Computer software engineers apply the principles and techniques of computer programming, engineering, and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing and evaluation of the software and systems that enable computers to perform their many applications. This is basically an Electronics Engineering qualification with more software subjects and less engineering subjects
Computer software engineers design and develop many types of software including software for operating systems, network distribution systems and compilers, and which convert programs for faster processing.
Software engineers program computers using various programs, for instance, Assembler, C++ or Java. The major part of their work is, however, developing algorithms and analyzing and solving programming problems.
Software engineers are also required to solve technical problems that arise and should therefore have a good knowledge of hardware components, for instance, microprocessors, embedded controllers, personal computers, routers and transmitters.
They should also have the skills to develop the necessary software in order to implement a complete system operating on a variety of platforms, such as Windows, Windows NT and UNIX. Because computer systems and technology are rapidly evolving, the tasks performed by a computer software engineer have become more complex and specialized
What Are the Qualifications for a Software Engineer?
Most software engineers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, mathematics, or a related field. Master a variety of programming languages, such as C++, C#, JavaScript, and Python and practice building software.
Seek an internship or an entry-level position at a software company or in the IT department of a corporation to learn from experienced software engineers. You may need to start as a programmer and work your way up to software engineer positions.
How long does it take to become a software engineer in South Africa?
The new route – With just 6-12 months of full or part-time education, you can learn focused skills in software development and cover the fundamentals of Computer Science. Software development is one of the few fields where you don’t need a formal degree or diploma to get a job.