Software and systems engineering careers for future engineers

The short answer

Software and systems engineers create and test the code that controls real-world machines, like engine controllers, car software, rail signalling, robots, and the chips inside them. Starting salaries for graduates are usually between £30,000 and £34,000, while senior engineers can earn £84,000 or more. You don’t need A-level Computer Science, but Maths is required. You can enter the field with a degree, a paid degree apprenticeship, or a Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship.

Key points

• Prospects puts typical graduate software engineer pay at £30,000 to £31,000, rising to around £84,000 at senior level.^[1]
• BAE Systems is offering graduate software engineers starting in 2027 a salary of £34,000.^[2]
• Skills England expects demand for 87,000 more programmers and software development professionals by 2030, the second biggest rise of any single job.^[3]
• Cambridge and Imperial do not require A-level Computer Science for computing degrees, but both want top grades in Maths.^[4]
• The legal minimum for apprentices is £8 an hour from April 2026, though engineering employers usually pay far more.^[5]

What a software and systems engineer actually does

A software engineer writes code that controls hardware, such as programs that decide how much fuel an engine gets, how a robot arm moves, or when a train can enter the next section of track. A systems engineer focuses on the entire machine, defines what it needs to do, and makes sure the mechanical, electrical, and software parts all work together safely.

This work is not the same as building apps or websites. Most of the code is embedded, which means it runs on small computers inside the product. Much of it is safety-critical, so it is tested much more thoroughly than a phone app. The Level 7 systems engineer apprenticeship standard explains that this job is found in any sector where complex engineered systems are designed, built, or operated.^[6]

A day in the life

At 10am on a Tuesday, an embedded software engineer at a rail signalling company finishes a 15-minute team meeting and heads to the test lab. There, real signalling hardware is connected to a laptop that simulates a railway. Yesterday’s build passed all tests except one: a message between two controllers was 40 milliseconds late. She reruns the test with logging enabled, finds the delay in the trace, and checks with the systems engineer to see what the requirement allows. By lunchtime, the fix is written and reviewed.

This combination of working at a computer, spending time in the lab, and talking with others is common. According to Prospects, software engineers usually work from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, though things get busier near deadlines and some roles include on-call duties.^[7] For controls work, design and analysis can often be done from home, but testing real equipment needs to be done on site.^[8]

How much software and systems engineers earn

Is software engineering a growing field?

Yes, though it is changing. In 2025, around 1.81 million jobs were filled in the UK digital sector, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.^[13] Skills England lists programmers and software development professionals as a priority occupation in seven sectors.^[14]

One thing to keep in mind is AI. Skills England’s 2026 assessment points out that there is less need for routine coding and testing tasks.^[15] This is less of an issue in physical systems, where engineers need to understand the hardware and safety rules as well as the code.

Which subjects you need

Does A-level Computer Science matter? Not as much as many people think. Cambridge requires A*A*A, with Maths as a must, and suggests taking Further Maths if your school offers it. Imperial also asks for A*A*A, including an A* in Maths for Computing, recommends Computer Science but doesn’t require it, and asks every applicant to take the TMUA maths test.^[4] Southampton’s MEng Software Engineering needs AAA, including Maths.^[16] If your school doesn’t offer Computer Science, don’t worry: Maths is the key subject. Our guide explains in more detail how A-level Computer Science prepares you for engineering.

In Scotland, Strathclyde’s Software Engineering BSc asks for AAAB or AABBB at Higher, with Computing Science recommended.^[17] Qualifications Scotland now awards Highers, replacing SQA on 1 February 2026.^[18]

Degree, degree apprenticeship or self-taught?

There are a few updates as of November 2026. The T Level was renamed from Digital Production, Design and Development, so you might see either name. The Level 3 technician apprenticeship is being updated, and anyone starting from 14 May 2027 will be on the new version. Foundation apprenticeships are for 16 to 21-year-olds (or up to 24 for care leavers and those with an EHC plan), and employers can get up to £2,000 for hiring one.^[27] The Level 7 systems engineer apprenticeship, which is at master’s level, is now only government-funded for apprentices aged 16 to 21 who start on or after 1 January 2026.^[28]

Thinking about teaching yourself? Learning to code on your own is a great start, and recruiters appreciate it, but it’s tough to get into engineering software this way alone. Prospects says it’s unlikely you’ll get in without a degree or HND unless you have a lot of experience.^[29] Employers in safety-critical areas want proof that you’ve had proper training, which is why the apprenticeship routes exist. If you’re 19 or older, government-funded Skills Bootcamps offer courses up to 16 weeks long.^[30]

Software degree apprenticeships at big engineering firms are competitive and recruit about a year ahead. Our comparison of a week as a degree apprentice versus a university student shows what each feels like.

