How To Become A Programming Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a programming engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Andrea Welker Ph.D.,

Brian Denton Ph.D.

Programming engineers can be known as software engineers, computer programmers, or computer engineers. Their role varies slightly between organizations, but it involves the design, testing, implementation, and troubleshooting of software. Some professionals may also specialize in robotics, virtual reality, or mobile operating systems.

A large part of a programming engineer's job is to write code for a software program. But before this, they conduct research to learn the purpose of the program. After writing the code, engineers subject the program to extensive testing to identify and fix bugs.

Programming engineers may also maintain operating systems, design robots, and create programs that support unique uses like aircraft flight. They need skills like programming, analytical thinking, problem-solving, time management, and communication.

To become a programming engineer, you'll need a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Competence and proficiency is a critical factor when employers hire for this role. You must be able to demonstrate technical skills when required.

What general advice would you give to a programming engineer?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.

ScoreProgramming EngineerUS Average

Salary

6.3

Avg. Salary $80,616

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 11.80%

Black or African American 3.47%

Hispanic or Latino 9.64%

Unknown 4.62%

White 70.37%

Gender

female 15.23%

male 84.77%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a programming engineer

Explore programming engineer education requirements

Most common programming engineer degrees

Bachelor's

74.0 %

Master's

14.0 %

Associate

8.1 %

Start to develop specific programming engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	7.62%
C++	7.54%
Program Management	6.12%
PowerPoint	5.85%
Continuous Improvement	4.55%

Complete relevant programming engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New programming engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a programming engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real programming engineer resumes.

Research programming engineer duties and responsibilities

Design and manage the implementation of production tooling (fixtures, jigs, gauges, cutting tools, etc . )
Manage the manufacturing of defense and aerospace electro-mechanical print circuit boards from prototype to production level.
Install setup and configure UNIX servers.
Create assembly and layout drawings using AutoCAD and SolidWorks software.

Prepare your programming engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your programming engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a programming engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable programming engineer resume templates

Build a professional programming engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your programming engineer resume.

Apply for programming engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a programming engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do programming engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Programming engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

Being on the field doing running inspections and learning from the technicians

Cons

Being expose to bad weather that compromise the safety of operations.

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019