10 Types of Software Engineers in 2025

Introduction

What I am about to share is somewhere around 8 years ago from now. Sitting at my study table, I just returned after visiting a relative with my grandmother.

Her grandson was studying animation, and my monkey mind suddenly popped this question in front of her - ‘Grandma, he is doing animation. But I will be studying software engineering. So I will earn more than him, right?’

Yes, this was a stupid question, but it is an authentically thinkable question when you want to pursue software engineering. Fun fact - there is nothing called ‘software engineering’.

I asked GPT what software engineering is. See the response yourself.

Software engineering is the process of designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software applications in a systematic and disciplined way. It applies engineering principles to software development to ensure the software is reliable, efficient, scalable, and meets user requirements.

And it’s true! Software Engineering is the canopy term that involves designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software. A person is in charge of every part of the construction of a software product.

It ranges from front-end engineer to back-end engineer, cloud architect to software tester, and spans various verticals. If you combine all the roles mentioned, your final output is called a ‘software engineer’.

So, putting it the right way.

Software Engineering is not a one-man role. However, if you combine the set of people who specialize in working with ‘software’ ranging from designing, implementation, development, and testing, the final output is often termed as ‘software engineer'

This blog will dive deep into the types of software engineers and give you a bird’s-eye view of their key roles and responsibilities. Without much ado, let’s begin!

What is a Software Engineer?

To know what software engineering is, you must know what software is. Let’s go back in time. I bet we all have learned the definition of software.

‘Software is a set of instructions, data, or programs, that tells the computer what to do and how to perform a specific task’.

The browser you view this blog on, the operating system your desktop is running, or even a basic Google spreadsheet are typical software examples.

A software engineer is primarily responsible for ideating, developing, testing, and maintaining these software applications.

Types Of Software Engineers

Now, please pay attention as we dissect the roles and responsibilities of software engineers and bifurcate the different types of software engineers into varying categories.

In this blog, we will cover the entire bucket of software engineering and dive deep into the 10 major types of software engineers.

1. Front-End Developer

A front-end engineer is a software engineer specialising in developing a User Interface (UI) or the client-facing side of an application/website.

They typically deal with the visual elements and appearance of the app, like layout, placement, and overall aesthetics. Additionally, front-end engineers must be extremely proficient in cross-browser compatibility to ensure excellent visual representation across all browsers.

They are primarily responsible for translating visual designs into interactive user interfaces, ensuring a smooth and engaging user experience across all devices.

Skills of a front-end engineer

1. Proficiency in programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

2. Understanding of Responsive Design.

3. Ability to find bugs in code and fix issues using debugging tools like Chrome DevTools.

4. Familiarity with using frameworks like Ract.js, Angular, and Vue.js.

5. Ability to use version control systems.

6. Familiarity with using tools like Saas, Less, and Stylus to write and maintain CSS code.

7. Ability to work with APIs.

8. Well-versed with performance optimization techniques to improve the overall performance of the website or application.

2. Back-End Developer

A back-end developer is nothing short of what a spine is to a human body - the backbone! A backend engineer’s core responsibility lies in building and implementing the server-side structure of software applications.

They implement the underlying logic, spend a hefty amount of time writing server-side scripts and developing APIs that will be used to call functions from the front end.

Imagine this - You are viewing a marketing case study, wherein you need to click ‘download pdf’ to read the full case study. You click on the button. That’s the end of the ‘front-end’ story.

Now, the API will carry your message to the server where the ‘data’ of the ‘pdf’ is hosted and bring back the information to you in a pdf format, and the download will begin. From calling an API that carries your message to and from the server, this information is what ‘back-end’ engineers work upon.

This is just a small, typical example. Besides taking full control of the back-end ownership, they also ensure server optimization for speed and stability and web applications for performance and scalability.

