PathSource - SOFTWARE DEVELOPER: It's Never Too Late

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SOFTWARE DEVELOPER: It's Never Too Late

About this video

Allison is a software developer for Mozilla Firefox. She got her start in computer programming at the late age of 19 when she joined her university robotics club, but she tells us that it's never too late to learn.

Degree: Computer Science - Computer Programming

Job Title: Software Developer - Front End

Employer: Mozilla

Job Summary: Software Developers

Job Description

Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or other device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks. Many software developers work for computer systems design and related services firms or software publishers. Others work in computer and electronic product manufacturing industries.

Software developers typically do the following:
- Analyze users’ needs, then design, test, and develop software to meet those needs
- Recommend software upgrades for customers' existing programs and systems
- Design each piece of the application or system and plan how the pieces will work together
- Create flowcharts and other models that instruct programmers how to write the software’s code
- Ensure that the software continues to function normally through software maintenance and testing
- Document every aspect of the application or system as a reference for future maintenance and upgrades
- Collaborate with other computer specialists to create optimum software

On-the-Job Training

Variable, depending on whether or not you get a degree. It's possible to learn development skills by building applications using a range of free resources on the internet.

Additional Info

Many software developers work for computer systems design and related services firms or software publishers. Some work in computer and electronic product manufacturing industries. Some developers telecommute (work away from the office).

Quick Facts

Average salary

National Statistic Change Location

Confirm

$60,000 - $145,000

Projected Job Growth

25 to 30 percent

Typical schedule

Full-time, Long hours, Irregular

Typical workplace

Home, Indoor, Office, Remote

Personal Qualities

Analytical skills, Creativity, Detail oriented, Problem solving skills, Technical skills, Mathematical skills, Patience

Educational Path

Education Requirement

Bachelor's degree

Recommended Education Degree

Bachelor's degree

Recommended Majors

Computer Programming
Computer Science
Systems Engineering
Mathematics

Related Careers

Website Developer
Graphic Designer
Game Developer
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Computer Hardware Engineers
Computer Programmers
Computer Support Specialists
Computer Systems Analysts
Database Administrators
Information Security Analysts
Web Developers
and Computer Network Architects
Mathematicians

View Detailed Career Data

P3.instances[0].transcript.parse_transcript_data({"transcript":"Hi, my name is Allison. I'm a software developer at Mozilla. I am a front-end developer, and I make Firefox. What that means is that I make all the features that you seen and touch in the browser chrome, so everything outside the website. So things like printing, saving, your top sites, those nice, shiny new tabs, those sorts of things are all sort of part of what I do depending on what we're making this week. My typical day usually starts with checking email, making sure I don't owe anything to my coworkers and friends like code reviews, which is where you look over what they've written, what they've made, and see where it can be improved. See what's awesome about it. See what else they need to do so that they can get it into Firefox and get into users' hands. So I'm sort of an accidental programmer in that I started college studying chemistry. I was really interested in protein and crystallizing and modeling them, and I worked at Brookhaven National Lab when I was in high school. I got into programming because I got interested in robotics. CMU has a giant robotics club, and they make things like snake robots and swarm robots. And you need to know how to program to make those. Also, one programming class is required for chemistry majors, and so it's like, well, fine, I have to take this thing. And then I took it. I was like, actually, can I take some more of that? That was fun. Can I do that again? And two years later, I ended up with a different major and was like, well, OK. But I started programming much later than most of my colleagues who started when they were young. I started coding at 19. So you can always please start. You're never too old to learn how to make computers do things you want. I think I would have liked to have known that programming and computers is much more than just math. When I was in high school, everyone said, oh, engineering's math. You have to math. I can do math, but it wasn't super thrilling. And in reality, calculus has nothing to do with the computer code that I make every day to make Firefox do cool things, and I wish I had known that so I could have gotten interested in it at an earlier age. ","file":{"id":255718,"video_id":"2698755400001","name":"69129109","duration":121002,"thumbnail_url":null}});