Software engineers have a primary concern with the quality and performance of software systems. Achieving these goals in a wide range of application areas and levels of complexity of systems requires the special skills and knowledge of the software engineer. Aside from the management of the analysis, specification, design and development of software applications and systems, software engineers also oversee the certification, maintenance and testing of software applications as well as the integration of complex software systems.
Speaking Of Software
Software is that part of the whole information system that describes what tasks are to be done and how they are done. Software systems can be very large and complex, to the extent that no single person can comprehend the whole package - these systems must be built and managed by teams of experts, most often guided by a software engineer. The complete system also includes a wide range of other information and documentation, which is essential to complete the software development task.
Professor Geoff Roy, formerly Profession of Software Engineering at Murdoch University's School of Engineering, discusses the three stages in which software engineers are involved during the development of software applications or systems.
The first stage is the requirements stage. This is where software engineers consult with clients to assess and analyse the client's needs and to discuss the desired outcomes. This enables the development of the concepts and designs needed to achieve those outcomes to proceed into the design implementation phase.
''The specifications must be realised into a complete system of computer programs. This stage encompasses design, coding and testing and is called the development phase,'' says Professor Roy.
Finally, the completed systems must be verified and tested to ensure that they meet the stated requirements. The documentation, delivery and maintenance of the finished applications and systems is the third stage of the process.
Quality assurance processes are integrated into all of these phases to ensure that the process being followed will be successful.
Management Is Their Middle Name
Professor Roy says that software engineers are mainly responsible for managing the overall software engineering process. Software engineers will typically work with teams of software developers and programmers who will undertake most of the detailed programming and testing work.
Software engineers are involved in the design and development of many types of software including software for operating systems, network distribution and compilers, which provide support for building, business applications, computer games and technical applications used in industrial and embedded applications. They also solve technical problems as they arise.
Software engineers also analyse users' needs and design, create and modify general computer applications software or specialised utility programs to suit individual requirements. Different programming languages are used, depending on the purpose of the program. Software engineers are expected to be adaptable across a wide range of hardware and software domains.
The tasks performed by software engineers evolve rapidly, which reflects new areas of specialisation and changing technology. Software engineers often work as part of a team that designa new hardware, software and systems. A core team may comprise engineering, marketing, manufacturing and design people who work together until a product is released.
This line of work embraces the principles and techniques of computer science, engineering and mathematical analysis, project management and human resources management.
Skills For Success
If you have decided that this is the occupation for you, then you will need to bring strong programming capabilities to the role. A good understanding of software technologies isa a must. Software engineers are more concerned with developing algorithms (a procedural model for working out calculations) and analysing and solving programming problems than with actually writing code, so good problem solving skills are essential.
Project management is a core ingredient of software engineering. Knowing how to make a project work, on time and on budget, in order to produce quality applications and systems is critical. Human resource management is as much a key function, which calls for a very high level of communication skills.
Given the impact of computers and information technology on our everyday lives and their central and growing role in numerous industries, commerce, government, medicine, education, entertainment and society at large, the future for these engineers is sound. The current demand for these technicians' services is high.
In Western Australia, the main employers of software engineers include Motorola, Australian Defence Industries and the ERG Group. They are also employed in the defence industry, especially associated with the support of naval submarines and surface ships at Garden Island.
The starting salary for a recent software engineering graduate is approximately $42,000 and this may go as high as $110,000. |