Software Developer

Job Details

Sector(s)

Project Development; Component Manufacturing and Research & Development; 
Construction; Operations & Maintenance

Median Pay

$110,140 per year

$52.95 per hour

Job Type

Entry- to Mid-Level

Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; little to no experience required

Position Title

Software Developer

Alternate Titles

Software engineer and software architect

Job Description

Software developers play a very versatile role within the renewable energy sector because they design, test, and deploy digital platforms and programs that help hydropower facilities operate more effectively and efficiently. 

Education and Training Description

Software developers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, a relevant engineering field, or mathematics. Instead of earning a bachelor’s degree, some employers hire software developers that complete coding bootcamps. Coding bootcamps are condensed courses that teach candidates many of the technical skills required to enter the software development workforce. Software developers should take courses or complete projects that require them to learn and apply one or more coding languages. Employers value candidates who have participated in internships, project-based courses, cooperative education programs, or jobs that develop problem-solving and coding skills during college.

Software developers have to continuously stay up to date on new computer languages that may be in popular use at a given time. With higher levels of education and more work experience, software developers can advance to project management roles.

Job Profile

Software developers play a very versatile role within the renewable energy sector because they design, test, and deploy digital platforms and programs that help hydropower facilities operate more effectively and efficiently. Software developers may work on software tools that help researchers and developers assess hydropower resource potential across different locations, analyze the performance of different hydropower technologies, monitor real-time system operations, and perform other tasks that use software.

Many hydropower facilities use automated, real-time monitoring to quickly detect or prevent equipment malfunctions. Software developers design solutions that help hydropower companies and operators visualize this real-time data, analyze system performance, and model how changes to the system could improve system performance. The tools software developers create help cut costs and improve the security of hydropower facilities.

Software developers typically:

  • Analyze, design, and develop software to meet the specific requirements of the user/client
  • Recommend software upgrades for customers’ existing programs and systems
  • Design each piece of an application or system and plan how the pieces will work together
  • Create a variety of models and diagrams showing programmers the software code needed for an application
  • Ensure that a program continues to function normally through software maintenance and testing
  • Document every aspect of an application or system as a reference for future maintenance and upgrades.

Job Skills

A software developer typically needs:

  • Analytical skills. Software developers use their analytical skills to design software that functions efficiently and accurately, according to the requirement of the user/client.
  • Problem-solving skills. Software developers must be able to debug any errors in code that may arise throughout the design process.
  • Communication skills. Software developers must be able to provide clear instructions and explain problems that arise to other team members involved in development. They must also be able to explain to nontechnical users, such as customers, how the software works and answer any questions that arise.
  • Creativity. Software developers must be innovative in their approaches to designing, debugging, and updating computer software.
  • To be detail oriented. These workers often need to concentrate on many parts of an application or system at the same time, and they must pay attention to detail when looking for potential areas of user error.
  • Interpersonal skills. Software developers must be able to work well with others who contribute to designing, programming, and testing successful software.

More Information

For more information on software developer jobs, see:

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