By Vanessa Nunes
Professor of Software Engineering and Leadership at Inteli
Today I want to take you inside the world of a software engineer. If you've ever wondered how the applications you use, the systems that organize companies or even the most complex games come about, you'll be pleased to know that behind it all is a professional with a dynamic day-to-day life full of challenges.
Many people think that a software engineer spends all day typing lines of code in front of a computer. And yes, coding is an important part, but the truth is that the routine is much more comprehensive and collaborative. It's a profession that involves creativity, logic, communication and a constant desire to learn.
From idea to planning: understanding to build
The day of someone who works in Software Engineering usually doesn't start with code, but with understanding. It's time to meet with teams, clients or other stakeholders to understand what needs to be built. What problems should the software solve? What are the business objectives and how can the technology generate value? Which functionalities are really essential?
At Inteli, for example, we teach you how to analyze functional and non-functional requirements, which form the basis of any project. It's almost like being a detective, collecting clues to find the best solution.
In these meetings, communication is key. Exchanging ideas, presenting proposals and aligning expectations are part of the routine. It's a space for a lot of talking, drawing flowcharts and defining the initial architecture of the system.
We also discussed qualities that are almost invisible to the user, but which make all the difference: a secure, fault-tolerant digital architecture in which every design decision has a direct impact on the software's scalability and performance.
Hands-on: Design and Coding
With the problem well defined and the architecture thought out, it's time to get down to work. In a software engineering team, collaboration is constant. Teams are often organized using agile methods such as Scrum, which provides for quick "daily meetings" to align the day's work. My classes at Inteli often hold these daily meetings, and it's noticeable how they help with organization and quickly resolving blockages.
Coding is where the project comes to life. We work with object-oriented programming, applying design standards and maintaining high code quality. In projects such as the Digital Platform based on service-oriented architecture, we develop solutions for different devices, such as mobile devices, always focusing on efficiency and user experience.
Seeing students applying test-driven development, writing tests even before the code, fills me with pride. It's a mindset that guarantees more robust and long-lasting software.
Ensuring Quality: Test, Test and Optimize
When a software engineer thinks about writing code, they want to do it in such a way as to ensure that the code works perfectly. This is one of the foundations of this profession. That's why a significant part of the day is dedicated to testing. And we're not just talking about manual testing!
We learned how to build a resilient digital system with quality as a software asset, using automated tests to detect errors quickly and simulate various usage scenarios. This automation is what allows companies to release software updates continuously and securely.
In addition, it is common to refine and optimize what has been built. Whether it's analyzing data from the use of an architecture and data governance aligned with corporate strategy to identify business opportunities, or working on natural language processing in text, video and audio to improve sentiment recognition and analysis.
The work involves a constant cycle of construction, measurement and learning.
Delivery and Continuous Evolution: The Treadmill of Innovation
The routine of a software engineer includes active participation in the agile software production pipeline, which involves applying DevOps techniques to ensure quality and the continuous delivery of value.
This means that the software is always evolving, with new features being released quickly and in a controlled manner, minimizing risks.
It's a pleasure to see Inteli's projects result in solutions that have an impact on society and the market and that have been built with the organization in mind so that they can continue to evolve and have a long life. It is undoubtedly a profession that offers a promising career, full of opportunities and constant learning.
If you like challenges, collaborating as part of a team and seeing your ideas turned into products that make people's lives easier, software engineering could be the path for you. Come to Inteli and build the future with us.
