Computer Scientist Job Description – What Are their Duties
One of the advantages of being in the 21st century is the ease that comes from using technology. our daily lives now rely heavily on information gotten from social media spaces, news and other related places with an online presence.
These days many things which required multiple devices in the past can be done with a single click from your phone or laptop. All this and more is made possible by the work of computer scientists all over the world who have developed processes to make life easier for man in every sector.
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Job Profile of a Computer Scientist
Computer science is an umbrella term which encompasses four major areas of computing: theory, algorithms, programming languages and architecture. Basically, it is the study of how data and instructions are processed, stored, communicated by computing devices.
Computer science deals with algorithms for processing data, the design of instruction languages for processing data, techniques for writing software that process data on a variety of computing platform etc. They often deal with applied mathematics, physics, statistics etc.
Therefore, computer scientists are scientists and mathematicians who develop ways to process, interpret, store, communicate, and secure data. To become a computer scientist, you have to obtain a degree program in computer science at the university or polytechnic.
Most areas of specialization within the field of computer science available to undergraduate and postgraduate students include;
- Programming
- Data structures
- Algorithms
- Mathematics
- Software security
- Operating systems
- Software engineering
- Experimental design
- Algorithms
- Databases
- Data/Software Modeling
Read also: Top 15 Highest Paying Jobs In Computer Science
Job Description for Computer Scientists
- Solving computational and software related problems that affect productivity
- Conducting research to identify new models that can be used for experiments and processing of data
- working with other IT professionals in product development
- developing new hardware or computing techniques and materials
- Develop and simplify algorithms
- Create a new computing language and test new systems and designs
- Present findings to the scientific community during conferences or in journals
Skills Needed For A Computer Scientist
As a computer scientist, you should possess some of the listed skills to fit into the position;
- Presentation Skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Excellent maths skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Data analysis and presentation
- Numeracy and analytical ability
- Teamwork
- Organisational ability
- Relevant IT skills
Typical Employers of Computer Scientists
Computer Scientists work across every sector and industry to provide solutions to some of their pressing needs in the field of technology. Some of the sectors you can work in as a Computer Scientist include:
- Audit Firms
- Advertising agencies
- Hospitals
- Manufacturing industries
- Banks
- Aviation
- Oil and Gas
- Hospitality Industries
- Non-governmental organisations
- Computer and Software companies
Qualification For Computer Scientists
Having access to the internet has made it possible for anyone interested in getting IT skills to take online courses and certifications. But having a degree in computer science would give you an edge when applying for more technical roles. It is also important that asides developing your portfolio you should also take qualifying exams towards various certifications available for computer scientists.
