Computer Scientist

What is a Computer Scientist?

The following responsibilities are common for Computer Scientists:

• Identifies and solves complex technological and computation problems in businesses and corporations
• Applies and adapts theoretical principles to develop new computer software and hardware solutions
• Consults with end-users, managers and clients to determine computing goals and system requirements
• Conducts research involving computation experimentation and modeling
• Develops new software and/or hardware, computing techniques and  systems materials

A Day In The Life

Computer scientists research and develop new computer technologies in order to solve software and hardware issues in a variety of industries.  Businesses usually hire these individuals to solve computing problems or to develop new software or products.  These individuals are generally found involved with more theoretical aspects of computing issues, often times using experimentation and modeling in their research.

These scientists typically work along side computer programmers, IT specialists and mechanical and software engineers.  They often work in teams and their research is directed towards developing new technology.  Their research usually involves subjects like artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality.  Through their research, these scientists attempt to improve things like, improved performance of existing software, larger data capacity, development of new and improved computing techniques and development of new hardware and materials.

Typical Work Schedule

Most computer scientists work full-time following the regular working schedule of 40 hours per week. However, as you get more and more experienced and have more important positions in whatever organization you work for, longer hours will be needed to meet deadlines. This includes working on evenings and weekends as well as being ready and on-call whenever needed. In addition, working in the field of computer science requires constant improvement and self-study to be able to keep up with the continuous advances in technology and produce good results for your organization. This may include constant research, study as well as attending meeting, conferences and other professional gatherings which will also increase the working hours beyond the standard schedule.

Projected Job Growth

According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics, the employment of computer scientists is expected to increase by about 15% from 2009 to 2019. This rate is much faster than the average expected growth rate for other jobs. The field of computer science is fueling many of the recent life-changing technologies and will continue to do so in the coming years. This explains why the demand for computer scientists will only continue to increase. In addition, the huge technological shift that happened in recent years due to the huge amount of data collected and analyzed will need the proper algorithms that will enable companies to extract the vital information companies need. Another increasingly important field is cybersecurity which will provide computer scientist with more job opportunities.

Typical Employers

The value of the computer industry in the US is estimated to be more than $1.8 trillion with more than 11.8 million jobs. Computer scientists have a wide range of employers that seek their skills to secure an edge in today’s constantly changing economy. Employers include the Federal government itself which employs computer scientists for different purposes. Other employers include corporations working in computer systems design and other related fields which ranges from the huge corporations like Google and Facebook, or smaller companies. Some computer scientists may prefer working in Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences while others will prefer working for Software publishers. Another option is freelance work which has been on the rise in recent years. Finally, many computer scientists and researchers will prefer working for Colleges, universities, and professional schools where they can instruct the coming generations on this important field.