Software Engineering is a vast, ever-changing field that encompasses a variety of different careers. The products developed by software engineers help the world be more productive, communicate with others, learn new things, purchase products and take care of medical needs, among others. With so many uses for Software Engineering, this is a field that is in high demand and could become a high-paying, thrilling career.

An important aspect of receiving professional Software Engineering training to set yourself up for a career change is learning what kinds of fields and industries that training will help you find work in. Each industry will have different requirements and expectations for prospective employees, and you should consider these expectations when you start your training. This is true for students who have an idea of what kind of work they want to do and for students who aren’t yet sure what path they want to take after learning Software Engineering skills.

What is Software Engineering?

Software Engineering is a branch of computer science that focuses on the creation, enhancement, testing and maintenance of software. 

As a software engineer, you will be responsible for creating programs, operating systems and applications. Some of the career paths you might consider exploring include designing and developing computer games, operating systems, network control systems, middleware and business applications, among others.

There is a strong demand for software engineers, which means you can have an incredibly lucrative career. There are also numerous industries that need software engineering, so you’ll be able to work for a company that you find interesting and challenges you to be your best.

What Can You Do with Software Engineering Skills?

As a software engineer, one of your main jobs will be to develop software and applications that transform businesses and people’s lives. That sounds like a tall order, but with the right skills and knowledge, it will be a challenge you happily undertake. Some of the things you can do with Software Engineers skills include the following:

Programming

As a software engineer, you will have programming skills that will allow you to develop software, automate processes and design algorithms. Learning coding and scripting languages can be incredibly useful during this process and give you the skills and knowledge you need to work in a variety of different industries, from healthcare to government to nonprofits and places in between.

Software Development

Software development is tied to programming, and with this skill, you will be able to create a variety of different products that can be used by companies and individuals to make their lives easier or more entertaining. Depending on what interests you, with the right skill set, you can create games, websites or apps, among other software products, for public use.

Software Testing

Developing software is the first step in the Software Engineering process. You then need to make sure your creation actually works and behaves as intended. Having skills in software testing allows you to identify and fix any issues that might arise.

Debugging

This skill goes along with software testing. Once you find issues or problems, you then need to know how to fix them. Having an understanding of code flow is particularly useful in making sure your software runs smoothly. It’s also beneficial to have some problem-solving skills, as this will help you think about issues and problems (and how to fix them) in new and creative ways.

Database Administration

From websites to apps to accounting to other types of software, keeping a business running means keeping their technology running. If you have database administration skills, you’ll be able to keep your employer’s software organized and maintained—and potentially create new software to improve the company’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Documentation and Communication

As a software engineer, you’ll have a lot of technical skills that will be highly valued by others because you’ll be able to develop software that makes life easier. However, having documentation and communication skills will take you to the next level.

With documentation skills, you’ll be able to create manuals or other types of writing that includes clear descriptions of the software’s features, its functionality and how it should be used.

No matter what company or industry you work in, you will find yourself needing to explain complex ideas to individuals who don’t have the same technical understanding you do, and that’s where communication skills come in handy. Having the skills to convey information in simple, easy-to-understand terms will make you an incredibly valuable employee.

Common Industries That Use Software Engineering

Deciding to become a software engineer means that you’ll be in high demand and have a range of job options to choose from. Practically every industry can use Software Engineering in some form or another, but there are some industries that use it more often. The following are some common industries that use Software Engineering:

Retail

When the world moved online, this revolutionized how businesses sell their products. Not only is it possible to make local sales, but a company can also ship their products to customers all over the world—as long as they can be found. That’s why the retail industry is so keen on having software engineers.

In addition to having software engineers develop new websites, many companies also need help improving their user experience, integrating new technology and creating mobile-friendly websites and services. 

Some of the job positions you can find as a software engineer in the retail industry include:

• Application Developer
• Software Application Support Engineer
• Quality/Automation Engineer
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Sr. Automation QA Engineer

The pay for each of these positions varies and depends on your experience and where the job is located; however, on average, you can expect to make more than $100,000 in most of these positions.

Finance and Insurance

Within the finance and insurance industries, there are a wide range of Software Engineering jobs available, from computer system analysts to database administrators to software developers. Many companies within these industries need software engineers to help them modernize their legacy technology. This means helping companies automate their systems, move to the cloud, analyze and secure data and develop customer-facing apps.

