Software engineering is a versatile discipline that presents many career options, particularly now as businesses increasingly pursue digital transformations to boost productivity. Granted, being a jack of all trades can get you far, but specializing in emerging technologies can future-proof your career.
For one, focusing on a specific area will allow you to become more autonomous as you grow into your role and give you a competitive edge over other software engineers with similar foundational skills.
If you like the sound of this, then you’re in luck! General Assembly, a pioneering tech bootcamp, has added specialization modules in its software engineering course to further increase your chances of landing your dream job.
General Assembly continues its mission of producing skilled tech pros by introducing free on-demand career modules for aspiring Cloud Developers, UX Engineers, and DevOps specialists.
Learn more here.What Can You Specialize in as a Software Engineer?
Seeing how industry demands change quickly, General Assembly is always spearheading initiatives to produce professionals with the right skillset. Case in point, the tech bootcamp has included free on-demand modules that can boost the skills of students enrolled in General Assembly’s Software Engineering Immersive program in three sought-after specializations:
- Cloud Development
- DevOps
- UX Engineering
These career modules are perfect for students keen to focus on a niche, be hired into a highly technical role, or continue their education. The on-demand content converges into a practical capstone project showcasing your learned skills.
Become a Cloud Developer
Tech innovations have shifted our reliance from physical storage devices to uploading data on various cloud technologies like Google Drive, DropBox, and OneDrive. With limitless data collection and the increasing integration of cloud technology in businesses, those who can maintain and develop cloud services are in high demand.
Enter, Cloud developers.
The role doesn’t veer from software engineering, except that the applications created are on the cloud. Cloud developers identify and develop cloud technology based on the needs of companies. They also secure and streamline digital services and information stored on the cloud. Owing to their complex responsibilities, cloud developers must possess technical skills and business acumen.
Based on a survey by Glassdoor and government data, cloud developers can earn as high as $169,000 per year. Top-paying companies that hire cloud developers include Veridic Solutions, IBM, and Staxa Technologies.
What will you learn from GA’s Cloud Developer Career Module?
You will learn different categories of cloud providers, DNS, and how a cloud-hosted web application functions. In addition, the module boosts your proficiency in the latest cloud development technologies like Python with Django, Ruby on Rails, and other APIs, allowing you to perform your tasks efficiently.
By the end of the career module, you will know how to:
- Deployment with Azure Cloud
- Use a cloud-hosted database with Cosmos DB
- Enable containerization with Docker
While cloud development has an essential role in present-day operations to store and save data, DevOps skills are another equally important expertise the world requires. As the name suggests, this specialist role merges development and operations functions to ensure that systems and software applications work together.
Become a DevOps Specialist
Every day, new software programs are developed for every imaginable purpose. Although creating and launching programs represent a huge part of software development, the improvement stage completes the process.
Software programs are observed over time following their release to suss out problems. They are then developed accordingly to meet end-user expectations—a process that can be time-consuming. The need to make sure that digital products work seamlessly gave rise to DevOps specialists, responsible for providing high-quality developments in a sprint.
DevOps specialists use automation tools and strategize ways to eliminate roadblocks that slow down the software life cycle process. They also implement cybersecurity measures, troubleshoot bugs, and ensure that strategies between development and operations teams align for a seamless process.
Once you have gained your DevOps skills, you can begin your career as a DevOps architect or DevOps engineer, where you can earn as much as $143,000 a year. If this is something you’re considering, General Assembly’s DevOps Career Module can serve as your launchpad.
What will you learn from GA’s DevOps Career Module?
DevOps can be a complex field of study, especially for beginners. For this reason, General Assembly has designed a set of lessons covering the essential skills of DevOps professionals and the strategies they use to tackle intricate projects.
During the course, you will learn to:
- Integrate automated DevOps pipeline to applications
- Achieve automated testing
- Jenkins continuous deployment pipeline
Become a UX Engineer
Website and app creation usually require the help of UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) designers. But, have you heard of UX engineers?
UX engineers possess the hybrid skills of a front-end developer and a UX designer. They are highly agile UX experts who can move between the technical and design aspects of creating a digital product.
UX engineers usually step in during the test phase to ensure that the proposed design from the UX/UI team is technically viable. Given their responsibilities, UX engineers must be excellent collaborators fluent in ‘coding’ and ‘design’ languages. They should also be able to ascertain that the end product is well-balanced and provides the best features that meet users’ needs.
UX engineers receive a generous remuneration, with a base pay of $91,900 annually. If you land a job with renowned companies, such as Google, your salary can reach $170,000.
What will you learn from GA’s UX Engineer Career Module?
The module centers on teaching you how to navigate the complex process of ground-up redesign. Expect to learn the ropes of user experience testing, user interviews, wireframes, and prototyping necessary for the application you are building.
By completing the course, you will learn to:
- Design wireframes and sitemaps
- Build application prototypes
- Perform usability tests
Differentiate Yourself in the Workplace
Because tech is a fast-evolving industry, sustaining a tech career involves an endless cycle of learning and evolving. With General Assembly’s career modules, you can be confident that you stand a chance at pursuing highly competitive tech fields. Moreover, GA’s career modules are free and asynchronous, giving you the flexibility to learn at your pace.
Want to know more? Let General Assembly’s Admissions Team walk you through the Software Engineering Immersive program, so you can find which specialization suits your purpose.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
