Systems Development Engineer
Job description
A systems developer develops systems to ensure the computer system (both hardware and software) functions more efficiently. They modify operating systems by writing programs to control the way a number of systems are run simultaneously.
The work is concerned with the internal operations of computers, providing the computer operating systems and standard software services essential to their operation. They can also be involved in testing, diagnosing and fixing faults in software, by writing diagnostic programs.
Systems developers (or programmers) also write the interpreters and compilers used to process the code written by an Applications developer , into a form upon which computers can act.
Typical work activities
Depending on the size of the organisation, some or all of the following activities may be undertaken:
consulting with colleagues or clients with a view to writing and modifying operating systems, superstructure products and low-level applications support software, including communications software;
testing, diagnosing and fixing faults in all such software, sometimes in consultation with the users of the software;
writing and testing code;
writing systems to control the scheduling of jobs on a mainframe computer or to control the access allowed to users or remote systems;
providing written documentation for users, perhaps in conjunction with a Technical author ;
providing training for end users;
reviewing and developing the current system;
undertaking project work.
Be aware that job descriptions in IT are not as standardised as in some other industries - many systems developers may be called, or choose to call themselves, systems programmers, analysts, or engineers. It is also not uncommon to find others, such as an Applications developer , covering the above tasks as part of their job description.