How Do I Become a Senior Software Engineer?
If you enjoy working with computers and imagine yourself in a managerial role, you might wonder how to become a senior software engineer. Senior software engineers work with computers, often filling management roles within the field of software engineering. At any level, software engineers create computer applications or programs by conceptualizing, designing, building and testing the software.
Senior software engineers work in businesses, in computer systems design firms, or as independent contractors. Because they are considered management-level employees, senior software developers typically hold many responsibilities. It is a senior software engineer’s job to maintain and update software systems. In crisis situations, senior software engineers solve time-sensitive problems, like computer viruses. Senior software engineers identify existing computer programs that will aid the company in achieving its goals. A senior software engineer must persuasively communicate the potential benefit of the new product to high-level business executives and secure the necessary funding to purchase the program.
Because software engineering can be a highly technical field, aspiring senior software engineers must invest in their education to succeed. The first step is earning a bachelor’s degree in software engineering or a related subject, like computer science. An undergraduate degree may be enough to qualify candidates for entry-level and junior-level jobs in software engineering. To earn a promotion to a position as a senior software engineer, candidates must acquire professional experience and an advanced degree. Aspiring senior software engineers typically earn a master’s degree in information technology or a Ph.D. in computer science.
While formal education and professional experience are important, successful software engineers should also possess a number of other aptitudes. Because they innovate new software applications, they must possess the analytical skills to identify the needs and goals of a project and the creativity to envision new projects. To ensure that these projects come together, aspiring software engineers should be detail-oriented. Because software engineering is a highly technical field, candidates should have a thorough understanding of how computers work. Senior software engineers typically work with others, interfacing with other departments of the business and managing junior-level software engineers. To succeed in these roles, a software engineer must work well with a team, communicate effectively, solve problems promptly and help software users as necessary.
Senior software engineers often enter the field because they enjoy working with computers. The high earning potential and positive job outlook are additional benefits of working in software engineering. Job search website Indeed.com lists the average salary of a senior software engineer as $96,000 per year, which is significantly higher than the $33,840 annual salary that the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as the median for all occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment opportunities in the field of software development will increase by 30 percent between 2010 and 2020.
If you enjoy using technical skills to solve computer problems and create new programs, knowing how to become a senior software engineer may be the beginning of an exciting new career.
