Software Engineer Career Path: The Ultimate Guide For Success [Aug 2023]

Software Engineer Career Path

You’ve decided you want to be a software engineer. Congratulations! This is an excellent choice. As a software engineer, you can expect to make a good salary and have excellent job prospects. But what kind of software engineer do you want to be?

Below we will introduce

• Different types of software engineering jobs available
• Skills needed for each type of job
• Offer advice on choosing the right career path
• Potential salary and job outlook for each career path

Different Types of Software Engineering Disciplines

Note: This list can expand into multiple pages. The idea is to introduce each major discipline and help you find what you relate more with.

1. Data engineering

A data engineer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the systems that are used to collect, store, and process data. Data engineers work with a variety of data, including structured data (e.g., relational databases) and unstructured data (e.g., log files).

2. Application engineering

Application engineering is a field of software engineering that deals with the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications. App developers typically have a strong understanding of programming languages and user interface design principles.

Application engineers / programmers are software developers that are responsible to build & maintain software applications that meet the needs of users in the development team. They work with the product owners and rest of the team to design and develop new applications/features.

3. Security engineering

Security engineering is a field of software engineering that deals with the design, development, testing, and evaluation of security systems. 

A security engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the security systems for a company or organization.

4. DevOps engineering

A DevOps engineer is responsible for managing the development and operations of a software system. 

DevOps engineers work closely with both developers and operations staff to ensure that the system is designed and built in a way that meets the needs of both groups.

5. Database engineering

Database engineering is a field of software engineering that deals with the design, development, testing, and management of databases. 

Database engineers are responsible for ensuring that databases are effective in storing and retrieving data.

6. Quality assurance engineering

Quality Assurance engineering is a field of software engineering that deals with ensuring the quality and reliability of software products.

QA testers crash it first you won’t have to

A quality assurance engineer is responsible for testing and evaluating software to ensure that it meets specified requirements and is free of defects or errors.

7. Network engineering

Network engineering is a field of software engineering that deals with the design, development, testing, and evaluation of computer networks. 

Network engineers are responsible for ensuring that networks are effective in connecting computers and devices.

8. Site reliability engineering

Site reliability engineering is a field of software engineering that deals with ensuring the reliability, performance, and availability of a software system.

A site reliability engineer is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the performance and uptime of software systems.

Different Types of Software Engineering Roles

Each of the above disciplines need a number of different roles to work. Here are some of the most common roles.

1. Developer

Developers are responsible for creating the actual code that makes up a software program. They work closely with software engineers and other professionals to create programs that meet the specific needs of their clients or employers. 

Developers typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.

2. Quality Assurance Tester

Quality assurance testers are responsible for testing software programs to ensure that they are free of errors and function properly. They work closely with developers and other professionals in the team to test new and existing software programs. 

Quality assurance testers typically have a bachelor’s degree in computers or a related field.

3. Software Architect

A software architect is responsible for designing the overall structure of a software system. Software architects typically have a strong understanding of multiple programming languages and design patterns.

They work closely with developers, product teams, and other professionals to ensure that the system/program meets the specific business & technical needs of its users. Software architects typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and have spent some time as developers.

4. Project Manager

Project managers are responsible for overseeing the development of a software program from start to finish. They work closely with developers, quality assurance testers, and other team members to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. 

Project managers come from diverse backgrounds but understand the software development lifecycle very well.

5. Business Analyst

Business analysts are responsible for analyzing the business needs of their clients or employers and determining how best to meet those needs with a software solution.

They work closely with developers, quality assurance testers, and other professionals to ensure that the final product meets the specific needs of its users.

Business analysts typically have a business background (& some with technical background).

6. Product manager

A product manager is responsible for defining the features and requirements of a software product. Product managers work closely with developers, designers, and other stakeholders to ensure that the final product meets the needs of the customer or client.

Product Managers typically have a deep business background (& some with technical background).

7. Engineering manager/Tech Lead

An engineering manager is responsible for overseeing the work of a team of software engineers and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget. They may also be involved in the hiring and training of new software engineers. 

Engineering managers typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, as well as several years of experience in software engineering.

8. User experience designer

User experience designers are responsible for designing the overall user experience of a software program, including its layout, navigation, and overall usability. They work closely with developers and other professionals to ensure that the final product is easy to use for its intended audience. 

User experience designers typically have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to human-computer interaction or design.

What Skills Do Software Engineers Need for Each Career path

Technical expertise

Any discipline within the software engineer career paths need good technical expertise in your chosen line of work.

