This takes strong logical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as a deep knowledge of computer science and programming. It’s a challenging, but exciting career, and – as we’ll get into shortly – a highly profitable one.

If you’re technology-affine, have an analytical mind, and love to create slick solutions to people’s challenging problems, Software Engineer could be a fulfilling career for you. 

What is Software Engineering, exactly?

Software Engineering is a discipline of Computer Science that’s dedicated to architecture, development, testing, deployment and maintenance of computer programs. It’s called Software Engineering because engineering concepts are used – together with computer coding – to create software that fulfills the needs of users.  

What does a Software Engineer do?

Software Engineers are asked to carry out manifold tasks on the job. Not only do they design software – they create its code, test and debug it and deploy (release) the software. Ultimately, they need to keep monitoring and updating the “finished” product. 

Tasks & responsibilities

• Software architecture / design. Software Engineers create the architecture of a software – the blueprint of how its different parts will work together to create the finished product. They also design each individual part of the software.
• Developing software. Using their deep knowledge of computer programming, Software Engineers also create the code that makes up a software program.
• Analyzing software solutions. They’re experts at analyzing their own software, or that created by others, using a high-level, engineer’s view.
• Code-testing. Engineers are known for leaving nothing to chance, and the same applies to the software field. Each step of the way, tests are written and executed to make sure each software feature is working as intended.
• Debugging software. Once an error is found in the code, the engineer will try to get to its “fix the bug” by addressing its root cause, in a way that avoids causing other problems down the road. 
• Optimizing software. Many times, a software doesn’t run as fast as it could, or is generally designed in an inefficient way, with a bloated codebase. A Software Engineer’s task is to detect these inefficiencies and clean them up, optimizing the software for performance, scalability and maintainability.
• Monitoring a software’s performance. They have a responsibility to ensure a software is running optimally under real-world conditions. Performance has to be measured and tracked in both normal and system-stressing situations.
• Consulting with team members and clients. Counter to the cliché, Software Engineering isn’t a solitary affair. To work most productively as a company, and stay in line with client requirements, collaboration and communication are crucial parts of the job.
• Maintaining and updating software. After successfully deploying a new software product, the engineer’s work is not done. Most software has to constantly be adapted to new demands, be they additional features, compatibility changes, or emerging security threats. 

Where do Software Engineers work?

• Tech companies. Software Engineers work at large companies like FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google), but also medium-sized and small tech companies. These jobs come with a high level of responsibility, challenging and often cutting-edge work assignments, and 
• Traditional companies. Nowadays even companies in traditional fields such as agriculture or construction have digitalized some of their operations. They’re using Software Engineers to create the software to handle various tasks inside their businesses.
• State institutions. Agencies like the IRS, DoD or NASA look to Software Engineers to build the most secure software for their needs. 
• Startups. Tech startups employ Software Engineers to develop the new software they want to bring to market. These positions give you the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, creative environment, working on solutions that can change industries, or the world.
• Education. Engineers are needed to develop programs for research institutions or colleges. They can also become teachers or professors of Software Engineering or Computer Science.

Salaried employment vs freelancing

Working for a paycheck and benefits is not the only way for Software Engineers. A profitable career as a Software Engineering freelancer is also possible. Either way, the nature of the job means it lends itself well to remote work and setting your own hours.

The types of software created by Software Engineers

• Desktop software. These are PC programs that run on code and interact with the user by means of a graphical interface. This could be anything from calculator apps to music players.
• Web applications. Software Engineers also create online apps that can be accessed with a web browser. Online shops, e-banking or almost any software-as-a-service (SaaS) app fall under this category.
• Mobile apps. Apps for tablets and mobile phones have to be expertly engineered, too, so Software Engineers are called on to develop navigation apps, personal development apps, mobile games, and the like.
• Embedded systems. Embedded systems are microcontroller based systems such as alarms, household machines, or digital cameras. 
• Operating systems. Systems Developers or Engineers work on the foundation for modern personal computing: The operating system.
• Management software. For larger companies, Software Engineers are creating software systems for the management of customer data, human resources, or company assets, for example.

