Understanding Software Engineer Roles

Key takeaways

• Software engineering encompasses diverse roles that build and create software solutions, from mobile apps to enterprise systems, with professionals specializing in different aspects of the development process

• Software engineer roles consist of various specialized professions including front-end developers, back-end engineers, DevOps specialists, and quality assurance engineers, each contributing unique skills to project success

• Understanding different software engineer roles helps you identify which career path aligns with your interests, whether you prefer user interface design, system architecture, or data management

Read on to learn more about different career paths within this field. If you're ready to start preparing for a role right away, consider starting with a beginner-friendly language and learning Python through the University of Michigan's Python for Everybody Specialization. In as little as two months, you'll gain proficiency in Python programming, a versatile language used across industries.

What are software engineer roles? 

You can find many specialized software engineer roles on a software engineering team. These include full-stack developer, DevOps engineer, QA engineer, security engineer, cloud engineer, data engineer, mobile developer, and 3D graphics developer—although the exact makeup of any software engineering team depends on factors like the size of the company and the type of software they’re creating. Software engineers will usually fall into one of two categories, systems engineers or application developers. 

Systems engineering

In a systems engineering role, you’ll focus on things like software architecture and networks that applications need to function. You can do this by:

• Ensuring that different types of software programs communicate with each other on one platform

• Creating and enforcing IT infrastructure standards

• Maintaining documentation of IT systems 

• Updating to new technologies as needed

• Collaborating with development teams, senior systems architects, and data science professionals 

Read more: What Are Computer Information Systems? Definition, Degree, and Careers

Application development

Working as an application developer is more client-focused. You may work on either the front or back end of the system, designing software that the end user will interact with. Tasks might include:

• Developing applications for iOS, Android, Windows, or other operating systems

• Conducting an analysis of requirements and tweaking software as needed

• Releasing software updates

• Working with graphic designers, customer service staff, project managers, and other customer-facing departments 

If you're interested in a more administrative software engineering position, learning technical project management strategies like DevOps is an excellent place to start.

Entry-level software engineer roles

Entry-level software engineer roles are designed for recent graduates or career changers with little to no professional programming experience. These positions typically focus on specific, well-defined tasks like testing software functionality, building user interfaces, or developing mobile applications.

*All annual base salary data below is sourced from Glassdoor and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.

QA engineer

Average annual salary in the US: $87,847

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 15 percent [1]

As a quality assurance (QA) engineer, your primary focus will be ensuring the code is error-free with no bugs and meets all quality and compliance standards. Depending on the size of the team, you may work with a team of other quality analysts to test software in ways that mimic how the end user will use the software and make sure everything is smooth, easy to use, and operational. For example, you might test the software on different devices to ensure it works the same on smartphones, tablets, and laptops. 

Mobile developer

Average annual salary in the US: $96,741

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 7 percent [2]

As a mobile developer, you'll work on software development projects involving mobile apps. In this role, you need to know about mobile operating systems like Android and iOS. As a member of the software engineering team, the projects you work on may belong natively to mobile apps, or you may work to create a mobile app for another development project, such as a website or cloud-based software. 

3D graphics developer

Average annual salary in the US: $88,215

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 15 percent [2]

A 3D graphics designer or developer creates computer-animated and three-dimensional digital art for use in software or video games. Similar roles, such as 3D modeler or 3D artist, may have job opportunities outside of software development, such as creating models for 3D printing. On a software engineering team, you work to code the visual effects needed for engaging software programs. Particularly in rich visual fields like game development, you can find opportunities to create both realistic and fantasy digital creations. 

Mid-level software engineer roles

Mid-level software engineer roles are for professionals with several years of experience who can work independently on complex projects and take ownership of entire features or systems. These positions require a broader skill set and deeper technical knowledge, allowing engineers to make architectural decisions, mentor junior developers, and collaborate across multiple teams.

Full-stack developer

Average annual salary in the US: $96,092

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 7 percent [3]

As a full-stack developer, you have the skills to work on both the front-end, or client-facing design side, and the back-end, or server-side, of a software, web, or other development project. This may include creating engaging and easy-to-use user interfaces; working with databases; coding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; writing code with server-side languages like Python, Ruby, or PHP; and working with front-end and back-end libraries and frameworks. 

As a full-stack developer, you not only have a versatile set of skills to fill multiple roles on a development team, but you also have a holistic understanding of development that can make you a more talented developer on the front and back end because you have more insight into what each side needs to be successful. 

Cloud engineer

Average annual salary in the US: $112,226

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 15 percent [2]

As a cloud engineer, your focus is on using cloud computing effectively. On a software development team, this may mean selecting and integrating cloud-based solutions into your software to add increased features available over the cloud, or you may work to deploy the software you’re creating over the cloud for the end user to access. Cloud engineers can also work in other capacities, such as working directly with a company to deploy cloud services to support business processes. Examples of the kind of cloud-based services you may use include networks, servers, or storage. 

Data engineer

Average annual salary in the US: $104,958

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 34 percent [5]

As a data engineer, you construct the path that data takes from when you first capture it to where you’ll store it, and how data professionals can draw from and interact with it. In this role, you use algorithms and machine learning, workflows, and data pipelines to ensure data scientists or other professionals can access their data in a usable and sustainable way. This might include a marketing professional who wants to make data-driven changes to their marketing strategy or a business intelligence analyst who wants to evaluate the business processes. 

Senior software engineer roles

Senior-level software engineer roles are for experienced professionals who lead technical initiatives and shape the strategic direction of software systems. These positions require extensive expertise in system architecture, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration, with senior engineers typically mentoring multiple developers and making high-level design decisions that impact entire organizations.

DevOps engineer

Average annual salary in the US: $113,922

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 15 percent [2]

DevOps is an abbreviation of development and operations, and a DevOps engineer role pulls from both of these fields to make a hybrid position where the person in charge of operations and infrastructure management has insight and experience in the software development process. By merging these two skill sets, you can oversee the operations of a software engineering team and employ the software development principles of continuous improvement and delivering value. You may also add a security focus in this role and become a DevSecOps engineer. 

Security engineer

Average annual salary in the US: $128,045

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 33 percent [4]

As a security engineer on a software engineering team, your job is to protect software from security threats. A security engineer can also work on other kinds of IT teams, such as working directly for an organization to keep its digital assets and data safe. As a security engineer, you will look for vulnerabilities, assess security risks, and develop plans to mitigate risk and respond in the event of a security breach. You may plan security for large software systems on a software engineering team. 

Read more: Software Engineer Career Path 2025: Overview, Jobs, and Pay

Explore free resources for aspiring software engineers

Stay updated on the latest career trends with our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Or, browse our other free resources:

• Watch on YouTube: Software Engineering Roadmap for Beginners (With NO Experience)

• Take the quiz: Web Developer Career Quiz: Is It Right for You? Find Your Role

• Check out the guide: Your Guide to a Successful Career Change to Web Development

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