According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the software development field expects a 22% increase by 2030. This growth in career opportunities reflects the industry’s growth, which is projected to reach over $1,039.89 billion by 2027. However, when hiring an IT professional for your organization’s software development project, which type of expert do you need – a software development professional or a software engineer? In this article, we will discuss the difference between developers and engineers so that you can determine which expert you need to find.
Software Professional Job Descriptions
Though both job descriptions reference one scope of software development, the occupations are not similar. A software engineer designs, develops, maintains, tests, and evaluates computer software. A software developer is responsible for building cross-platform software for various devices, often writing code from scratch.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the differences between these two professionals.
Software Developers: Typically, an entry-level software developer must have a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or Computer programming. Software development is usually a solitary job description that develops the overall application. A developer is responsible for working with the separate elements within the software project development process, creating and delivering a complete program from the ground up. Software developers perform processes to resolve issues on a limited scale. An expert developer will utilize pre-made tools for providing software solutions for web, mobile, and desktop devices.
Software Engineers: A Bachelor’s degree in Software Development or Software Engineering is generally required to gain an entry-level job as a Software Engineer. Software engineering is more of a team function, with necessary engagement and collaboration during the process. Software engineers systematically resolve issues on a grander scale and are not usually involved in brainstorming individual creative solutions. A professional in this field builds the tools which later be utilized in the software development process.
Which Specialist Do You Need?
So after those brief comparisons, can you determine which software professional you require for your situation? Probably not, so here are a few follow-up questions to help you decide.
- Will the software professional join an existing team or work independently? Honestly, either professional will do fine in a team environment. But if you are expecting your new hire to work independently, it’s better to hire a software developer.
- Will your project use existing tools, or will they need to be specially created? If your project requires imagining entirely new tech approaches and tools, it’s more likely you need a software engineer who can apply engineering principles to the process of software development. However, if premade development tools exist, a software developer may be the better hire.
- Do you need someone for specific stages of the development process or the whole project? If you are looking for a professional who will participate in the entire application development process, the software developer will bring more creativity – and is likely a better fit. However, if you need someone who isn’t hands-on but instead solves the significant issues as they arise, a software engineer makes sense.
- Do you need someone for large-scale or small-scale projects? If your upcoming need requires an individual who performs large-scale tasks, hiring a software engineer is more prudent. For smaller engineering functions, choose a software developer.
Most SMBs struggle with personnel issues from time to time, especially in the IT world, where there is often a lack of competent and qualified personnel. If you have a software development project and need assistance, call the experts at Alliance IT. We can help you with a deep bench of experience and wide scope of IT knowledge.