Why Software Engineer?

Salary

One of the biggest perks of a Software Engineering job is the impressive salary it can generate for you. According to the Dice Tech Salary Report, the average US salary for a Software Engineer is $111,000. 

The exact salary a Software Engineer will make depends on different factors:

• Location and size of the company
• Field of specialization/special skills
• Experience

For example, as a QA Engineer with less than a year of experience, working for a company in Tennessee, you might make only around $50,000 per year.

As a Cloud Engineer with 5-10 years of experience, working in California, on the other hand, your yearly salary could be between $130,000 and $150,000.

Job satisfaction

According to conisar.org, Software Engineers rate how satisfied they are with their job at 3.69 / 5 on average.

Stack Overflow found that what they like most about their jobs are “salary (60 percent), work-life balance (58 percent), flexibility (52 percent), productivity (52 percent), and growth opportunities (49 percent)”.

70% of Software Engineers are happy about their work overall. This is 5% above the average job satisfaction rate in the US.

Remote work ability

Remote work makes Software Engineers more productive. And because all their tasks can be completed over the internet, it’s the perfect profession to go remote in. Around 80% of Software Developers and Engineers are working remotely or in a hybrid environment today.

Job outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in software development will grow by 25% within the decade – in contrast to only 5% growth in all industries on average. With emerging fields like Blockchain, Cybersecurity and Machine Learning offering new opportunities for Software Engineers, job outlook continues to look positive in comparison to other fields.

Career paths

Today, there’s a considerable number of career options for Software Engineers to choose from:

• QA/Test Engineer. 
• Data Engineer. 
• Cloud Engineer. 
• Full-Stack Engineer. 
• ML/AI Engineer. 
• Game Engineer. 
• Embedded Systems Engineer. 
• iOS/Android Engineer. 
• Security Engineer. 
• Technical Program Manager. 

Software Engineer vs Software Developer

The job description of a Software Developer is very close to that of Software Engineer. Both use programming languages to create the code necessary for a software project. 

But where they differ is that a Software Engineer also takes on the larger-scale task of designing the architecture of the software – which is where the required engineering skills come to fruition.

How to become a Software Engineer

There are different paths to becoming a Software Engineer — getting a degree, taking courses, or going completely self-taught.
Regardless of which path you went with: To have a chance in the competitive Software Engineering job market, the result needs to be that you’ve mastered certain hard skills (including one or more programming languages) and soft skills.

Essential Software Engineer skills

To be a great Software Engineer requires you to develop a number of skills to a high level. There’s the technical, or “hard” skills on one side, and the more intangible, (inter-)personal “soft” skills on the other. Both are essential for a successful career in Software Engineering.

Hard skills

• Algorithms.
• Object-oriented programming.
• Software development methodologies
• Software architecture
• Database knowledge
• Mastery over platform, programming language, and framework
• Clean code principles
• Design patterns
• Testing  
• Debugging 

Soft skills

• Critical thinking & problem-solving ability.
• Emotional intelligence & empathy.
• Communication & confidence.
• Teamwork
• Negotiation skills
• Creativity
• Productivity & time management

Languages

Software Engineers use a variety of programming languages to accomplish their projects. The most popular ones include:

• Python
• JavaScript
• C++
• C
• Java
• PHP
• SQL
• Rust
• Go

Courses

There’s many high-quality online courses for Software Engineers to learn the tools of the trade and level up their skills.

Some of the most popular platforms include Codecademy and Udemy.

Software Development from A to Z at Udemy is the perfect course for beginners to start learning to code software from the ground up.

Codecademy’s Full-Stack Engineer Career Path is a 6-month deep dive into front-end and back-end development.

Remember to keep working on your own projects alongside your coding education.

Can you become a Software Engineer without a degree?

