Software Engineer
On this page
- What's it like to be a Software Engineer?
- How to become a Software Engineer
- Latest Software Engineer jobs
- Top skills and experience for Software Engineers
- Is Software Engineer the right role for you?
- Software Engineer role reviews
What's it like to be a Software Engineer?
Software Engineers design, develop and maintain computer software. They use programming languages to create websites, apps and operating systems or manage databases. Software Engineers often work for IT and technology companies, as well as companies in other industries including finance, government, health and professional services.
Tasks and duties
- Consulting with management and users to determine the needs of the system.
- Using techniques such as sampling, model building and structured analysis, along with accounting principles, to ensure the solution is efficient, cost-effective and financially feasible.
- Overseeing implementation, coordinating tests and observing initiation of the system to validate performance.
How to become a Software Engineer
You usually need a tertiary qualification to become a Software Engineer. A bachelor degree is desired by many employers.
Complete a bachelor degree in computer science or information technology. This usually takes three years of full-time study.
Secure an internship to gain industry experience.
Consider completing postgraduate study, such as a Master of Computer Science. This usually takes one year.
Consider developing your specialisation with industry certifications in one or more programming languages such as C, C++, Python, Java or SQL.
Join a professional association, such as the Institute of IT Professionals NZ. You may be eligible to join while studying.