Ultimately each role needs the necessary technical skills & the technical knowledge to perform the job – be it designing applications, or building & testing them.

A technical architect will need to know about the different technologies so they can ensure the design is optimal. A software developer may not need to know ALL relevant technologies, but will need to be good at his chosen programming languages.

A business analyst may not care about which programming language is used, but needs to ensure the business requirements are clearly understood by the developer.

A QA analyst may not need to know programming languages, but will need help the team focus on quality through the entire software development process – right from requirement definition to end user acceptance of the software.

People skills:

Software engineering is a dynamic field of engineering. While technical skills are an absolute necessity, people skills become the real differentiator.

Most engineering teams these days are distributed and work remotely. It can be hard to build the right personal connections, communicate effectively and get your point across.

Key skilled software engineers show these skills more than others

• Excellent interpersonal communication
• Ability to build trust quickly
• Explain technical concepts to people without technical knowledge
• Work with remote/distributed teams
• Ability to build teams that work with a shared vision & goal
• Ability to cope with change

Senior Software Engineer, or a Specialist? What’s the right career path for you?

Which is the right door for you?

Some important factors to consider when choosing a software engineering career path include your interests and skills, the job market for that particular role, and opportunities for growth and advancement within the field.

It’s also important to keep in mind that many roles in the industry overlap and it’s not uncommon for a software engineer to switch between roles or pursue multiple specialties.

It’s a good idea to do some research and talk to experienced professionals in the field before making a decision on your career path. It may also be helpful to gain experience through internships or entry-level positions in order to get a better understanding of various roles in the industry.

Ultimately, choosing the right software engineering path is a personal decision and what might be a good fit for one individual may not necessarily be the best fit for another. It’s important to choose a path that aligns with your interests, skills, and long-term career goals.

Here’s a short checklist

– What are your interests and skills as a software engineer?

– What is the job market like for that particular role?

– Are there opportunities for growth and advancement in that field?

– Have you done research and talked to experienced professionals in the field?

– Have you gained experience through internships or entry-level positions?

– Does the path align with your long-term goals?

– Is it a personal decision that feels right for you?

And just because you started in a role doesn’t mean you cannot change. Software developer career path isn’t always a fixed straight line. You can always adapt and adopt along the way based on your interest and needs.

Software development is a massive industry and offers huge opportunities. There’s always a place for you regardless of what you aspire to be – a Chief Technology Officer, Tech Lead, Team Leader of a an engineering team.

Potential Salary and Job Outlook for Each Software engineer Career Path

How much to Software Engineering jobs pay?

(Use a site like Glassdoor to specifically check the salary levels for your target company/location. These are US averages).

1. Junior Software Engineers

A junior software engineer is someone who has just graduated from college or completed a coding bootcamp. A typical Junior software engineer has 0-2 years of experience and are paid an annual salary of $50,000-$70,000.

2. Mid-Level Software Engineers

A mid-level software engineer is someone who has 3-5 years of experience. A mid-level software engineer typically works independently in a specific area and needs very little assistance from others. They are paid an annual salary of $80,000-$100,000.

3. Senior Software Engineers

A senior software engineer is someone who has 6+ years of experience. A Senior software engineer typically is either a super specialist in a specific software engineering area or oversees the word of other junior software engineers. They are paid an annual salary of $120,000-$140,000.

4. Lead Software Engineers

A lead software engineer is someone who manages a team of software engineers. A lead software engineer typically has 8+ years of experience. They are paid an annual salary of $160,000-$180,000.

5. Principal Software Engineers or Engineering managers

A principal software engineer is someone who manages multiple teams of software engineers. Principal software engineers typically have 10+ years of experience. They are paid an annual salary of $200,000-$220,000.

6. Software Architect

A chief software architect is someone who designs the overall architecture of a software system. Chief software architects typically have 12+ years of experience. They are paid an annual salary of $240,000-$260,000

Wrap Up

We hope this article has been helpful in introducing the different types of software engineering jobs available, discussing the skills needed for each type of job, offering advice on choosing the right path, describing the potential salary and job outlook for each career option, and sharing resources for further research on each type of software engineering job.

As a final piece of advice, we encourage you to talk to as many software engineers as you can to get a better sense of what type of engineer you want to be and what kind of work you see yourself doing long-term. The more information you have about your options, the better equipped you will be to make the best decision for your future.

If you liked this, you might also like RTE Career guide, and Product Owner Career guide.

Further Reading Suggestion: Software Developer Vs. Software Engineer: What’s the Difference?