software engineer can look a little different for each professional, depending on their employer and the specific project they are currently working on. In general, a software engineer may do any of the following tasks:1,3
Project Requirements
Review customer requirements for a project before launching into the design phase.
Software Development
Design and develop software programs, including writing and testing code.
Security and Quality
Ensure the project not only meets customer requirements, but also meets standards of security and quality.
Testing
After the initial development, the software must be thoroughly tested and tweaked to eliminate bugs.
Consultation
Software engineers may consult clients, security specialists and other stakeholders to ensure the software program meets expectations.
Maintenance
Maintain software, optimizing it as needed, developing new features, debugging issues and ensuring the overall performance and security of applications.
Software engineers have several different priorities for each project. They need to ensure the software program fulfills the customer’s requirements and expectations, ensure the software is as secure as possible, and they need to ensure the quality of the software, such as by eliminating all known bugs.
Software Engineer Requirements and Career Pathway
When considering a career as a software engineer, remember there is no single path everyone must follow. People enter the profession with diverse backgrounds and skills. However, certain core requirements, such as proficiency in programming fundamentals, are essential. You can start your journey even in high school by building foundational skills and gaining experience.
High School Diploma
If you are still in high school, you can begin working toward your career goals with a visit to the school guidance counselor, who may help you adjust your schedule to reflect your career aspirations. For example, you may be able to take courses in computer science and coding still in high school. Look for extracurricular activities that are relevant to your career interests, such as programming groups, tech or coding clubs.
College Degree
Although there are no universal degree requirements to become a software engineer, employers commonly do require a bachelor’s degree.4 You could opt for a general computer science or information technology (IT) bachelor’s degree program. However, it’s ideal to choose a software engineering major if available.
Undergraduate Certificates
You might decide to add to your credentials by earning a certificate of completion at the undergraduate level. This can complement your software engineering degree or add to your skill set. For example, you might decide to earn a certificate in a specific programming language to demonstrate expertise in the area.
Internships
Hands-on experience is important in this field, and completing an internship while working toward your bachelor’s degree can be an effective way to gain experience. Plus, you’ll be able to get an inside look at the profession and work on building a professional network, which may be helpful for pursuing employment after graduation.5
Entry-Level Roles
After college, gaining some full-time work experience in the field may help you work your way up to a software engineering position. Some entry-level roles with common job duties related to software engineering may include:6
- Technical support specialist
- Quality assurance tester
- Software test engineer
- Junior software engineer
Professional Certifications
Earning professional certifications can help provide opportunities for you to fine-tune your skills and position yourself in a way that supports career advancement. There are many professional certification options available in the tech field. Some of the most relevant ones for software engineering include the following:7
- Professional Software Development Certification
- Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional
- Certified Software Engineer
- MySQL 8.0 Database Developer Oracle Certified Professional
- Azure Fundamentals Certification
Software engineering can be an exciting field for those who are passionate about technology, as new breakthroughs can create new possibilities each year. This also means, however, that it’s important to be committed to lifelong learning. Staying up to date on industry trends and earning a certification or two may help facilitate your career plans.
What To Study To Become a Software Engineer
Knowing what to study to become a software engineer can be helpful. To become a software engineer, you’ll need to focus on developing your skills in areas such as coding languages, object-oriented programming, cloud computing and operating systems.3 You’ll want to start by earning a bachelor’s degree in software engineering or a related field and then continue to add to your skill set as you progress.
If you do opt for a specific software engineering bachelor’s degree, you can expect to work through an interdisciplinary curriculum that examines both business competencies and computer science fundamentals. You’ll be taught how to analyze complex problems and develop creative and effective solutions.
Software engineering bachelor’s degrees may include topics like:
- Java programming language
- Object-oriented programming
- Software process models
- Project planning
- Embedded systems software
- Modern operating systems
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Software Engineers
To become a software engineer, it’s ideal to choose a degree program that emphasizes hands-on experiences and practices. For example, a degree program with one or more capstone courses will allow you to develop and conduct an extensive project, which you may add to your professional portfolio. You can then show your portfolio to potential employers following graduation.
Technical skills are important for software engineers, but so are soft skills and business competencies.4 Look for a degree program that can teach you strong critical thinking, collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills. With that in mind, the following degree programs may be of interest to you as you work toward meeting software engineer requirements.
Bachelor’s Programs
- Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Software Development
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Master’s Programs
- Master of Science in Software Development
- Master of Science in Software Engineering
- Master of Science in Information Technology
Other Programs
- Bridge (Master of Science in Software Development)
- Bridge (Master of Science in Software Engineering)
- Graduate Certificate of Completion in Information Technology
- Undergraduate Certificate of Completion in Java Programming
What Skills Do You Need to Become a Software Engineer?
Software engineers need strong technical skills to be effective at their job. These technical skills include:3
- Coding languages, including Java and Python
- Database architecture
- Object-oriented programming
- Operating systems
- Cloud computing
- Agile and Scrum project management
- Design testing and debugging
- Version control
You’ll also want to work on refining the following soft skills that are essential for software engineers:1,4
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Independent work
- Leadership
Median Annual Wage
The salary for software engineers can vary depending on factors such as your employer, your years of experience, any certifications you may have and your area of expertise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), software developers had a median annual wage of $132,270 as of May 2023.7
Projected Job Growth
The demand for software developers, QA analysts and testers is expected to grow due to the expansion of AI, IoT, robotics and other automation technologies from 2022 to 2032.8 The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for software developers to be 26% during this time period, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 410,400 jobs in the field.8
Where Do Software Engineers Work?
Much of modern life relies upon software programs. Because of this, software engineers may find work in almost any type of industry. Some of the organizations that may employ software engineers include:1,9
Software Publishers
Many software engineers work for software publishing companies, which may create anything from video games to productivity apps.
Finance and Insurance
Finance and insurance companies rely on software engineers to produce dependable, bug-free software programs.
Manufacturing
Some software engineers work for manufacturing companies, supporting the production of consumer goods.
A software engineer who is continually eager to learn new skills and improve existing skills may decide to pursue advancement opportunities. Different employers may have different software engineer requirements for advancement, of course, but some opportunities may include senior software engineer, IT project manager and systems manager.9
Now that you know how to become a software engineer, it’s time to turn your passion into purpose. At Grand Canyon University, you can choose from a number of technology-focused degree programs, including software engineering degrees. Apply online today.
1 Fore, P. (2024, Feb. 23). What’s the difference between a software engineer and software developer? Fortune. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
2 Statista. (n.d.). Software – worldwide. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
3 Coursera Staff. (2024, March 29). What Does a Software Engineer Do? Coursera. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
4 Indeed Editorial Team. (2022, Dec. 9). How to become a software engineer (with salary and FAQs). Indeed. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
5 Indeed Editorial Team. (2024, April 18). 8 Entry-Level Software Developer Jobs (With Typical Duties). Indeed. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
6 Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, Dec. 7). 11 Software Engineering Ccertifications and Providers for 2024. Indeed. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
7The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Software Developers as of May 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Software Developers. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
8 COVID-19 has adversely affected the local economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is based on May 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Software Developers, retrieved in May 2024.
9 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers: Work environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
Approved by the assistant dean of the College of Engineering and Technology on June 14, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