All else being equal, a candidate who also has a Software Engineering degree is likely to get the job over someone who’s self-taught. But, it’s absolutely possible to compete in the market and get a lucrative position as a Software Engineer without a degree. What’s valued most by employers are demonstrable hard and soft skills, as well as relevant experience — which a self-taught developer can prove with programming projects completed on his own time. An impressive portfolio plus other marketing tactics can win you a job as a Software Engineer, even if you never went to college.

Associations and organizations

It’s a good idea for any Software Engineer or those aspiring to the job to join an organization of like-minded professionals for learning and networking purposes.

• Agile Alliance
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
• Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
• Network Professional Association (NPA)
• Society for Modeling & Simulation International (SCS)

FAQ 

Should I become a Software Engineer?

Whether you should or should not become a Software Engineer comes down to your analytical ability, affinity to Computer Science topics, willingness to persevere through challenges, hunger for immersive learning, and passion for problem-solving. If you’re interested in becoming a Software Engineer, and you have some or all of these traits, you should go for it. It’s certainly one of the most profitable careers you can choose for yourself.

How long does it take to become a Software Engineer?

Depending on which education path you choose – and the effort you put in – you can become a Software Engineer in anywhere from 6 months to 4 years. The traditional college route takes 4 years, while someone who is self-taught or went through a coding bootcamp might be ready to start applying for jobs after just 6 months.

How do you become better as a Software Engineer?

The most important tips to become a better Software Engineer are to seek out mentorship, to become an expert in Test-Driven Development (TDD), and to never stop learning. The software field is changing fast, so you should split your time between perfecting your fundamentals and learning new concepts and skills. 

What are Software Engineers like?

Software Engineers are intelligent, highly analytical and logical thinkers. They are ambitious and disciplined. They love a challenge and to solve tough problems. Software Engineers value contribution, which is why they do their best to serve their clients and improve their lives by creating the software they need. Sometimes they go above and beyond to make the customer happy with their product.

Do you need math to be a Software Engineer?

Yes, you do need good math skills to be a Software Engineer. Programming languages and principles are based on math concepts – understanding them and their use is essential for mastering Software Development and Engineering. In a Software Engineering job interview, the candidates’ math abilities are tested with coding questions whose solutions use math, as well as concrete math problems.

The post What is a Software Engineer? Your Full Guide in 2023 appeared first on Simple Programmer.

• For more data structures & algorithms focused questions, check out the post about what’s frequently asked in coding interviews.
• Find behavioral questions and answers in another article.

Let’s get to the questions. Good luck in your upcoming interview.

1. Describe your process for creating a software program.

1. Understanding the requirements of the software application comes first. 
2. Then I create a software flowchart detailing how the program will function. 
3. For each operation within the program, I then write out the code. 
4. Once I’m finished, I send off the application to QA. An interface can only
5. Finally, the end user has to be satisfied with the product. That’s when I know I’ve successfully completed all steps of the process. 

2. Please explain Big O notation.

In computer programming, Big O notation is used to measure the runtime of an algorithm. With Big O notation we can compare the efficiency of different solutions to a programming problem.

It shows how an algorithm scales, depending on the size of the input. 

3. How do you test for and find bugs?

I’m using the Agile/Waterfall methodologies when developing my software – which means I’m testing my programs at different points, to be able to get ahead of any bugs as early as I can. For this, I’m working with several debugging tools (…). 

Additionally, I intermittently have my team review my work. This way I make sure my code is as error-free as possible before I have QA do the last round of tests, and there’s minimal debugs for them to still perform at the end.

4. What is a stack? And which two operations does it perform?

A stack is a data structure. Its unique properties are that it’s using last, in, first out (LIFO) to organize the data – as opposed to a queue, which is FIFO (first in, first out).

The operations of a stack are push and pop. Push is putting the data into the stack at the top. Pop is removing the last piece of data added to the stack.

5. How would you explain cloud computing to a non-technical person?

Most simply put, the cloud is a storage device located remotely. It works like your hard drive, only that you access it over the internet, not on your personal computer.

Programs can also be hosted and run remotely in the cloud, similar to how they do on your PC or smartphone. Today, anytime you do a search or message someone online, or buy from an online store, you’re using the cloud.

