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What is the difference between these 2 jobs?

Hi im thinking about being a software developer but I keep on seeing software engineer. What are the cons and pros of a software engineer vs a software developer? Also thank you for all the help you guys have given me especially Randy Tolentino.

technology computer-software software coding software-engineer
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Peter’s Answer

Some companies may have different titles for "Software Engineer" vs. "Software Developer," but it is not consistent. Mostly, "Software Developer" is an umbrella term for anyone who creates software. "Software Engineer" is often a specific job title (with variations like "Junior Software Engineer" or "Software Engineer II"), but that's going to depend on the company.

Besides job titles, most people with a college degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering will usually refer to themselves as "Software Engineers."
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the help. Ryan
Thank you comment icon Peter, great answer. Some engineers that I've worked with have told me that 'one should have graduated with a CS degree, in order to be called an engineer'. But you're right, different organizations use the titles differently as well. I've been in the industry for 8 years + and still have a bit of difficulty distinguishing between the title. Thanks again! Randy Tolentino
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Michael’s Answer

Generally speaking a software engineer works on design, maintenance, and testing. A developer does the actual coding work and builds the software. Not to say that these lines don't ever become crossed in real-world scenarios. Hope this helps... Good luck!
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Matthew’s Answer

It depends quite a bit on the country you work in, and the company you work for.

In companies that have both 'engineer' and 'developer' titles, it is common for the 'engineer' role to have a focus toward higher level software design and architecture while the 'developer' role focuses more on lower level algorithm, coding, and testing topics.

Some companies will only have one or the other, and regardless of what they call it the role will typically include elements of both coding and design, sometimes shifting more toward higher-level design topics as one gets promoted in the role.

In some countries, the title of 'engineer' is specially regulated and can only be applied to people who go through an accredited engineering program and meet government testing and certification requirements. Some multinational companies will use the 'engineer' title for employees located in some countries, but use the 'developer' title for engineers in the exact same role in other countries to comply with these regulations.
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ETIENNE’s Answer

In the bigger picture, both are the same you will be doing or can do the same thing but it depends on companies. And most people including me prefer software engineer title as there is that engineering terminology included.
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ALEJANDRA’s Answer

There is a great "rule of thumb" when it comes to differentiating these two professions. It goes something like this: a software engineer can be a software developer but a developer cannot be a software engineer. For what is this? Well, a software developer is someone who works with a program, while a software engineer is a person who works with the creation of that same program. Makes sense?

Basically, the software engineers develop and maintain the platform where the software developers then create the program itself. It is true that these two professions are closely linked but you are still very different in certain aspects
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Michelle’s Answer

Computer Engineering is manufacturing of large scale integrated circuits, designs, etc. (big picture thinking) whereas Computer Software Development is the development of custom software (applications that drive the systems or detailed application). In today's world, the engineering and development is often intermixed. There are no cons to either one! Software engineering is more disciplined with the theory behind principles. In development, those parameters may not be entirely applicable.
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Jordan’s Answer

Software Engineer and Software Developer are usually used interchangeably and do not have much difference. The best way to know what kind of work you will be doing is to look at the job description.
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Dhanabal’s Answer

It is basically companies have different title for software engineer..

Mostly application development/ business application development companies provide software developer as title ( like financial companies , health care and insurance companies)

R&D and Technology companies provide title as software engineer title.( like google , Amazon , Fb , etc)


Mostly engineers are expected to invent / create / optimize the solution

Where as developers need to develop the application with well defined process by engineering team / architect team
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Derin’s Answer

As someone who originally had the title "software developer" and now has the "software engineer" title, I can tell you my job did not change. It is just a title, and different companies use different titles. If you look at job descriptions on job sites like Linkedin or Indeed you will see software developers and software engineers have the same responsibilities. In other countries, they may be different roles but in the United States companies can pretty much make whatever title they want, what really matters is the role's responsibilities. For example, while a start-up may give you the title of "magic creator" or "application developer" or some other random title if you build software and apply at google you will be applying as a software engineer, no matter what your previous title was. So don't worry about titles and work on the skills the companies expect you to have!
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Dave’s Answer

Across the industry, these are the same role. A few companies may have different roles with each of these names, but that is rare. Think of them as interchangeable and ask, or read, how a company defines the role.
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DEEKSHITH’s Answer

Some companies may have different titles for "Software Engineer" vs. "Software Developer," but it is not consistent. Mostly, "Software Developer" is an umbrella term for anyone who creates software. "Software Engineer" is often a specific job title (with variations like "Junior Software Engineer" or "Software Engineer II"), but that's going to depend on the company.
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