Software Development Specialist

What does a Software Development Specialist do?

Supervises, teams, and performs as computer analyst, coder, tester, product manager, product designer, product developer, maintenance, testing, configuration management, and documentation of application software systems, client-server, and web-enabled software of customer-defined software and software-intensive weapon systems critical to warfighting capabilities.

Duties and responsibilities

• Software Development Specialists perform software development functions on balanced team as product managers, product designers, or software developers. Additionally, Software Development Specialists can perform leadership roles, such as managing a software portfolio, teams or serve as specific functional leads within their specialized area.
• Software Developer. Develops and writes/codes new (or modifies existing) computer applications, software, or specialized utility programs following software assurance best practices. Analyzes the security of new or existing computer applications, software, or specialized utility programs and provides actionable results. Works on the development phases of the system development lifecycle. Designs, develops, test, and evaluates information systems throughout the systems development lifecycle. Researches problems and breaks them into deliverable software iterations. Exhibits strong communication skills/ works in an individual- or pair-programming environment. Uses Lean, Extreme Programming, User Centered Design and Agile methodologies. [DCWF Code – 621/622/632] Develops complex, software systems that scale globally to meet the demands of warfighters across multiple domains, through the full range of development activities, to include web application development, platform development, mobile application development, distributed and parallel systems, machine learning, information retrieval, natural language processing, networking, and/or security software development. [DCWF Code – 621]
• Product Designer. Makes daily product design decisions, works on a collaborative team, pairs with team members, and helps ensure user satisfaction using Lean and Agile methodologies. Understands user needs and solves the right problems to deliver new or improved products and services that meet the needs of the Air Force. Creates intuitive, innovative, and effective products that military operators’ desire, through learning and understanding of users’ needs, behaviors, and emotions to yield insights that inform product strategy and guide the design of the software and systems. [DCWF Code – 621]
• Product Manager. Defines and prioritizes product features using Agile/Lean product development practices. Works with the project team, leadership, stakeholders, and other PMs to progress the goal of shipping the right product to users. Ensures that the product is successful in terms of user value, stakeholder value, and organizational business goals. Architects the future of products by bridging development and business through the management of a product’s full lifecycle, from strategic planning to development and launch, in order to generate value for combat capabilities. [DCWF Code – 621]
• Data/Database Analyst/Specialist. Develops, administers, and secures databases, data management systems, and/or data processes for the storage, query, and utilization of data. Examines data from multiple disparate sources with the goal of providing new insight. Designs and implements custom algorithms, flow processes and layouts for complex, enterprise-scale data sets used for modeling, data mining, and research purposes. Locates patterns in large data sets using computer science techniques to help team members with different levels of understanding and expertise to make data driven business decisions that increase effectiveness or efficiency of operational forces. [DCWF Code – 421/422]

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of system capabilities, limitations, and programming logic; techniques and procedures of systems analysis and design; related information processing devices and systems; software methodologies; methods of editing input and output data; configuration management techniques; security practices; customer relations; application of mathematical and analytical concepts to process problems; and computer program editing and testing techniques. Designers and Product Managers have experience with design tools such as Figma, understanding of information architecture, material design systems, UI schemes, CSS, etc.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school or general educational development equivalency is mandatory. Additional courses in algebra, geometry, computer science and computer programming is desirable. Any network or computing commercial certification is desirable.

Training. Specific training will be determined by the gaining organization and can include on-the-job training or specialized training through commercial programs.

Experience. Experience in Agile Software Development (ASD) methodologies, best practices, and procedures.

Utilization Note (RegAF only):

• Award of this SDI is only authorized when an Airman is filling a funded 8XXXX unit manpower document (UMD) authorization. Once the member is no longer filling a valid 8XXXX UMD authorization, 8XXXX is no longer authorized as the Duty AFSC but will remain as an awarded (secondary, third or fourth) AFSC IAW AFMAN 36-2100, unless the member is disqualified from the SDI then it will not remain as an awarded AFSC. Further, 8XXXX is not authorized for award as the Primary Air Force Specialty Code (PAFSC) when filling a funded 8XXXX UMD authorization unless incumbent has no other awarded AFSCs.
• Airmen performing 8XXXX duties but not filling a funded 8XXXX UMD authorization will have no change in their awarded, control and duty AFSCs. Ensure airmen employed outside of their Control Air Force Specialty Code (CAFSC) are managed IAW AFMAN 36-2100, Military Utilization and Classification. Use Outside of Control AFSC. NOTE: Airmen performing in these positions will not have their CAFSC changed and will continue to promotion test within their CAFSC (the CAFSC must continue to match their PAFSC).

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $90,520–$164,070 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Computer and Information Systems Managers: $164,070
• Computer Programmers: $97,800
• Computer Systems Analysts: $102,240
• Database Administrators: $99,890
• Information Security Analysts: $112,000
• Information Technology Project Managers: $98,740
• Network and Computer Systems Administrators: $90,520
• Software Developers: $127,260
• Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: $99,620