6. What is a module? What is modular programming?

A module is an independent block of code that can be called on in the same way a method can. Modules can be shared for use in other systems or by other developers.

The modular programming paradigm states that you should strive to have your software be made up of modules, because they make your code easier to understand and work with. Each program function gets its own module, and everything needed to execute that function is contained in the module.

7. What is a load balancer, and how does it work?

A load balancer routes client requests towards multiple servers, so the load is shared between them, and the request is handled most efficiently and reliably.

Load balancers work by employing different algorithms for distributing the load – such as a Round Robin algorithm, Least Connections algorithm, or Least Time algorithm.

8. In your opinion, what are the skills need to be a successful Software Engineer?

1. Problem-solving ability, with regards to projects, teamwork, and the software itself.
2. Technical skills, such as mastery of programming principles, software design (using OOP) and coding capabilities (in multiple relevant languages, preferably), as well as testing and debugging skills.
3. Interpersonal and communication skills.
4. Organizational, planning and leadership/management skills.

9. What is software scope, and what does the process involve?

Software scope defines all actions needed to create the finished software product, as well as what the software will and won’t be able to do. It outlines what will be included in the process, and what won’t be included.

The way to determine software scope is to first define the goals of the project (in light of constraints like the client’s budget), then determine the expected output, spell out each task to be performed, and also clearly define which tasks won’t be done & which features won’t be delivered as part of the project – to keep its scope in check.

10. Can you explain functional vs object-oriented programming?

Object-oriented programming means creating software using classes and objects. Classes specify the variable types and methods for an object. The benefits of using OOP are saving time, making your code more readable, and easier to reuse, debug or be worked on by others. 

Functional programming, on the other hand, is based on pure functions – simple, independent blocks of code that take an input, perform a process, and give an output. A pure function’s output only changes if the input is changed, but not with any other impact from the outside.

11. What are the differences between Arrays and Linked Lists?

Method of storing elements. An Array stores data in contiguous memory, whereas a Linked List stores data in a series of nodes, along with a reference (or pointer) to the next node.

Ease of implementation. Arrays are easier to implement than Linked Lists, because with Linked Lists you need to know about dynamic memory allocation and how to manipulate pointers.

Fixed size vs size allocated at runtime. As soon as you declare an Array, the memory needed is allocated to it. With Linked Lists the size is allocated as elements are added to it at runtime. 

Speed of memory access. It takes longer to access an element in a Linked List because it could be stored anywhere in the memory zone, which has to then be traversed sequentially. 

Efficient use of memory. Memory is utilized more efficiently with a Linked List, because its size isn’t fixed (there can be a lot of unused slots in an Array) – it’s only as large as needed. It’s also possible to use shared memory with Linked Lists. 

Speed of adding/removing elements. It’s faster to add or remove an element to/from a Linked List than an Array. An Array has to be completely reindexed when something is added to it or removed from it.

12. What are verification and validation? What’s the difference?

We use verification and validation to check whether the software we’re creating is to specification, up to standard, and does what it’s supposed to do.

When we verify, we statically test the software – without running it – by inspecting and reviewing its documents and code.

When we validate, we dynamically test the software, by running it after it has been compiled. We then look at whether the program executes all its functions, as well as how it performs and how much processing power and memory it uses.

In both cases we compare the results to the requirements established at the outset.

13. What are steps of the Waterfall method of Software Development?

1. Requirements
2. Design
3. Implementation
4. Verification
5. Maintenance

14. What is a recursive function?

A recursive function is a function that calls itself (directly, or indirectly, using a second function) – until the desired result is achieved. Every time it calls itself, one or more values are changed. The recursion is stopped when the pre-defined base case is reached, the point at which the solution has been reached by running the function multiple times and no more recursion has to be performed.

15. Tell me about monolithic application architecture vs microservices applications architecture.

A monolithic application is created as a cohesive unit, while microservices architecture consists of a number of independent, smaller services.

