Software engineers bring the application of engineering concepts for software development. They create, improve, and maintain software. This can include the software that runs your phone, or a spaceship, or a factory, or fights cybercrime. Software engineers are responsible for the lifecycle of a software product from conception to testing to production to upgrades.
Specializations:
- Embedded software engineering
- Computer graphics
- Cybersecurity
- Front-end application development
- Back-end application development
- Quality assurance (QA)
- Development and Operations (DevOps)
- Web development
- Software architecture
- Artificial intelligence/machine learning
Skills:
- Math (discrete math, statistics, calculus, geometry)
- Programming languages (often multiple, e.g., Python, C++, Java)
- Algorithmic analysis
- Software testing
- Software tooling (e.g., git, integrated development environments)
Societies:
- Association for Computing Machinery (ACM): ACM, the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession.
- ACM Special Interest Groups (SIGs): 37 groups dedicated to specific topics in computer science and software engineering.
- Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI): Non-profit scientific society devoted to advancing the scientific understanding of the mechanisms underlying thought and intelligent behavior and their embodiment in machines.
- Association for Women in Computing (AWC): One of the first professional organizations for women in computing focused on promoting the advancement of women in the computing professions.
- Computing Research Association: Mission is to enhance innovation by joining with industry, government and academia to strengthen research and advanced education in computing.
- Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T): (ASIS&T is the preeminent professional association that bridges the gap between information science practice and research. ASIS&T members represent the fields of information science, computer science, linguistics, management, librarianship, engineering, data science, information architecture, law, medicine, chemistry, education, and related technology.
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM): Advance the application of mathematics and computational science to engineering, industry, science, and society. Research areas include computational science and numerical analysis, control and systems theory, data science, classical applied math, imaging sciences, and life sciences.
- IEEE Computer Society: The IEEE Computer Society is the world’s leading membership organization dedicated to computer science and technology.
- IEEE Technical Community on Software Engineering: The TCSE (Technical Community on Software Engineering) is the voice of software engineering within the IEEE and the Computer Society. TCSE has the duty to advance awareness of software engineering and to support education and training through conferences, workshops, and other professional activities that contribute to the growth and enrichment of software engineering academics and professionals.
Conferences:
- ICSE: International Conference on Software Engineering
- AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence
- ASE – IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering
- ICSE – International Conference on Software Engineering
- ICSR – International Conference on Software Reuse
- TACAS - ETAPS International Conference on Tools and Algorithms for the Construction and Analysis of Systems
- FoSSaCS - ETAPS International Conference on Foundations of Software Science and Computation Structures
- FASE - ETAPS International Conference on Fundamental Approaches to Software Engineering
- SEA – Symposium on Experimental Algorithms
Sources:
Wikipedia, Try Engineering (IEEE), Engineering Conferences, Engineering Professional Associations & Organizations, Engineering Societies & Organizations, professional association websites
