Software Developer jobs

Software developer jobs involve working with programming languages like ASP.net, C#, Java and Python to write, revise and troubleshoot code for their employer or end-user clients. People with software engineer jobs are senior software developers who apply engineering principles to the design process, incorporating an appreciation of algorithms, scalability, data structures and other concerns that a junior software developer might not need to consider.

There is a considerable hierarchical range within the discipline, from junior software developer to senior software developer jobs, and from junior software engineer to senior software engineer jobs. In some cases the different terms are used interchangeably in job titles, despite them being technically distinct roles.

Typical tasks of a software developer

A software developer's core role is to work as part of a development team to produce software that solves a specific challenge, either for the parent organisation or for an external client who is the end-user. With a firm focus on usability and well executed code, junior software developers through to senior software engineers must keep a keen eye on the design of their software to give clients the best possible user experience.

While there may be some crossover, especially between a senior software developer and a junior software engineer, software developer jobs are generally seen as less technical and more creative. Software developers are the brains behind the software design, whether it's a single smartphone app, a desktop program, or a larger platform that underpins a large computer network.

Not all computer programs exist to carry out a technical task. Software developers may be asked to work on informative, engaging and entertaining applications. This includes quality of life apps that aim to make users' everyday life a little easier, and can include games.

Qualifications required for a software developer job

A university degree (either bachelor's or master's) in a technical subject with a grade of 2:1 or above will generally be required in order to progress through an application for a software developer job. You may be considered for a junior software developer role if you can show you have the necessary technical expertise, even if you do not have a degree in computer science or software engineering.

Past experience can be a significant factor, especially when applying for senior software developer and senior software engineer jobs. If you have worked on elegant and/or high-profile applications in the past, and you are legally allowed to disclose this, the hiring manager may want to see examples of your previous work.

Hard/soft skills needed for a software developer job

Fluency in programming languages is the primary hard skill for software developer jobs, including ASP.net, C#, Java and Python. Different jobs may require different programming languages, while some senior software developer jobs are likely to demand fluency in multiple languages.

In terms of soft skills, software developers need more creativity than some of their more technically focused counterparts in software engineering roles. Despite this, you still need the attention to detail that is required of all computer programmers, with a logical approach to structuring your programming code in a lean and elegant way.