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Software Developers, Applications

Also called: Software Engineer, Application Integration Engineer, Programmer Analyst, Software Development Engineer

What they do:
Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.
On the job, you would:
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.
  • Develop and direct software system testing and validation procedures, programming, and documentation.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design system and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it

Abilities

Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems
Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Innovation
  • Cooperation
  • Achievement/Effort

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Development environment software
  • C
  • IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer
Object or component oriented development software
  • C++
  • Python
Program testing software
  • Defect tracking software
  • Mercury Interactive LoadRunner

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$89,280
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about software developers, applications.