Software

A Detailed Description of the Duties of a Software EngineerI have a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. I worked as an embedded systems software engineer for 27 years. This article details the responsibilities I had as a software engineer. It is intended to  give the reader some insight into the world of software engineering.

This article is set up in the following format. Each paragraph begins with a question. If the reader knows the answer to the question, the reader could skip that paragraph.

What are the four major areas of study for an embedded systems software engineer?
Reading and interpreting customer specifications
Designing and debugging software programs
Windows Programming
Local Area Networks
Internet compatible software.
Electronics (optional)

Exactly what is an embedded system? An embedded system is a system with a small microcontroller and memory.

What is a microcontroller? A microcontroller is literally a computer in a chip. It has memory for program storage, program data and it has "ports' through which the program could access the outside world. The microcontroller executes a program that processes the inputs from internal switches, peripheral equipment or and/or local area network, performs a specified operation on the data inputted and displays the results in some fashion.

What is hardware? Hardware is the electronics inside the embedded system.

What is software? Software is the program that is executed by the microcontroller.

What is my experience? I designed software for systems fresh off the assembly line. The hardware had been tested but without any software installed. Usually the customer who ordered the system also detailed the required software functions in a specification.

A Detailed Description of the Duties of a Software Engineer

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. I worked as an embedded systems software engineer for 27 years. This article details the responsibilities I had as a software engineer. It is intended to  give the reader some insight into the world of software engineering.

This article is set up in the following format. Each paragraph begins with a question. If the reader knows the answer to the question, the reader could skip that paragraph.

What are the four major areas of study for an embedded systems software engineer?
Reading and interpreting customer specifications
Designing and debugging software programs
Windows Programming
Local Area Networks
Internet compatible software.
Electronics (optional)

Exactly what is an embedded system? An embedded system is a system with a small microcontroller and memory.

What is a microcontroller? A microcontroller is literally a computer in a chip. It has memory for program storage, program data and it has "ports' through which the program could access the outside world. The microcontroller executes a program that processes the inputs from internal switches, peripheral equipment or and/or local area network, performs a specified operation on the data inputted and displays the results in some fashion.

What is hardware? Hardware is the electronics inside the embedded system.

What is software? Software is the program that is executed by the microcontroller.

What is my experience? I designed software for systems fresh off the assembly line. The hardware had been tested but without any software installed. Usually the customer who ordered the system also detailed the required software functions in a specification.