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What is a software engineer-consultant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Frank McCown Ph.D.,
Kevin Treu Ph.D.
introduction image

Do you want to help companies resolve business problems by providing them with software or technical solutions? You can do that if you become a software engineer consultant. These consultants collaborate with software developers and stakeholders to build software that solves business problems. They work first with stakeholders to understand their project requirements and then use this information to develop strategies for software development.

Software engineer consultants must have a clear understanding of everything that goes into developing a software project. The consultants use this knowledge to take a project from initial requirements analysis to maintenance.

Consultants may also be expected to help with the development of new tools for increased productivity, security, reliability, and performance and to provide documentation and operating guidance for users. They frequently work in cross-disciplinary teams and help drive the process for pursuing innovations and target solutions. If you're hoping to work in this field, you'll typically need to have a Bachelor's degree in software engineering or a related field.

What general advice would you give to a software engineer-consultant?

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

Associate Professor, Harding University

The market is stable for software developers, despite the economic challenges created by the pandemic. Before accepting a job offer, talk to the company's employees through online meetings or email, and see what they think of the company. Do they enjoy their work? Are there opportunities to learn new technologies? How does the company treat their employees? There's a good chance you will be working remotely in your first job, so you will need to exercise a lot of self-discipline, be punctual for online meetings, do the work you've been assigned, and know when to ask questions when you get stuck. Expect a steeper-than-normal learning curve if you are working remotely instead of in an office.
ScoreSoftware Engineer-ConsultantUS Average
Salary
8.0

Avg. Salary $113,987

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.0

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 29.74%

Black or African American 4.66%

Hispanic or Latino 8.44%

Unknown 4.87%

White 52.13%

Gender

female 13.91%

male 86.09%

Age - 38
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 - 38
Stress level
4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Software engineer-consultant career paths

Key steps to become a software engineer-consultant

  1. Explore software engineer-consultant education requirements

    Most common software engineer-consultant degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.0 %

    Master's

    19.9 %

    Associate

    5.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific software engineer-consultant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Java10.52%
    Python6.55%
    Architecture6.03%
    Software Development5.43%
    Scrum4.36%
  3. Complete relevant software engineer-consultant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software engineers-consultant 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-consultant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software engineer-consultant resumes.
  4. Research software engineer-consultant duties and responsibilities

    • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
    • Create a suite of python unit tests and manual UI tests for all the surveys and researcher tools
    • Perform reviews of C++ code and assist in the debugging of a WinCE/SH4 base auto navigation system.
    • Web portal provides UI, middle tire and persistence for controlling air and water conditioning systems in buildings.
  5. Prepare your software engineer-consultant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your software engineer-consultant 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-consultant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable software engineer-consultant resume templates

    Build a professional software engineer-consultant 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 software engineer-consultant resume.
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
    Software Engineer-Consultant Resume
  6. Apply for software engineer-consultant jobs

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

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

How did you land your first software engineer-consultant job

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Average software engineer-consultant salary

The average software engineer-consultant salary in the United States is $113,987 per year or $55 per hour. Software engineer-consultant salaries range between $85,000 and $152,000 per year.

Average software engineer-consultant salary
$113,987 Yearly
$54.80 hourly

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How do software engineers-consultant rate their job?

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Software engineer-consultant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set

Cons

Still have to deal with people :)


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface

Cons

I didn't like how technical it could become


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Designing a new system or making changes to an old one.

Cons

Compensation. Pay and Benefits do not match the time spent on a project. Alabama is the Worst state to live in for SOFTWARE ENGINEER Salaries. 40 to 50 percent less than our peer States.


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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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