What Do Software Developers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Software Developers research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, scientific, and general computing applications. Set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements. May design embedded systems software. Apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. They also modify existing software to correct errors, to adapt it to new hardware, or to upgrade interfaces and improve performance.

Other tasks include:

• Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
• Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures.
• Direct software programming and development of documentation.
• Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.
• Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
• Consult with engineering staff to evaluate interface between hardware and software, develop specifications and performance requirements, or resolve customer problems.

We asked Software Developers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Software Developers monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications. They direct software programming and development of documentation.

A typical day for a Systems Software Software Developer will also include:

• Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists, technicians, or other engineering or scientific personnel.
• Use microcontrollers to develop control signals, implement control algorithms, or measure process variables, such as temperatures, pressures, or positions.
• Design or develop software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcome and consequences of design.
• Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.
• Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures.

We asked some Software Developers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	53% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	62% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	65% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	15% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Software Developers also consult with engineering staff to evaluate interface between hardware and software, develop specifications and performance requirements, or resolve customer problems. They may also advise customer about or perform maintenance of software system.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Software Developers Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements. They might also Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.

In addition, they Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Modify existing software to correct errors, to adapt it to new hardware, or to upgrade interfaces and improve performance.

To some Software Developers, it is also their responsibility to Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Systems Software Software Developer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm

http://www.acm.org/

http://www.comptia.org/

http://www.coeforict.org/