NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Software Developers

SOC 15-1252.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparation

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities.

Context coveredApplication, infrastructure, DevOps, and architecture roles; full SDLC; individual feature work through system-level design and team leadership.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Well-defined coding tasks — implement under code review on an established codebase.
  2. Version control basics (branch, commit, pull request) — use correctly on a team's repository.
  3. Local development environment — set up and run reliably for an existing service.
  4. Unit tests for new code — write to coverage standards on assigned features.
  5. Bug reports with clear reproduction steps — diagnose and fix on isolated components.
  6. Code-review feedback — incorporate accurately on submitted pull requests.
  7. Existing system documentation — read and apply when implementing assigned tasks.
  8. Standard logging and error handling — add to new code following team conventions.
  9. Build and CI/CD outputs — interpret and respond to on individual changes.
  10. Standup updates and ticket hygiene — communicate consistently in a sprint team.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Multi-file features — design and implement end-to-end within an existing service.
  2. Integration points (APIs, queues, databases) — work across confidently in a familiar stack.
  3. Test strategy (unit, integration, end-to-end) — apply appropriately to assigned features.
  4. Production incidents on owned components — investigate and resolve with reduced guidance.
  5. Performance and scalability concerns in code — recognize and address in routine work.
  6. Code reviews for peers — provide substantive feedback on a team's pull requests.
  7. Estimates and breakdowns for medium tasks — produce reliably in sprint planning.
  8. Refactoring of legacy code — execute safely in well-tested areas of the codebase.
  9. Cloud services and platform tooling — use correctly in standard team workflows.
  10. Junior developers on routine work — guide on patterns and conventions during onboarding.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Service-level designs — propose, document, and lead implementation across a team's domain.
  2. Cross-cutting concerns (auth, observability, data modeling) — own across one or more services.
  3. Production reliability and on-call response — handle autonomously across a team's services.
  4. Performance, security, and cost trade-offs — analyze and decide on within a service or feature area.
  5. Technical specs and design docs — author and shepherd through review for non-trivial changes.
  6. Cross-team integrations — negotiate and deliver across organizational boundaries.
  7. Architectural debt and migrations — plan and execute incrementally on an owned service.
  8. Hiring loops and technical interviews — conduct competently across leveling guidelines.
  9. Mentorship across the team — provide on design, code quality, and career growth.
  10. Roadmap input from a technical perspective — contribute consistently in product planning.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. System architecture across multiple services — design, evolve, and defend across the org.
  2. Engineering standards and platform direction — set, document, and uphold across teams.
  3. High-stakes incidents and recovery — lead response, root-cause, and structural follow-up.
  4. Technical strategy multi-quarter — define and align with product, leadership, and adjacent teams.
  5. Engineering hiring and leveling — shape rubrics, calibrate decisions, and grow the bar org-wide.
  6. Senior engineer development — mentor, sponsor, and grow across the engineering organization.
  7. Critical build-vs-buy and platform decisions — frame, evaluate, and drive to closure.
  8. External technical representation — speak credibly in customer, partner, and community contexts.
  9. Cross-functional initiatives — lead with product, design, and operations on company-level outcomes.
  10. Engineering culture and practices — shape through patterns, rituals, and standards across teams.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors54 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Software Developer · AI Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Specialist) · Application Analyst · Application Architect · Application Developer · Application Engineer · Application Integration Engineer · Application Integrator · Application Programmer · Application Software Engineering IT Specialist (Application Software Engineering Information Technology Specialist) · Application Support Engineer · Application Systems Analyst
RAPIDS apprenticeships
0249 · Software Developer
O*NET skills
ProgrammingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionSystems AnalysisActive LearningSystems EvaluationComplex Problem SolvingTechnology DesignActive ListeningWritingOperations AnalysisSpeakingTime ManagementMonitoringCoordination
Knowledge domains
Computers and ElectronicsMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish Language
Abilities
Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningNear VisionInformation OrderingWritten ExpressionInductive ReasoningCategory Flexibility
Work styles
Attention to DetailInnovationDependabilityIntellectual CuriosityAchievement OrientationAdaptability
Technology
Word processing softwareDevelopment environment softwareObject or component oriented development softwareData base user interface and query softwareDocument management softwareVideo creation and editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareWeb platform development softwareDesktop publishing software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  2. Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  3. Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
  4. Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  5. Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
  6. Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
  7. Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
  8. Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
CIP education codes
11.010211.010311.010411.020111.020211.020311.020411.020511.040111.070111.080411.090214.090114.090315.120430.080130.160130.390130.480130.7001

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.