Skills of a back-end developer

1. Proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, Ruby, etc.

2. Understanding web development frameworks like Spring, Django, Laravel, or Ruby on Rails.

3. Experience with MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra databases.

4. Knowledge of server and network architecture.

5. Experience with RESTful APIs.

6. Familiarity with version control systems.

7. Hands-on experience with serverless architecture platforms like AWS Lambda or Azure functions is a plus.

3. Full-Stack Developer

Here comes the ‘Harry Potter’ of creating web applications! A Full-Stack Engineer is experienced and can perform front-end and back-end developer tasks.

They have front-end and back-end skills to develop a fully functional web application. In short, a full-stack developer is the one who develops and implements various software applications.

Skills of a full-stack developer

1. Proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, Ruby, Javascript, CSS, etc.

2. Understanding front-end frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, Vue.js, and jQuery.

3. Understanding web development frameworks like Spring, Django, Laravel, or Ruby on Rails.

4. Experience with MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra databases.

5. Familiarity in working with APIs.

6. Knowledge of server and network architecture.

4. Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer/Tester

QA Engineers are one of the most integral parts of the entire software development lifecycle. They are primarily responsible for ensuring the quality and hygiene of software before it is deployed in production.

Quality Assurance Engineers write software to ensure that a particular product meets the pre-requisite quality standards and requirements and is free from any bugs or errors at the time of release.

QA Engineers assess the quality of the product during the entire development cycle, from design to the final delivery. They create test plans and conduct manual or automated tests using various tools and frameworks to ensure that processes run as expected.

They are responsible for identifying bugs and errors in the code and raising it to developers for rectification. They need to create test and bug reports and maintain the code hygiene of the final product for a seamless user experience.

Skills of a QA Engineer

1. Ability to use various tools and frameworks to automate software testing, including writing, executing, and maintaining test scripts.

2. Attention to detail and ability to identify potential bugs in a software system.

3. Acquainted with multiple types of testing, such as unit testing, functional testing, cross-browser testing, UI testing, and mobile testing.

4. Proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, Ruby, etc, to develop test automation scripts.

5. Experience working around testing frameworks such as JUnit, TestNG, or PyTest to design and execute test cases.

6. Good understanding of SDLC and ability to use SQL as a tool to perform database testing.

7. Experience with one or more automation testing tools, such as Selenium, Appium, Cypress, Playwright, WebdriverIO, NightwatchJS, Espresso, etc.

8. Knowledge of tools like Browserstack Live, App Live, Automate, Percy, etc.

9. Knowledge of continuous integration and delivery tools like Jenkins, Bamboo, Travis CI, etc.

5. Software Development Engineer (SDE)

SDE roles are among the most sought-after and most-hired roles in software development. Software Development Engineers are the backbone of the software lifecycle and are responsible for the entire journey of software creation.

They come into the picture straight from understanding and ideating what needs to be built to designing and implementing it and then coding it.

SDEs often take on high-level tasks such as how an application will work and writing unit and integration tests to ensure software stability while writing efficient, maintainable, and reusable code.

Besides debugging and optimizing existing systems for better performance, they typically work with cross-functional teams to ensure the software meets the base user requirements and business objectives.

Software Development Engineers can be bifurcated into 3 categories (SDE-1, SDE-2, and SDE-3) depending on their level of experience and the responsibilities assigned.

Read this blog to understand the major differences between SDE-1, SDE-2, and SDE-3.

Skills of a Software Development Engineer

1. Hands-on database experience, including creating, storing, updating, and deleting records. Ability to write basic SQL queries.

2. Proficiency in data structures and algorithms.

3. Proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, Ruby, etc.

4. Familiarity with using version control systems.

5. Experienced in skills similar to that of a QA Engineer.

6. Systems Engineer

A systems engineer is responsible for designing, developing, implementing, and managing complex software systems, including operating and network systems.

They ensure that all software components are seamlessly integrated and work together efficiently. They install new hardware and software on systems, conduct system upgrades, and manage backup and recovery.

They also resolve troubleshooting issues with systems and networks and analyse organisational systems to recommend improvements and ensure efficiency.

The 'IT Department' that your company has, to whom you reach out in case of any conflicts with your office laptop or even if your office WiFi is facing network fluctuations, are typical examples of a 'Systems Engineer'.

Skills of a Systems Engineer

1. Thorough understanding of Systems Design & Architecture.

2. Experience in the design and architecture of complex systems, including hardware, software, and networking components.

3. Experience in various operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

4. Deep understanding of networking concepts, such as TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, etc.

5. Identify and resolve common issues about computer systems and infrastructure.

6. Proficiency in one or more common programming languages, including but not limited to Python, Java, C++, etc.

7. Proficiency in scripting languages like Bash and PowerShell for automation and configuration.

8. Basic understanding of cyber security concepts and principles, risk management, and methods to protect systems from network threats and data breaches.

7. DevOps Engineer

To be frank, a DevOps Engineer is a role with very confusing meaning, and most people will not know what role a DevOps Engineer might be involved in!

Here's the icebreaker - DevOps stands for 'Development Operations', which means a DevOps Engineer is directly involved in leading and coordinating efforts of different teams to create and maintain a company's software.

They ensure that the entire software development lifecycle process is automated. They enhance the overall software development process and create more reliable releases.

In short, DevOps engineers administer the entire back-end software and distributed systems, like servers, databases, system administration, infrastructure management, etc.

They are typically responsible for building and deploying application code and deploying and maintaining servers, storage, databases, and networking resources.

Lastly, they identify potential bottlenecks and implement improvement strategies in the development and deployment processes.

Skills of a DevOps Engineer

1. Proficiency in scripting languages like Bash, Python, Ruby, etc.

2. Ability to deploy and manage servers while ensuring reliability and optimal performance.

3. Ability to create processes to quickly provision servers and other infrastructure.

4. Experienced with building secure software systems, implementing and ensuring security patches like firewalls, encryption protocols, and IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems).

5. Basic understanding of Linux fundamentals, such as file handling, system administration, text processing, etc.

6. Prior experience handling automation tools like Chef, Puppet, Ansible, or Terraform.

7. Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.

8. Thorough understanding of containerization technologies such as Kubernetes or Docker.

9. Knowledge of continuous integration and delivery tools such as Jenkins, Bamboo, or Circle CI.

10. Familiarity with monitoring and logging tools such as Nagios, Prometheus, etc.

8. Security Engineer

Ever seen a door without a door lock? No, right? Because they don't exist! The door is the primary gateway to an entire building, which needs to be secure for obvious reasons.

In the same way, software must be secure to prevent security breaches that can lead to crucial leaks of company information. And that's the exact responsibility fulfilled by a Security Engineer.

A security engineer specializes in creating systems and procedures to test software security, including exploiting the software to discover and fix vulnerabilities.

These types of engineers are also known as 'white-hat' hackers who exploit and try to penetrate company systems to fix the flaws before they get turned into unethical hands.

Security Engineers are responsible for creating and implementing security systems such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, access controls, and encryption protocols to prevent data breaches.

They continuously monitor network and data traffic for suspicious activity and investigate/respond to security breaches, including malware attacks, MITM attacks, data leaks, or unauthorized access attempts.

In short, they act as the defence mechanisms within an organization to protect data, network, and computer systems from any cyber attack.

Skills of a Security Engineer

1. Strong tech background and deep understanding of computer networks, operating systems, software development, and cyber security.

2. Familiarity with security protocols and encryption techniques.

3. Familiarity with security tools and technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, vulnerability scanning tools, etc.

4. Proficiency in one or more scripting and programming languages, such as Ruby, Perl, Python, etc.

5. Experience with security compliance frameworks such as PCI-DSS, HIPPA, ISO 27001, SOC2, COBIT, GDPR, and more.

6. Familiarity with cloud security services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud security.

7. Understanding of basic threat perception and risk assessment and modelling.

9. Mobile Engineer

Imagine if WhatsApp was a web-based application and if it was not available on the Play Store or the App Store to be downloaded on mobiles. The world would have been a much more difficult place, right?

That's where Mobile Engineers come in! Mobile Engineers are primarily responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications explicitly made for mobile devices.

They can specialize in developing mobile applications for either operating systems, iOS or Android, or even both.

They create specifications and plans for the mobile app, write code and build the design interface. They also test the applications for any bugs to fix them against their vulnerabilities.

They also ensure that the app is optimized for optimal performance and efficiency. All the games you play, the social apps you use, and the entertainment apps you download on your mobile are all created by Mobile Engineers.

Skills of a Mobile Engineer

1. Understanding of mobile ecosystems to build apps on iOS and Android.

2. Proficiency in Swift & Objective-C, XCode, and a basic understanding of iOS Human Interface Guidelines.

3. Experience in Android Studio, Kotlin, Java, and Android design principles.

4. Understanding basic design principles to create user-centric designs and user-friendly interfaces, keeping consumer needs in mind.

5. Know how to integrate third-party APIs and SDKs for added app functionality, such as payment gateways, maps, social media, etc.

6. Proficiency in using mobile testing tools and frameworks for manual and automation testing, such as XCTest for iOS and Espresso for Android.

10. Cloud Architect

Have you ever been in that childhood stage where you stored files, games, and even movies in a pen drive because your computer's memory was full? That's the exact concept we use in cloud computing.

With billions of data being shared worldwide every second, storing everything within physical databases is almost impossible.

A cloud architect is responsible for maintaining the cloud infrastructure of the entire organization. With most platforms and applications now moving to the cloud, cloud architects play a pivotal role in cloud management, migrating existing systems to cloud-based infrastructure, monitoring, and a lot more.

Cloud Architects are exceptionally good at understanding cloud systems and work with cloud technology to develop cloud adoption plans, determine cloud application design, and create systems for managing, monitoring, and maintaining the cloud system.

They overlook the entire cloud architecture of the company and ensure it is cost-effective, reliable, secure, and meets the organization's needs.

Skills of a Cloud Architect

1. Deep grasp of cloud computing concepts.

2. Understanding networking concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, CDN, VPN, etc.

3. Proficiency in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

4. Knowledge of database structure, normalization, and indexing techniques.

5. Experienced working with operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Unix, and Ubuntu.

6. Basic understanding of cloud security concepts, such as identity and access management, firewalls, IDS/IPS, etc.

7. Familiarity with cloud technologies like containers, microservices, and serverless computing.

8. Experience with cloud migration.

9. Experienced in database installation, configuration, backup and recovery, performance optimization, and security.

Takeaway

I will be honest! It took me more than a couple of hours to complete this blog. But it's worth it, provided you understood the types of software engineer roles.

A report by Statista shows that the global software development market is valued at around $659.01 billion and is expected to touch roughly $898 billion by 2029.

The global software development industry is steadily climbing and growing rapidly at 26.67% CAGR from 2024-2029.

Talking about India explicitly, the software development market was valued at $8.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to surpass $14.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 11.05% from the forecast period 2024-2029.

As per Tech Word Times, the global community of software engineers roughly stands at 26.4 million, and henceforth, it has become a mainstream career option in India.

As of May 2024, there are around 5.2 million software engineers in India. However, according to a recent report, there are only 2000 senior software engineers in the country, and the lookout for talented software professionals steadily rises.

Undoubtedly, if you can hone your skills as a software engineer, you will likely enhance your chances of being hired in today's competitive job landscape. You already know the skills required for each software developer role!

You can use this blog as your career roadmap and equip yourself with the necessary skills to get your dream role. But where to learn from?

You can explore Masai's Software Development Pay After Placement program. Learn at zero upfront cost, get taught by subject matter experts and industry mentors, get placement assistance, and pay only when you land a job!