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What does a Software Development Engineer do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

A software development engineer is responsible for developing and maintaining software applications. They work with other engineers and developers to create, test, and deploy new software products. They also troubleshoot and resolve issues with existing software applications.

Software Development Engineer job duties include:

  • Actively participate in the software development cycle including the development of high-quality and stable software based on customer, business, and technical requirements.
  • Engage with product managers, designers, and other engineers to come up with creative solutions to complex problems.
  • Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code following best practices.
  • Perform unit testing and integration testing to ensure the quality of the code before it is deployed to production.
  • Collaborate with other team members in a Agile/Scrum environment.
  • Troubleshoot and debug issues that arise in production.
  • Monitor application performance and identify potential bottlenecks.
  • Keep up to date with latest industry trends and technologies.
  • Write technical documentation when needed.

Software Development Engineer Job Requirements

A software development engineer typically needs a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Some employers may require a master's degree, and some positions may require certification. In addition to education, a software development engineer typically needs several years of experience in the field.

Software Development Engineer Skills

  • Coding
  • Debugging
  • Software design
  • Algorithm design
  • Problem solving
  • Creativity
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Time management
  • Organization
  • Multi-tasking

Related: Top Software Development Engineer Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Software Development Engineer

There are many ways to become a software development engineer. One way is to get a degree in computer science from a college or university. Another way is to attend a coding bootcamp and learn the skills needed to be a software developer.

Once you have the necessary education or training, it is important to get experience working with code and developing software. You can do this by interning at a software company, working as a freelance developer, or participating in open source projects.

It is also important to keep up with the latest trends in the software development industry. This means reading blogs and articles, attending conferences and meetups, and networking with other developers.

By following these steps, you can become a software development engineer and build exciting new applications that make people's lives better.

Related: Software Development Engineer Resume Example

Related: Software Development Engineer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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