Some of the jobs you might consider in the financial industry as a software engineer include:

• Senior Software Engineer for Financial Crimes Solutions
• Underwriting
• Backend Engineer with experience in NodeJS/Express
• Financial Programmer

When it comes to the insurance industry, some of the jobs you’ll find with Software Engineering skills include:

• Sr. Software Engineer with experience in NodeJS, NestJS or GraphQL
• Technical Software Solutions Engineer
• Junior Software Developer
• Engineer with Python/Django experience

Government

The government is probably one of the biggest employers of software engineers, as they need cybersecurity at all levels. Whether you decide to work at the municipal, state or federal level, you’re sure to find a job that pays well and keeps you busy. There are also government contractors that are looking for software engineers.

Depending on where you get a job, you may need to get security clearance. However, the more clearances and certifications you earn, the more you increase your chances of getting a job that is incredibly lucrative and beneficial to everyone.

The types of software engineer jobs the government is hiring for include:

• Senior Systems Engineer
• Principal Software Engineer
• Senior Modernization Software Engineer
• Software Engineering Associate Director
• Digital Signal Processing Software Engineering Scientist

Healthcare

There has been a lot of technological advancements recently, and this has left a lot of the healthcare industry scrambling to catch up. The healthcare industry needs software engineers to help them create patient portals and apps, migrate to the cloud, organize and analyze data and ensure that patient information stays secure.

The advent of telemedicine and electronic health records has opened up new opportunities in this industry, and if you have the right skills, you may find yourself with a career that will last you for a lifetime.

Within the healthcare industry, some of the positions you can consider include:

• Healthcare Test Engineer
• Staff Software Engineer
• Software Build and Release Engineer / DevOps Engineer
• Medical Analytics Data Engineer

IT Services

The IT industry has always been one of the largest employers of software engineers, and that’s probably not going to change any time soon. There are so many different skills that can be used in this industry, including coding, data structures and algorithms and object-oriented programming.

It’s also beneficial if you have problem-solving skills and know your way around databases. Some of the jobs that you’ll find in the IT services industry include:

• Software Development Engineer in Test
• Full-Stack JavaScript Software Engineer
• Senior Software Engineer
• Backend Cloud Engineer
• Senior Security Engineer
• Database Developer

Silicon Valley Tech

When you think of Silicon Valley, the first thing that might come to mind is Facebook or Google. While these are certainly places you might consider working after obtaining Software Engineering skills, they aren’t the only employers in town. 

In fact, there are a lot of established and startup digital companies in Silicon Valley that need people who have Software Engineering skills. Some of them may even come with perks that aren’t available from other companies, such as yoga classes, napping stations and/or professional house cleaning. 

Some examples of jobs that are available in Silicon Valley include:

• Software Engineer, Generalist, Tesla Bot
• Software Engineer, Scenario Creation, Simulation
• AMTS Software Engineer
• WiFi Performance Software Engineer

Research and Development

Research and Development isn’t an industry unto itself, but a lot of businesses engage in this practice to develop and offer customers products that meet their needs—and they need software engineers to help them achieve their goals. From testing products before they go to market or developing a new line of business, you could be on the ground floor of creating innovative products and services for consumers.

Many different industries are looking for software engineers that can help them with research and development, so finding one that aligns with your interests and pays what you’re looking for shouldn’t be an issue. 

Top Companies Hiring Software Engineers

While any company may be looking for a software engineer to add to their payroll, there are a few that are the top companies that hire individuals with this specific skill set. They include:

• Amazon
• Google
• IBM
• Microsoft
• Oracle
• Apple
• Cisco
• Accenture
• JPMorgan Chase & Co
• Meta
• Intel Corporation
• Capital One

After you’ve received professional training and are looking for a career, starting with these companies might be a good way to put your Software Engineering skills to use. 

Learn Software Engineering Skills with Noble Desktop

Making the decision to obtain Software Engineering skills can be incredibly lucrative and rewarding. Whether you’re a beginner, have some computer skills or are a professional, there are still skills you can learn to transition into or excel further in this exciting and profitable industry. To get started, Noble Desktop offers a wide range of online and in-person classes that will fit your schedule and budget.

Whether you’re looking to become a certified software engineer or want one or two classes to round out your skill set, you’ll find exactly what you need at Noble Desktop. Register for classes today to ensure you have the career of tomorrow!