software engineer.

Are you interested in software engineering and want to learn more about the tasks involved? Read on here.

your area of responsibility.

Regardless of who you are deploying as a software engineer, you have the following responsibilities to fulfil:

• Identify requirements and provide advice: As a software engineer, you identify the users' requirements. You discuss with the customer or colleagues and gather information. Once you are clear on which functionalities and features are needed, you create a plan. Based on the requirements, you advise the users on which basic setup and extensions are sensible.

• Writing clean code: As a software engineer, it’s your job to write code for applications. You tell the computer, robot, or artificial intelligence (AI) what to do. In doing so, you pay attention to code quality to avoid high costs associated with debugging, further development, and maintenance.

• Test and evaluate functionality: The work is done, your application is ready. Now, it’s about making sure everything works properly. Using a test programme, you check the functionality and whether it meets the requirements. Sometimes, a few small adjustments are still needed.

• Ensuring quality: One of your fundamental responsibilities as a software engineer is quality assurance. This involves regularly conducting system tests, analysing the results, and documenting them. The aim is to identify errors and minimise risks.

• Waiting and continuously improving: As a software engineer, you are responsible for ensuring the software functions properly. You promptly fix identified bugs and vulnerabilities to prevent any security risks. This also includes regular updates to enhance security. Automated backups ensure that data is not lost. Additionally, you optimise the software to keep it user-friendly.

who are your colleagues?

As a software engineer, you live in a digital world. Every day, you work with computers and artificial intelligence (AI). However, you still need real colleagues. Who you collaborate with depends on the company you develop software for. Naturally, your primary communication is with other IT specialists such as system administrators and cybersecurity experts. In larger organisations, you may also have contact with agencies specialising in digital communication. As a software engineer, there are many ways to get in touch with colleagues, whether in person or electronically.

Among software engineers, we generally distinguish two categories:

• Application engineers: Essentially, an Application Engineer is comparable to a software engineer. They design, install, and maintain applications on a large scale. Additionally, Application Engineers optimise existing software. The needs of the customer are always at the forefront. For example, software engineers customise standard software to meet individual requirements. Your field of work is diverse. You develop software for robotics and control technology, among other things. Your world is the Internet of Things (IoT).

• System engineer: As a System Engineer, you don't work on a specific application but support all applications. You deal with system technology and system analyses, and develop software for a company's computer systems. You are responsible for the entire IT infrastructure. Your role as a System Engineer is to consider all technical and economic aspects. In doing so, your system meets all the users' needs.

how much do I earn as a software engineer in a permanent position?

• The size of your pay cheque as a software engineer varies depending on the area of work, industry, company size, and regional location. However, software engineers are among the highest-paid IT professionals. According to statistics, the median salary for a software engineer in Switzerland is well over 100,000 Swiss francs per year. As a newcomer under 25 years old, you can expect a salary of around 70,000 francs, while at senior level, earnings can exceed 130,000 francs. In addition to the basic salary, software engineers often benefit from various allowances and perks. These typically include compensation for overtime, performance bonuses, and voluntary contributions to the second pension pillar.

• The most important factor for salary levels is experience. If you are successful in your work, your pay will increase quickly. Another key factor is education and certifications. The field of software engineering is not static. To stay effective, you need to continually update your knowledge on new technologies and programming methods. However, if you are willing and able to adapt to new developments, you shouldn’t worry about your income. The demand for skilled software engineers is enormous due to the growing digitalisation.

in which industry do I earn the most as a software engineer?

Banks and insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry, consulting firms, as well as IT and telecommunications companies are particularly generous. Additionally, company size also plays an important role. Larger organisations have more resources than SMEs and are involved in more complex projects. Consequently, their paydays tend to be higher.

If you're looking for a job as a software engineer, the following qualifications are advantageous:

• Degree completion: Working as a software engineer demands strong analytical thinking and requires extensive conceptual knowledge. Therefore, you typically need a completed degree in computer science or a related field such as business informatics or electrical engineering. Most employers accept degrees from ETH, EPFL, a university, a university of applied sciences, or a higher technical college. By the way, some universities and universities of applied sciences also offer master's programmes specialising in software engineering.

• Postgraduate studies: You can improve your position in the job market by obtaining a postgraduate qualification in software engineering alongside your degree. These postgraduate courses are offered by universities, universities of applied sciences, and higher technical colleges. They typically conclude with a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS), a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS), or a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS).

• Certifications: Some employers require certificates that demonstrate your expertise in software engineering and programming. Examples of certifications that can help you when applying for jobs include the CompTIA Security+ certification or the Certified Professional Programmer qualification.

Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing: Digitalisation is progressing rapidly and increasingly impacting various aspects of our lives. As a result, the demand for IT specialists is also growing. As a software engineer, you can find opportunities wherever complex and large-scale IT projects are carried out — which is almost across all sectors. Your options are therefore extensive when searching for a role as a software engineer. Job opportunities for software engineers can be found in the IT and telecommunications industries, banking and insurance sectors, e-commerce, manufacturing, public administration, consulting firms, and also in innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Would you like to get an overview of your job opportunities as a software engineer? Just take a look at our job listings.

The profession of a software engineer demands a high level of IT knowledge. That’s why graduates in computer science have an advantage when applying for jobs. However, the growing shortage of skilled professionals means that more and more companies are open to career changers. You have particularly good prospects for switching into software engineering if you have completed a degree in a STEM-related field and already have programming experience. Experience as an application or web developer also serves as a solid stepping stone towards a role as a software engineer. Some companies additionally offer internal training programmes for career changers, allowing you to develop into a software engineer.

Your skills as a software engineer are becoming increasingly important, especially as technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are making their way into both the private and public sectors. As a software engineer, you can specialise in application or system engineering. Alternatively, you have the opportunity to climb the career ladder within your organisation — for example, up to senior software engineer. With the right experience and certifications, you can also progress to roles such as project manager or systems manager. As you can see, the career prospects for software engineers offer the flexibility and mobility you need for an exciting and fulfilling professional life.

A successful career in software engineering requires both technical expertise and soft skills. The abilities you need include:

• Programming skills: Since programming is an important part of your daily work, you need to have knowledge of front-end and back-end programming languages such as JavaScript, Java, Python, Ruby, and C++.

• Teamwork: As a software engineer, you work with various specialists and stakeholders. Therefore, the ability to collaborate effectively is an essential requirement for your professional success.

• Problem-solving skills: As a software engineer, you need to be curious and approach issues analytically in order to identify and resolve problems within computer systems or applications.

• Attention to detail: Software engineers need to work meticulously and precisely. Paying attention to small details helps you avoid mistakes.

• English skills: Good command of English helps you understand technical literature, documentation, and course materials, as well as communicate effectively with colleagues in multilingual teams.

There are many good reasons to work at Randstad as a software engineer:

✓ exciting jobs at well-known companies
✓ a reliable point of contact whenever you need one; personalised advice matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ further education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? Often, there’s the opportunity to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many well-known companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad

your professional development budget as a software engineer at randstad.

If you work as a software engineer for Randstad, you have access to training courses. As part of the TempTraining programme from swissstaffing, you can attend various training sessions. You will be reimbursed for the course fees later, provided you pass the course exam. Your consultant from Randstad is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can also gain additional language skills or job-specific knowledge. And all of this is available during your working hours as a software engineer.

Have you found your dream job as a software engineer? It’s not just your qualifications and certificates that determine the success of your applications. Careful, error-free, and personalised documents will definitely help you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to optimise your chances:

Answers to frequently asked questions about the software engineer profession can be found here.