Software engineering is an essential discipline when designing and implementing high-performance data enterprises. Although software engineers are not certified or sanctioned by any standards body, software engineers with experience in the Intelligence Community increases the chances of success.
Software Engineering Defined
Software engineering is applying a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software. (Source Wikipedia)
Knowledge of programming is the main prerequisite to becoming a software engineer, but it is not sufficient. Many software engineers have degrees in Computer Science or Mathematics and physics due to the lack of software engineering programs in higher education. An organized mind and an interest in problem-solving are also prerequisites.
However, as data networks become more complex and indispensable in large organizations, higher education has started to change with new software engineering degrees, especially post-graduate education.
Software Engineering as a Discipline
Software engineering contains several separate yet interrelated disciplines.
* Software requirements
* Software design
* Software development
* Software testing
* Software maintenance
* Software configuration management
* Software engineering management, see also project management
* Software development process
* Software engineering tools and Computer-Aided Software Engineering
* Software quality
* Social Software Engineering
Each sub-discipline has its own performance requirements and processes for success.
Jobs in Software Engineering – A Strong Market
Because software engineering is broad and growing more complex because of the introduction of new technologies and applications, the potential for job growth is significant even in a down economy.
According to the Federal Government studies, the demand for qualified software engineers is significant and will continue to grow,
Computer software engineers are occupations projected to grow the fastest and add the newest jobs over the 2006-16 decade.
Excellent job prospects are expected for applicants with at least a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer science and practical work experience.
Computer software engineers must continually strive to acquire new skills in conjunction with the rapid changes that occur in computer technology.
Because computer networks and computing hardware and software are growing in power and complexity, qualified software engineers demand high. As the United States continues to be an information-driven society, new, high-paying jobs with quality benefit packages are available in the economy.
This is particularly true as the economy emerges from its depressed state.
The employment of computer software engineers is projected to increase by 38 percent over the 2006 to 2016 period, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This occupation will generate about 324,000 new jobs over the projections decade, one of the largest employment increases of any occupation.
Significant drivers of growth in the demand for software engineers include the adoption of new technologies for information efficiency in a competitive environment. This is particularly true as information networks grow in sophistication and interconnect.
In addition, information security concerns and cyber threats have given rise to new software requirements.
Concerns over “cyber security” will result in businesses and governments continuing to invest heavily in software that protects their networks and vital electronic infrastructure from attack. Cyber Security has become a major area of concern for the U S Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.
Very few organizations are willing to trust the security of their networks to low-cost, offshore software engineering firms.
Finally, low-cost offshore outsourcing is not a real threat in economic and competitive terms because software engineering requires innovation and intense research and development expenditures. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
One area with a tremendous appetite for software engineers is the Federal Government. The Federal Government continues to grow and, with the present trend in Government spending, greater demand for IT and Cyber Security engineering specialists will also generate job demand.
