Computer software engineersThe explosive impact of computers and information technology on our everyday lives has generated a need to design and develop new computer software systems and to incorporate new technologies in a rapidly growing range of applications. The tasks performed by workers known as computer software engineers evolve quickly, reflecting new areas of specialization or changes in technology, as well as the preferences and practices of employers. Computer software engineers apply the principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that enable computers to perform their many applications. (A separate statement on computer hardware engineers appears elsewhere in the Handbook.) Software engineers working in applications or systems development analyze users� needs and design, construct, test, and maintain computer applications software or systems. Software engineers can be involved in the design and development of many types of software, including software for operating systems and network distribution, and compilers, which convert programs for execution on a computer. In programming, or coding, software engineers instruct a computer, line by line, how to perform a function. They also solve technical problems that arise. Software engineers must possess strong programming skills, but are more concerned with developing algorithms and analyzing and solving programming problems than with actually writing code. (A separate statement on computer programmers appears elsewhere in the Handbook.) Computer applications software engineers analyze users� needs and design, construct, and maintain general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. These workers use different programming languages, depending on the purpose of the program. The programming languages most often used are C, C++, and Java, with Fortran and COBOL used less commonly. Some software engineers develop both packaged systems and systems software or create customized applications. Computer systems software engineers coordinate the construction and maintenance of a company�s computer systems and plan their future growth. Working with a company, they coordinate each department�s computer needs—ordering, inventory, billing, and payroll recordkeeping, for example—and make suggestions about its technical direction. They also might set up the company�s intranets—networks that link computers within the organization and ease communication among the various departments. Systems software engineers work for companies that configure, implement, and install complete computer systems. They may be members of the marketing or sales staff, serving as the primary technical resource for sales workers and customers. They also may be involved in product sales and in providing their customers with continuing technical support. Computer software engineers often work as part of a team that designs new hardware, software, and systems. A core team may comprise engineering, marketing, manufacturing, and design people who work together until the product is released. Related news articles In shadows of Net, war on child porn rages - 16 Oct 2006 USA Today...with the US Justice Department to bust a porn ring in March that included a Sunday school teacher, a soccer referee, a mailman and a computer software engineer ... Blood of missing Oakland mother found in ex-husband's car - Oct 13, 2006 San Jose Mercury News,Her body, however, has not been found. Reiser, a computer software engineer, appeared in court for the brief hearing, but didn't say anything. ... Oak. Missing Mother's Blood Found In Husband's Car - Oct 12, 2006 CBS 5,Reiser, a computer software engineer, was arrested Tuesday, the day after police were joined by the FBI in a second search of his home. ... Authors for 500, Alex - Oct 1, 2006 Detroit Free Press,Jennings left his "humdrum" job as a computer software engineer in Salt Lake City to write "Brainiac" and moved with wife Mindy and son Dylan to his native ... Community reaches out to students - Oct 2, 2006 Nashua Telegraph (subscription),We, in turn, help them by providing an educated workforce. Teaching English to a computer software engineer makes him a more productive employee. ... At “World Can’t Wait�? protest Michigan SEP candidate exposes ... - Oct 6, 2006 World Socialist Web Site,...for such a perspective. A computer software engineer said, “I think you’re right about the Democrats. They are supporting this ... A party palace for the kids - Oct 2, 2006 Daily Press,I missed talking to adults." So Jeffries and her husband, who is a full-time computer software engineer, began to think about starting their own business. ... Call Centers: A Friendly Touch - Oct 7, 2006 NewsweekIntelligent call-routing systems will predict when a repeat caller might need an expert computer software engineer, for example, and have the caller skip the ... Canadian leader voices regret on torture - Sep 20, 2006 Boston Globe,...recommendations focus on errors made by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which wrongly told US authorities that Arar, a computer software engineer, was an ... Let's Torture the Law, Senators and Bush Agree: Ann Woolner - Sep 25, 2006 BloombergIt turned out the man, a computer software engineer named Maher Arar, had no ties to al-Qaeda, although faulty, Canadian intelligence had put him on a watch ... CCR to Senate Judiciary Committee: Restore Access of Detainees to ... - Sep 25, 2006 Common Dreams (press release),Last week, the Canadian government completely exonerated Maher Arar, a computer software engineer sent by the US government to be tortured in Syria. ... More information on Computer software engineers from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Computer software engineers occupation Number of Computer software engineers in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Computer software engineers Working conditions for Computer software engineers Significant points for Computer software engineers Training requirements for Computer software engineers Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |