How to Become a Software Engineer

What Do Software Engineers Actually Do?

Software engineering is the practice of designing, building, testing, and maintaining software systems. That covers a lot of ground. Some engineers work on the front end: the part of a website or app you interact with directly. Others focus on the back end: databases, servers, and the logic that makes everything function behind the scenes. Full-stack engineers handle both. On a typical day, you might be talking through requirements with a product manager in the morning, writing code for a new feature after lunch, reviewing a colleague's pull request in the evening, or frantically debugging something that broke in production right before a release. The tools change depending on the company and the project. You could be writing Python scripts, building React interfaces, configuring AWS cloud infrastructure, or working with databases using SQL. But the underlying process is the same: figure out the problem, design a solution, build it, test it, and make sure it continues working. It is detailed work. A misplaced character can crash an entire system. But when you ship something that thousands of people use every day, that part is genuinely rewarding.

Why Does Software Engineering Matter?

Software runs practically everything now. Banking, healthcare, transport, education, and entertainment: none of it works without code. When a hospital manages patient records digitally, when a retailer processes online orders, when a government department handles tax returns, software engineers built the systems behind it all. The UK tech industry continues to attract investment, yet there still aren’t enough engineers to build dependable, secure systems. Companies are struggling to find talent in areas such as cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity. They are not only looking for people who can code. They need engineers who can think through problems, work with others, and build things that scale. That mixture of technical ability and practical thinking is why the profession continues to grow.

Is Software Engineering a Good Career?

The short answer is yes. The pay is strong, the work is varied, and the demand is not going away. Here is what makes it worth considering.

• High and constant demand. Software engineering remains one of the most sought-after roles in the UK tech scene. There’s a real shortage of people with skills in areas like cloud, AI, and security. Developers are in demand across finance, healthcare, retail, and government. The market is more selective than it was right after COVID, but experienced engineers with strong skills remain in high demand.
• Strong salaries. In the UK, junior software engineers typically start around £25,000 to £35,000. Mid-level engineers with a few years of experience earn between £40,000 and £60,000, while senior roles regularly pay between £70,000 and £85,000. The National Careers Service lists a range of £30,000 to £75,000. In London, salaries tend to run 20 to 30 per cent higher than the national average. Specialists in areas like machine learning, DevOps, or fintech can command even more.
• Remote work is genuinely common. Unlike some professions where "remote-friendly" is marketing speak, software engineering is one of the careers where working from home actually works. Everything happens on a computer, collaboration tools are mature, and most tech companies figured this out years ago. Entirely remote, hybrid, and flexible arrangements are widespread. Some engineers even work for US-based companies from the UK, which can mean significantly higher pay.
• You can work in any industry. In finance, gaming, healthcare, education, e-commerce, media, and government, software engineers are needed everywhere. If you’re ready to start in the new sector, you can move to another without starting from scratch. Your core skills transfer. Not many careers offer that level of mobility.
• Clear progression paths. You might start as a junior developer and progress to mid-level, senior, then lead or principal engineer. From there, you can go deeper into technical specialisation (architect, staff engineer) or move into management (engineering manager, CTO). Some people branch into product management, consulting, or start their own companies. The ladder is flexible, and the options are wide.
• The work keeps evolving. New languages, frameworks, and tools appear regularly. AI is changing how code gets written. Cloud infrastructure keeps shifting. If you enjoy studying and staying up to date, software engineering will keep you engaged. If you prefer doing the same thing every day, this probably is not the career for you.

How Do I Become a Software Engineer? A Step-by-Step Guide

There’s more than one way to get into software engineering. People get in through degrees, apprenticeships, bootcamps, and self-teaching. What matters is proving you can actually build things. Here is how to get there.

1. 1
   Understand what the role entails. Before diving in, make sure you know what software engineers do every day. Writing code is just one part of the job. You’ll spend a lot of your time reading docs, fixing bugs, discussing solutions with your teammates, and picking up new tools as you go. It helps to look at job listings to see what companies want, and to check out communities like r/learnprogramming or dev.to for real-life stories from people actually doing the work. The more real your expectations are, the easier it is to make smart decisions about your next steps.
2. 2
   Learn the fundamentals of programming. Pick a language and really get to know it. Python’s a popular place to start. It’s easy to read and appears everywhere, from websites to data science and automation. If you want to build something for the web, you’ll need JavaScript. Don’t try to learn every language at once; it makes things much harder. Focus on one language and really nail down the basics, like variables, loops, conditionals, functions, and data structures. Sites like freeCodeCamp and The Odin Project are useful for getting practical experience. Focus on getting comfortable with the fundamentals rather than following tutorial after tutorial.
3. 3
   Understand how the web and computers work. You don’t have to get a computer science degree, but you do need to get to grips with the basics: how the internet works, how computers store and retrieve data, what operating systems do behind the scenes, and how clients and servers talk to each other. Make sure you learn about HTTP, APIs, databases, and Git for version control. You’ll run into these in nearly every engineering job, no matter your focus. It’s not enough to just scratch the surface; you should feel confident enough to debug problems that involve these systems.
4. 4
   Choose your path: front-end, back-end, or full stack. There are a few different paths you can take in software engineering. Front-end engineers are the ones who put together everything you see and click on in a website or app, using a toolkit such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with React or Vue, while back-end engineers handle servers, databases, and APIs and tend to work in Python, Java, C#, or Node.js. Full-stack engineers cover both sides. You could also dive into mobile app development, DevOps, data engineering, or even work with hardware. You don’t have to pick your speciality right away, but having some idea of where you want to go makes it easier to figure out what to learn next. Take a look at real job ads to see which skills are actually in demand for the kind of work you want to do.
5. 5
   Build projects that are actually yours. Following tutorials is fine for learning, but it will not get you hired. Employers want to see that you can figure out a problem and build a solution from scratch. Work on something that matters to you, maybe a tool that makes your life easier, a site for someone you know, or just a project that grabs your interest. Share your code on GitHub with instructions anyone can follow, and talk a bit about what you made and what led you to build it. The goal is not perfection. It shows that you can think through a problem, make decisions, and ship a solution.
6. 6
   Consider formal education. A degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related subject gives you structured learning and can help with CV screening at larger companies. Sandwich degrees that include a year in industry are highly valuable because you graduate with real experience. That said, a degree is not required. Many successful engineers are self-taught or came through bootcamps and apprenticeships. Employers increasingly care less about the diploma and more about what you can demonstrate. If you already have a degree in another subject, a coding bootcamp or postgraduate conversion course can get you up to speed in a few months.
7. 7
   Explore apprenticeships. If university is not for you, apprenticeships are a serious alternative. You earn a salary while studying, and your employer covers the costs of your qualification. In England, software development apprenticeships range from Level 2 (foundation) through to Level 6 (degree level) and Level 7 for game programmers. Companies, from large employers to small agencies, run these programmes. It takes longer than the graduate route, typically three to four years for a degree apprenticeship, but you finish with no debt, real experience, and a recognised qualification.
8. 8
   Learn how teams actually build software. Professional software engineering is a team activity. Learn about version control with Git and GitHub. Understand Agile methodologies, especially Scrum and Kanban, since most teams use some form of iterative development. Get used to reviewing code, making pull requests, and working with continuous integration. Write code that's easy for others to read and update. Teamwork matters as much as your technical abilities. Interviewers want to see if you can work well with others.
9. 9
   Pick up useful certifications (optional). Certifications are not essential in software engineering, but they can help fill out a CV, especially if you do not have a related degree. AWS certifications are valued if you are interested in cloud engineering. The BCS (Chartered Institute for IT) offers professional certificates at various levels. Scrum Master certifications (CSM, PSM) are useful if you want to understand Agile practices. Think of certifications as supplementary evidence, not a substitute for building things.
10. 10
    Start applying before you feel completely ready. Job descriptions are wish lists. If you meet 60-70% of the requirements, apply anyway. Many companies hiring junior developers expect on-the-job learning. Tailor your CV to each role: show relevant projects, the technologies you have used, and any experience working in teams. Prepare for technical interviews by practising coding challenges on sites such as LeetCode or Codewars, and be ready to discuss your projects, problem-solving techniques, and how you work with others. You will get rejected. That is normal. Keep going.

Resources and Further Reading

• freeCodeCamp – Probably the best free way to learn web development. You work through interactive exercises and build projects in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, all at your own pace. The community around it is massive, which helps when you get stuck at 11pm and need someone to explain why your code is not working. We have personally used it and can recommend it.
• The Odin Project – This free, open-source curriculum teaches full-stack web development by having you build real projects and work through real documentation. It doesn’t hold your hand through every step, so it’s tougher than some other options, but that’s intentional. It gets you used to the reality of working as a developer.
• CS50 by Harvard – A free introductory computer science course available on edX. Covers the fundamentals: algorithms, data structures, web development, and more. We completed the Introduction to Computer Science course and found it very well produced, with instructors who are genuinely passionate. If you want to see what a computer science education covers without committing to a degree, this is it.
• BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) – The UK chartered body for IT professionals. They offer professional certifications, career guidance, and accreditation of degree programmes. Worth knowing about if you want recognised credentials or are evaluating university courses.
• Codecademy – They have courses on pretty much every language and framework you would need. You can get a decent amount done without paying, though the paid tier gives you more structured projects to work through. We personally use it when we want to learn a new language; the course is well-structured and very useful for getting a grip on the language.
• LeetCode – The leading platform for practising coding interview questions. Covers algorithms, data structures, and system design problems. Essential preparation if you are applying to larger tech companies that use technical interviews. Start with the easy problems and work your way up.
• GitHub – If you have written any code, it should probably be on here. Most developers use it to store their projects, but it is also where you end up at 2am reading someone else's code, trying to understand why theirs works and yours does not. Getting involved in open-source projects is a good way to learn and get noticed. Hiring managers do look at GitHub profiles, so it is worth keeping yours tidy and up to date.
• r/learnprogramming – A large Reddit community where beginners ask questions and share resources. It’s great when you’re stuck, looking for motivation, or just want to see what other people are going through. Some advice is better than others, but the FAQ alone is worth reading before you start your study path.