Systems developer : Job description

Systems developers work on the internal operations of computers. They work within organisations to solve computer problems using existing systems or incorporating new technologies to meet particular needs. They test both hard and software systems, and diagnose and resolve system faults.

The role also covers writing diagnostic programs and designing and writing code for operating systems and software to ensure that they function more efficiently. When required, they make recommendations for future developments to software or operating systems.

Systems developers may also create systems in response to technical specifications supplied by an IT analyst. This may require integrating off-the-shelf software packages into the existing systems.

Typical work activities

Tasks vary according to the type of organisation and size of employer that you are working for, but will typically involve:

• consulting with colleagues or clients with a view to writing or modifying current operating systems;
• evaluating and implementing ways to incorporate existing or new technologies;
• observing, testing, diagnosing and resolving faults in the software;
• writing and testing code and then refining and rewriting as necessary;
• 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;
• working with other IT specialists both internally and externally;
• undertaking short and longer-term project work.

Job titles and descriptions in IT are not as standardised as in some other industries. In some cases, systems developers may be called systems programmers, analysts or engineers. In some areas, a systems developer may have a more defined role and work within a group of IT specialists, which can include systems analysts and systems designers, or they may work solely on testing systems. The work of a systems developer can also form part of the role of a software engineer or an applications programmer.