16. Please define black box testing & white box testing and their differences.

Black box testing is when you test a program without knowing or taking into account its design, structure and code. It only concerns itself with the outward behavior of the software and how it reacts to inputs & outputs.

White box testing, on the other hand, examines the structure and code of the software. It is used in Unit Testing during development, as well as when running Integration Tests.

While black box testing is mostly done by Software Testers/QA, the Software Developer/Engineer uses white box testing during the development phase. In comparison, white box testing is harder to execute and takes more time.

17. Please describe interfaces and abstract classes, and their differences.

Interfaces describe what an object can do – it can be thought of as a contract that defines the properties of an object. It defines methods that any class(es) implementing the interface have to implement. One or multiple (concrete) classes can implement the interface.

Both interface and abstract classes provide data abstraction, which means that unimportant information is hidden from the user. Neither can be instantiated directly – they must be inherited by a concrete class.

Abstract classes are a base for other (sub-)classes. They’re used when you want to have multiple derived classes share a definition. 

If objects are similar to each other, it makes sense to use abstract classes. If objects are not related to each other, interface should be used. Because a class can only inherit from one abstract class, but from multiple interfaces, it makes sense to use an interface for when you want a class to behave in a multitude of ways.

18. What are coupling and cohesion, and what is the difference?

Cohesion and coupling are two important ways to ensure proper software design.

Coupling measures the amount of dependency between different modules within the software. Low coupling signifies independence of modules from one another. High coupling refers to a strong interconnection of modules – a change in one module will influence other modules to a large degree.

Cohesion measures the connectedness of parts within each module. High cohesion stands for individual parts working together towards the same outcome. Low cohesion stands for parts of a module differing from each other and serving separate outcomes.

A Software Engineer should aim to create software that has both low coupling and high cohesion, to make it more efficient, readable, and maintainable, as well as less error-prone.

19. Tell me how you come up with estimates for a project.

When estimating a software engineering project, I make sure to take into account the phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Here’s how I come up with the best estimate for designing, creating, and launching a new software:

1. Write out the SDLC for the project to have a high-level overview of what will need to be done.
2. Check the requirements for my project (while making sure they’re in line with how my customer has defined his)
3. Break down all tasks and deliverables in detail.
4. Assign hours to each task, taking into account the team’s abilities. Put limits to each task – if a single task is estimated to be over the limit, split it up into several smaller ones.

20. How would you go about writing your own database server?

1. I would first create a read-execute-print loop (REPL). 
2. Then I’d build an SQL compiler.
3. Now I’d use a data structure (like a B-tree) to store the data
4. I would write tests for my new database using a TDD tool
5. Next I’d add persistence to the database (allowing it to write files to disk)

21. Please explain the concept of inheritance.

Inheritance is one of the main principles of object-oriented programming (OOP). With inheritance, a Software Engineer can set up class hierarchies, with classes/objects (sub or child class/object) inheriting properties and behaviors from a higher-up class (parent or super class).

The benefit of inheritance is cleaner, more efficient, and reusable code that’s less likely to contain errors.

22. Please name some methods you’d use for software protection.

I’d make sure to analyze & communicate security risks up front, and then incorporate principles of secure software development into every step of the Software Development Life Cycle of the application – as well as implementing security testing each step of the way.

It’s important to protect the code not only after, but also during development. This includes safe code storage and employing version control. Frequent code reviews should be performed to check for new vulnerabilities. I would use static code analysis tools to help spot insecurities.

I’ll employ best practices such as:

• Encryption
• Password hashing 
• Parameterized SQL queries 
• Preventing cross-site scripting 
• Executable space protection
• Disallowing unvalidated redirects & forwards
• Error monitoring & exception handling
• Least Privilege principles
• Penetration testing

Additional reading for your Software Engineering interview

For the non-technical, culture fit or personal part of the Software Engineering Interview, check out the post Behavioral Software Engineer Interview Questions. 

The post 22 Software Engineer Interview Questions (with Answers) appeared first on Simple Programmer.