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What is a software engineer/architect and how to become one
This is an individual software developer who designs, develops, and executes solutions with a team of software engineers. He/She decides how an executive software would be designed. The software engineer reviews technical standards and tools and selects the best for a project. He/She relays the business requirements, specifications, and needs to software development teams. He/She also manages the analysis, design, programming, testing, and deployment of all executive software. As a software architect, you provide the architectural blueprints the team would follow.
Software architects need at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or any related field. Training like DevOps, system design, etc., and certifications like Microsoft Azure Certification can be beneficial when seeking a job. Analytical, communication, presentation, problem-solving, creativity, leadership, attention to detail, and organization skills are also crucial. The average salary of a software architect/engineer is $104,534, with a salary range from $76,000 to $189,000.
What general advice would you give to a software engineer/architect?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Avg. Salary $117,739
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 21%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%
Asian 29.73%
Black or African American 4.67%
Hispanic or Latino 8.45%
Unknown 4.87%
White 52.11%
Genderfemale 7.06%
male 92.94%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is moderate
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Software engineer/architect career paths
Key steps to become a software engineer/architect
Explore software engineer/architect education requirements
Start to develop specific software engineer/architect skills
Skills Percentages Java 12.58% Python 8.57% Software Development 7.02% Cloud 6.20% Linux 4.59% Complete relevant software engineer/architect training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software engineers/architect 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 software engineer/architect based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software engineer/architect resumes.Research software engineer/architect duties and responsibilities
- Manage ancillary projects written in PHP framework Yii.
- Manage entire QA process from requirements documentation to final release testing.
- Design and implement various reusable components combining JSP, JQuery, Ajax and HTML into a user-friendly interface.
- Craft application architecture for all major software development initiatives resulting in reusable business objects, decrease TCO and reduce technical debt.
Get software engineer/architect experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a software engineer/architect. The most common roles before becoming a software engineer/architect include software engineer, senior software engineer team lead and software engineer lead.Prepare your software engineer/architect resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your software engineer/architect 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 software engineer/architect resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
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Apply for software engineer/architect jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a software engineer/architect 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 did you land your first software engineer/architect job
Are you a software engineer/architect?
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Average software engineer/architect salary
The average software engineer/architect salary in the United States is $117,739 per year or $57 per hour. Software engineer/architect salaries range between $85,000 and $162,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do software engineers/architect rate their job?
Software engineer/architect reviews
Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set
Still have to deal with people :)
Able to see ideation to fruition and achieve success together as a team.
If company is not supportive of new technology advancement.
I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface
I didn't like how technical it could become
Updated January 8, 2025
