The senior software engineer job description is to make software without requiring the help of a team or supervisor. Hence, the title carries the word senior in it. They also get to lead teams consisting of junior engineers.
Senior software engineers are experienced and get to mostly work on projects alone. They have to finish the project in the time that is assigned to them by the management. They only have to report to the departmental head or the senior management. They also have to guide the junior engineers and get them accommodated to working environment of the company.
Senior software engineers have more responsibility than the juniors. They have to mostly work alone if they are given software projects. If the project is big, only then are they asked to work in teams of other senior engineers. They have to analyze and research the software design on their own.
Senior engineers can even talk with the clients requiring the software and design the software exactly according to their choice. They can even make suggestions to the client on what would be good for them, and if they agree, they can incorporate those aspects in the software. Giving this personal touch is a part of the senior software engineer job description.
Senior engineers, when handling a team of junior engineers, have to delegate work in the project. They have to divide and hand over work to the juniors according to their capabilities. They have to guide them and help them if they are struggling with their work. They have to carefully analyze the final product and test the software. If satisfied, they send the software to get patented to the legal department.
They are in direct contact with the upper management and have to take orders from them. They also from time to time have to analyze the existing system in the company and make recommendations for overhauling it.
Senior engineers have to be experts in all the computer languages that are required in their field. They also have to know all the latest developments and modifications in all the languages. Software is an ever developing field and it serves the engineers in the long term to be up to date.
They are asked to give performance reviews on the junior engineers during the performance appraisals. Senior engineers are also handed the task of training the new engineers. They teach them about the company protocols and other company related things. Senior software engineers are expected to guide the new engineers, even if it may not be a part of the senior software engineer job description.
Senior software engineers get a hefty salary because they take on quite a workload, and their quality of work is superior to that of a software engineer. Their education is just as much as of an engineer's education; the difference is that they have experience.
Senior software engineers can move into supervisor posts and even occupy managerial position. However, to occupy managerial positions, they need to have a management related qualification or experience.
The senior software engineer job description is to handle all important projects that come in the company. They are also responsible for guiding and training the junior engineers and help them improve their work.
See Also
Senior Software Engineer Resume