Daily Life of a Software Engineer

If you are an aspiring Software Engineer, you may be wondering what it is actually like to do this job. What does a typical day look like in this profession? Software engineering tends to have a reputation as a solo activity that involves sitting at your computer all day doing repetitive tasks, however, when you start talking to Software Engineers, you’ll realize that this is far from the truth. Most people find that this occupation involves a wide variety of tasks, including both solo and group work, and that it is often creative and challenging. 

What is a Software Engineer?

A Software Engineer is a computer science professional. This is a job field that combines engineering and computer programming and involves designing, building, testing, and maintaining a variety of different types of software. The types of software that Software Engineers work on include computer programs, web and mobile applications, video games, operating systems, and network control systems. Coding is an important part of this job, however, Software Engineers also need to master many other skills including testing and debugging, object-oriented programming, and working with data structures and algorithms. Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills are also required for success in this field.

The term, “software engineering” was coined in the 1960s. Since then, this profession has grown rapidly and Software Engineers are sought after in many industries. The world continues to rely more and more heavily on software. A large, and growing, number of devices that people utilize every day are controlled by the software that is created and maintained by Software Engineers. This includes cell phones, computers and network systems, and smart appliances like ovens and laundry machines. Software Engineers also play an important role in creating and running the computer systems that are integral to many parts of daily life, in fields like business, communications, and education.

Software Engineer Specializations

The field of software engineering includes a wide range of different types of jobs. The types of software that Software Engineers work on include computer programs, web and mobile applications, video games, operating systems, and network control systems. In addition, they work in a wide variety of different industries. Overall, there are dozens of different job titles and specializations associated with this field. A few of these are detailed below.

• Programming: Some Software Engineers specialize in programming. For instance, a Computer Programmer writes, tests, and modifies code so that different types of software and applications will work correctly. 
• Software: Another specialization is that of Software Developer, which is someone who designs, creates, debugs, and maintains software. Software Developers work in many different industries and often focus on specific types of software. U.S. News & World Report ranks Software Developer as number 1 in “Best Technology Jobs. 
• Networks: Another specialization is in networks. A Computer Network Architect designs and creates data communication networks. This includes local area networks, wide area networks, and intranets. Some of the tasks involved in this job might include analyzing the computer needs of an organization, finding security risks, and troubleshooting problems. 
• Security: Information Security Analysts are focused on security. They help monitor and protect computer systems and networks. They may create software to prevent security breaches, such as firewalls and data encryption systems. They might also create documentation for security. 
• Gaming: Some Software Engineers focus on gaming. A Video Game Designer designs and creates video games for computers, gaming systems, and other devices. Some of the different things a Video Game Designer might do include developing game concepts, creating a storyline, creating game rules, building characters and environments, and testing and debugging. 

Starting Your Day

Software Engineers have a wide variety of different work situations, so starting the day means something different for everyone. Some work in an office, in which case starting the day may mean a commute and a cubicle or office. However, it is also common to freelance or work remotely in this profession, which may mean working from home, where you simply have to walk from your kitchen to your home office. Depending on your work situation, your communication with clients and co-workers will also vary; you might be interacting with them in person, or you might be communicating virtually, via computer.

9 AM

For many Software Engineers, the typical day starts with checking their email and calendar to get an understanding of tasks that need to be accomplished and any problems that need to be addressed. Some teams use specific task management tools. A Software Engineer may also need to meet with team members or clients in order to get an understanding of what they will be working on for the day, including any special tasks or challenges. Most Software Engineers work with a team. That might include people like marketing specialists, web developers, managers, designers, or quality assurance engineers. Many say that they meet with that team daily to discuss goals, progress, and to troubleshoot problems. Others meet less frequently; maybe every few days, or even weekly. Some Software Engineers also need to meet with clients regularly in order to get feedback and discuss progress. 

11 AM

As a Software Developer, you’re likely to spend chunks of time focusing on specific development tasks. Software Engineers often use the term “sprint” to refer to the process of accomplishing a specific amount of work in a short period of time. Specific tasks vary by position, however, some of the things you might work on include:

• Coding an application
• Testing software and fixing errors
• Optimizing and updating existing products
• Creating and updating documentation

You might work alone, or you might collaborate on some of these activities with team members.

While being a Software Engineer involves a lot of technical work, Software Engineers consistently stress that it also includes many other types of work. In a Harvard Business Review article titled, “Career Crush: What Is It Like to Be a Software Engineer?” Software Engineer Lindsey Redd--who has coded for Slack, Lyft, and Stripe--talks about the day-to-day activities involved in her job. She says, “A big misconception is that software engineers just code, which is not true. A lot of my job is writing documentation to explain things to people or communicate or pitch ideas. A lot of it is meetings where we figure out the direction of a particular piece of software or a product. And those all involve a lot of other skills that are not coding.”

2 PM

In the afternoon, you might decide to take a break from your projects and focus on something else. For instance, some Software Engineers spend some time reading tech news and articles to help them stay updated on current advances and trends in software engineering. This is important in this field, since technology changes rapidly. You might also spend some time learning a new tool or programming language that will help you be more productive in the future. In a LinkedIn article titled, “How Can Programmers Adapt to New Technologies?” the authors stress, “[A] key skill for programmers is to learn continuously, as technology is always changing and advancing. Programmers should not rely on their existing knowledge or skills, but rather seek to update and expand them regularly. They should also be aware of the current trends, best practices, and standards in their field, and follow the relevant sources of information, such as blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or online courses.” They explain, “ Learning continuously can help programmers stay relevant, competitive, and innovative in their profession.”

5 PM

The end of the day is typically the time when Software Developers prepare for the next day. This may mean finishing existing tasks, if possible. It might also mean checking your email and calendar again in order to get an idea of what you’ll need to do the next day.

After Work

Most Software Engineers work a regular 40-hour week, however, it is also fairly common to sometimes have to put in overtime in this profession. For instance, there might be a new product or feature to launch, or a critical deadline to meet. In these cases, you might need to put in longer hours, working on evenings or weekends. Even without overtime, software engineering can be an intensive job, and many people who work in this field say that it’s beneficial to find an activity to help you wind down after work, such as a hobby or some type of exercise.

Learn the Skills to Become a Software Engineer at Noble Desktop

If you want to learn the skills you’ll need to become a Software Engineer, you’ll find a variety of class options at Noble Desktop. This New York City-based design and coding school offers both in-person and live online courses. It also has a variety of flexible scheduling options including part-time programs and courses that run on weeknights and weekends. All Noble Desktop classes come with the option of a free retake within one year, which is a great way to refresh your skills and gain additional practice. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department.

• One popular Noble option is the Software Engineering Certificate. This is a comprehensive, multi-week course. You’ll learn about front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. This includes learning a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also learn Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. The program also covers JavaScript, and the JavaScript library, React. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In addition, the course covers Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.

• Noble Desktop also offers shorter classes that only take a day or two to complete and focus on a more narrow set of skills. For instance, if you’re looking for a class where you can improve your coding skills, Noble offers a short beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.

Noble Desktop also offers many bootcamps. For instance, there is a React Development Bootcamp, where you’ll learn how to build web applications with React. This course begins by covering basics including how to compose components. Throughout the course, you’ll build a number of web applications. You’ll also deploy them using Amazon Web Services. Another Bootcamp option is Python Web Development with Django, which covers URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django.