UK employers to know

• Arm: designs the processors inside billions of devices, with teams in Cambridge, Manchester, Sheffield and Bristol.^[31]
• BAE Systems: graduate software engineers at sites including Portsmouth, Chelmsford, Cowes and Frimley, and degree apprentices in Lancashire and Yeovil.
• JLR: car software at its Software Development Centre in Manchester, working with its Gaydon site.^[32]
• Rolls-Royce: control, monitoring and safety-critical embedded software for aero engines, in Bristol and Derby.^[33]
• Siemens Mobility: rail signalling and control systems from its new Chippenham facility.^[34]
• Ocado Technology: robotics and software for automated warehouses, based in Hatfield.^[35]
• Dyson: robotics engineers at Hullavington, near its Malmesbury campus.^[36]
• Oxa: self-driving vehicle software, based in Oxford.^[37]
• Raspberry Pi: computers, microcontrollers, and the software that runs on them, based in Cambridge.^[38]

Software skills are useful in many different sectors. Our guides to aerospace engineering, electronic engineering, and automation engineering all show paths to software-focused jobs.

Professional bodies

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is the main body for software professionals. Student membership costs £20 a year or £30 for your whole course, and is open to students on IT-related courses or a digital T Level.^[39] Through BCS, you can become a Chartered IT Professional (CITP) or register as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).^[40] The Institute for Systems Engineering (formerly INCOSE UK, renamed in 2025) is the home of systems engineering.^[41] The IET covers electronics, software and control engineers, and the Engineering Council sets the standards for EngTech, IEng and CEng registration.

According to BCS, women made up 22% of UK IT specialists in 2025.^[42] The Women’s Engineering Society offers networking and support.

What to do next

Years 9 to 11 (S2 to S4 in Scotland): keep Maths as strong as you can. Take GCSE Computer Science if it is offered, but it is not essential. Build something that moves: a micro:bit or Raspberry Pi project that reads a sensor and drives a motor teaches you more about embedded software than any app. Our list of extracurricular activities for engineers has more ideas.

Year 12 (S5): take Maths, plus Further Maths, Physics or Computer Science. Look for work experience with our guide to engineering work experience in Year 10 and Year 12, and put your code on GitHub so you can show it.

Year 13 (S6): apply for degree apprenticeships in the autumn, as big employers close early. For example, BAE Systems’ 2027 graduate scheme closes on 4 December 2026. Our engineering key dates page lists the year’s deadlines.

Not sure yet? Try our guide to which engineering discipline suits you.

For parents and teachers: Maths is more important than Computer Science, and software apprenticeships at engineering firms are paid and fee-free, so they are worth considering.

Frequently asked questions

Is software engineering real engineering?

Yes. Software engineers can register as Chartered Engineers through BCS, and in cars, aircraft and power systems they work to the same safety standards as everyone else. The difference is that their materials are code rather than steel.

Do I need A-level Computer Science to study software engineering?

Usually not. Most top courses require Maths and recommend Computer Science. Further Maths and Physics are often just as useful.

What is the difference between software engineering and computer science?

Computer science studies computing itself, including theory and algorithms. Software engineering is about building reliable software for real products. Many people study one and work in the other.

Will AI replace software engineers?

AI is already taking over some routine coding and testing, and Skills England has noted that shift. Engineers who understand the hardware, requirements, and safety case are much harder to replace, which is why demand is still forecast to grow.

Can I become a software engineer without a degree?

Yes, through an apprenticeship. A Level 4 software developer apprenticeship or a Level 6 degree apprenticeship gets you a qualification and a salary.

Feedback or corrections? Email [email protected].

Image: Louis Reed, Unsplash