Software Engineer

What is a Software Enginner according to TeamPilot?

According to us at TeamPilot a Software Engineer is a professional who applies the principles of engineering, mathematics, and computer science to design, develop, maintain, and test computer software.

Unlike a developer who might focus primarily on writing code, an engineer takes a systematic approach to the entire software development life cycle (SDLC). Their goal is to create solutions that are not only functional but also scalable, secure, and maintainable over the long term.

Core Responsibilities

System Design: Architecting how different parts of a software system interact.

Development: Writing clean, efficient code in languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript.

Problem Solving: Translating complex business needs into technical requirements.

Maintenance: Optimizing existing systems and fixing bugs to ensure reliability.

Collaboration: Working with product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to ensure the product meets user needs.

Typical experience levels for Software Engineers

Software engineering experience can vary significantly based on tech stack and project complexity.

Experience Levels This is how TeamPilot defines the experience levels for Software Engineers.

Junior – 0–1 years of experience.

Juniors are typically recently graduated or have completed intensive technical training. They focus on mastering core programming syntax (e.g., Python, JavaScript, Java), understanding version control with Git, and learning to implement basic features under guidance.

Mid-Level – 1–3 years of experience.

At the mid-level, engineers have been exposed to the full software development lifecycle. They take ownership of specific modules, contribute to code reviews, and have deepened their knowledge of databases, API design, and testing frameworks.

Senior* – 4–8 years of experience.

Seniors have broad experience across different architectures and technologies. They lead technical decision-making, design scalable systems, and ensure code quality and best practices are maintained across the team.

*Lead – 8+ years of experience.

A Lead has typically worked across various industries and has a high-level understanding of how different roles (Product, Design, DevOps) intersect. They define technical strategy, manage complex dependencies, and bridge the gap between technical execution and business requirements.

How TeamPilot evaluates Software Engineers

When evaluating candidates as Software Engineers, we for example:

Assess their proficiency in core languages and modern development frameworks

Review their ability to design scalable, maintainable system architectures

Evaluate code quality, documentation skills, and commitment to automated testing

Check for experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and CI/CD pipelines

Look for a "product-first" mindset and the ability to solve complex problems with efficient code