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What does a software designer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Frank McCown Ph.D.

Software designers transform customers' requirements into services. They analyze customers' needs, conduct negotiations, and create designs based on that data. They typically work with teams of programmers. They are also responsible for creating project documentation.

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Software designer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real software designer resumes:

  • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
  • Implement user interface on web base application using HTML5, JavaScript.
  • Modify kernels to allow proprietary software to function in Linux.
  • Design PCI driver from scratch and create an API for reuse.
  • Create hardware configurations for test machines and seek quotes from various UNIX vendors.
  • Specify, design, implement, test, and document customized HTML generation utilities.
  • Implement database and server-side modules using C/C++, STL, Tools.h++, UNIX system calls.
  • Design a multithread Perl client-server app using sockets to provide a scalable usage model for users.
  • Implement FPGA building and compilation via command line using VHDL, Verilog, makefiles, and python.
  • Expose useful API endpoints of the CRM to assist in the creation of an internal outreach tool.
  • Design interactive software program by using HTML code to aid students in learning linguistics and phonetics of Spanish.
  • Develop modules in server side java (AppLogics) - test and deploy on the NAS (KIVA server).
  • Develop software in Java including a configuration framework used by developers implicate on the development of other processes of the HSS.
  • Design and develop compact PCI device drivers and various PCI device configuration and access for VxWorks, LynxOs, embed linux.
  • Design a help system for the enterprise system s UI layer, a help system for the UI visual design tool.

Software designer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 7% of Software Designers are proficient in Python, Java, and Software Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Software Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Python, 7%

    Developed trading models and strategies in Python and deployed in C#.

  • Java, 6%

    Created generic server approach to convert business-logic-heavy and DB-transaction-heavy programs into Web based, avoiding full JAVA rewrite.

  • Software Development, 6%

    Key member of the software development team to address major quality issues experienced by customers with a new hardware product line.

  • Linux, 5%

    Supported Windows and Linux environments.

  • Windows, 5%

    Developed original Windows based software for companies utilizing Visual Basic 3.0.

  • Data Structures, 4%

    Programmed game functionality and integrated sprite and sound into completed game play including user interface, graphic layout and data structures.

"python," "java," and "software development" are among the most common skills that software designers use at work. You can find even more software designer responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a software designer to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." Additionally, a software designer resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "developed java beans and utility classes for interacting with the database using jdbc. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling software designer duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project." According to a software designer resume, here's how software designers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "enabled the remote qa team by maintaining effective communications and providing the necessary product knowledge transfer. "

Creativity. This is an important skill for software designers to perform their duties. For an example of how software designer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a software designer: "gas support team was responsible for level 3 production support of gas inventory management system. ".

Detail oriented. For certain software designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of a software designer rely on this skill, as "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what software designers do: "involved in object oriented design/object oriented analysis with usage of uml sequence diagrams and class diagrams. "

Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a software designer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what software designers relies on this skill, since "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." How this skill relates to software designer duties can be seen in an example from a software designer resume snippet: "work on xml and xsl transformations based solution to generate web pages based on risk models. "

Most common software designer skills

The three companies that hire the most software designers are:

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Compare different software designers

Software designer vs. Senior systems software engineer

A senior systems software engineer is an individual responsible for managing a firm's computer network systems. The professional's roles include resolving complex application and network issues through the development of new solutions, overseeing systems developers and other information technology (IT) personnel, and integrating new technology. The job requires proficiency in the MySQL, Python, and Linux programming languages and excellent skills in organizational and time management and communication. The education requirements for the job include a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field.

If we compare the average software designer annual salary with that of a senior systems software engineer, we find that senior systems software engineers typically earn a $14,826 higher salary than software designers make annually.Even though software designers and senior systems software engineers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require python, java, and software development in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, software designer responsibilities require skills like "c #," "windows," "data structures," and "javascript." Meanwhile a typical senior systems software engineer has skills in areas such as "architecture," "scrum," "database," and "sdlc." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Senior systems software engineers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $125,048. Comparatively, software designers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $111,727.senior systems software engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than software designers. In fact, senior systems software engineers are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Software designer vs. Software engineering internship

A software engineer intern is responsible for assisting the technology department's operations, using their class knowledge on performing practical applications. Software engineer interns support software engineers on their processes, shadowing their daily tasks, and performing duties under mentors' supervision. They assess ideas, contribute to the development of new applications, and research current technology trends to help with product innovations. A software engineer intern must have excellent knowledge of the technology systems industry, programming languages, and learn efficiently through observations.

A career as a software engineering internship brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a software designer. In fact, software engineering interns salary is $60,285 lower than the salary of software designers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Software designers and software engineering interns both require similar skills like "python," "java," and "software development" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that software designer responsibilities requires skills like "c #," "data structures," "javascript," and "api." But a software engineering internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cloud," "emerging technologies," "key management," and "aws."

On average, software engineering interns earn a lower salary than software designers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, software engineering interns earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $54,203. Whereas software designers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $111,727.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Software engineering interns tend to reach similar levels of education than software designers. In fact, they're 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for software designers in the next 3-5 years?

Frank McCown Ph.D.Frank McCown Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Harding University

Software continues to move to mobile devices and the web and away from desktop applications. The pandemic has encouraged growth in applications that make in-person transactions go away, and that trend will likely continue. Obviously AI-enabled or assisted applications will continue to grow.

Software designer vs. Software developer internship

A software developer intern is responsible for assisting the software engineers with the design implementation and shadowing their duties to understand the processes more efficiently. Software developer interns use their classroom knowledge on practical applications, suggesting recommendations on how to make the project successful. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, attend meetings, and help with maintaining complex systems and networks. A software developer intern must have excellent communication skills, as well as having strong attention to detail and the ability to learn fast.

On average scale, software developer interns bring in lower salaries than software designers. In fact, they earn a $68,969 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on software designers and software developer interns resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "python," "java," and "software development.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, software designers are more likely to have skills like "c #," "data structures," "api," and "software design." But a software developer internship is more likely to have skills like "aws," "data analysis," "scrum," and "node.js."

Software developer interns earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $41,281. Software designers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $111,727.When it comes to education, software developer interns tend to earn similar degree levels compared to software designers. In fact, they're 2.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Software designer vs. Software engineer-consultant

A software engineer consultant develops and recommends strategies to optimize a company's software engineering operations. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis to find new opportunities, performing software evaluations and risk assessments, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, and developing solutions against problem areas. Through the findings of their research, a software engineer consultant draws conclusions and recommendations that will help the company to reach their short and long-term goals and resolve issues or concerns.

Software engineers-consultant tend to earn a higher pay than software designers by an average of $6,538 per year.While both software designers and software engineers-consultant complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like python, java, and software development, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between software designers and software engineers-consultant, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a software designer might have more use for skills like "c #," "windows," "data structures," and "javascript." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of software engineers-consultant require skills like "architecture," "scrum," "database," and "web application. "

Software engineers-consultant enjoy the best pay in the insurance industry, with an average salary of $118,185. For comparison, software designers earn the highest salary in the technology industry.The average resume of software engineers-consultant showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to software designers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of software designer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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