Software engineers must be able to perform the following.

• Analysis of the intended Application to determine the technical requirements of a proposed computer system, and recording those requirements in a precise, well-organized document for review by others.  After approval by the customer or representative of future users, this document will serve as a specification for the design, review, and testing of the system.
• Design of the computer system configuration, determining which functions will be implemented in hardware, which functions will be implemented in software, and selecting the basic hardware and software components.  Recording these decisions precisely so that they can be reviewed by others.
• Analysis of  the performance of a proposed design (either analytically or by simulation) to make sure that the proposed system can meet the application's requirements.
• Designing the basic structure of the software, i.e. its division into modules, and the structure of individual programs; precisely documenting software design decisions.
• Analysis of the software structure for completeness, consistency and suitability for the application.
• Implementing the software as a set of well structured and well documented programs.
• Integrating new software with existing or commercial COTS software.
• Systematic and statistical testing of a computer system including the software.
• Revising and enhancing software systems, retaining their conceptual integrity and keeping all documents complete and accurate.