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Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software
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CheckoutCareers.com
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Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software
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Research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, scientific, and general computing applications. Set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements. Apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis.
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Degrees
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Abilities
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Deductive Reasoning| | The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
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Oral Expression| | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
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Oral Comprehension| | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
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Written Comprehension| | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
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Information Ordering| | The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
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Near Vision| | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
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Mathematical Reasoning| | The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem. |
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Number Facility| | The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly. |
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Problem Sensitivity| | The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
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Written Expression| | The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
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Inductive Reasoning| | The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
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Fluency of Ideas| | The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). |
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Speech Clarity| | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
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Category Flexibility| | The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
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Originality| | The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. |
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Speech Recognition| | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
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Memorization| | The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures. |
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Selective Attention| | The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
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Visualization| | The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. |
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Perceptual Speed| | The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object. |
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Far Vision| | The ability to see details at a distance. |
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Flexibility of Closure| | The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. |
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Finger Dexterity| | The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. |
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Speed of Closure| | The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns. |
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Visual Color Discrimination| | The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness. |
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Hearing Sensitivity| | The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness. |
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Arm-Hand Steadiness| | The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. |
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Auditory Attention| | The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds. |
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Depth Perception| | The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object. |
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Time Sharing| | The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources). |
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Manual Dexterity| | The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. |
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Control Precision| | The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. |
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Wrist-Finger Speed| | The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists. |
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Trunk Strength| | The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing. |
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Interests
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Investigative| | Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. |
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Realistic| | Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. |
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Third Interest High-Point| | Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness |
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Conventional| | Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. |
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Enterprising| | Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business. |
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Artistic| | Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules. |
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First Interest High-Point| | Primary-Rank Descriptiveness |
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Social| | Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. |
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Second Interest High-Point| | Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness |
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Knowledge
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Computers and Electronics| | Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
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Mathematics| | Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
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Engineering and Technology| | Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. |
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Design| | Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. |
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Education and Training| | Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
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English Language| | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
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Customer and Personal Service| | Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
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Telecommunications| | Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems. |
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Clerical| | Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. |
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Communications and Media| | Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. |
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Administration and Management| | Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
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Physics| | Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes. |
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Economics and Accounting| | Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data. |
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Public Safety and Security| | Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
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Psychology| | Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
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Law and Government| | Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. |
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Sales and Marketing| | Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. |
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Production and Processing| | Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
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Mechanical| | Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
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Fine Arts| | Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture. |
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Personnel and Human Resources| | Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems. |
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Foreign Language| | Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation. |
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Therapy and Counseling| | Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. |
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Sociology and Anthropology| | Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins. |
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Transportation| | Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. |
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Philosophy and Theology| | Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture. |
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Geography| | Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life. |
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Chemistry| | Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. |
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History and Archeology| | Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures. |
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Biology| | Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
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Wages
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| District of Columbia | $82,610.00 |
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| North Carolina | $81,060.00 |
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| South Carolina | $64,010.00 |
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Related Careers
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Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technicians| | Operate, install, calibrate, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data. |
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Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary| | Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. |
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Computer Support Specialists| | Provide technical assistance to computer system users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone or from remote location. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems. |
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Computer, Automated Teller, & Office Machine Repairers| | Repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems, automated teller machines, and electronic office machines, such as duplicating and fax machines. |
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Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Commercial & Industrial Equipment| | Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas. |
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Electronic Drafters| | Draw wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, schematics, and layout drawings used for manufacture, installation, and repair of electronic equipment. |
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Numerical Tool & Process Control Programmers| | Develop programs to control machining or processing of parts by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems. |
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Skills
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Complex Problem Solving| | Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
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Active Learning| | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
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Critical Thinking| | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
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Troubleshooting| | Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. |
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Reading Comprehension| | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
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Technology Design| | Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs. |
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Mathematics| | Using mathematics to solve problems. |
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Programming| | Writing computer programs for various purposes. |
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Systems Analysis| | Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
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Operations Analysis| | Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design. |
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Judgment and Decision Making| | Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
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Time Management| | Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
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Active Listening| | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
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Coordination| | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
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Writing| | Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
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Quality Control Analysis| | Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. |
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Speaking| | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
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Equipment Selection| | Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job. |
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Systems Evaluation| | Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. |
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Science| | Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
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Learning Strategies| | Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. |
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Instructing| | Teaching others how to do something. |
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Operation and Control| | Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
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Installation| | Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications. |
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Monitoring| | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
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Persuasion| | Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. |
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Social Perceptiveness| | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
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Service Orientation| | Actively looking for ways to help people. |
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Management of Material Resources| | Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work. |
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Operation Monitoring| | Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
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Repairing| | Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools. |
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Negotiation| | Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. |
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Management of Financial Resources| | Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures. |
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Equipment Maintenance| | Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. |
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Management of Personnel Resources| | Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. |
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Tasks
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| Modify existing software to correct errors, to adapt it to new hardware or to upgrade interfaces and improve performance. |
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| Design and develop software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcome and consequences of design. |
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| Consult with engineering staff to evaluate interface between hardware and software, develop specifications and performance requirements and resolve customer problems. |
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| Analyze information to determine, recommend and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system. |
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| Develop and direct software system testing and validation procedures. |
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| Direct software programming and development of documentation. |
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| Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel. |
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| Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals and technical issues such as software system design and maintenance. |
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| Advise customer about, or perform, maintenance of software system. |
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| Coordinate installation of software system. |
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| Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications. |
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| Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements. |
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| Train users to use new or modified equipment. |
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| Confer with data processing and project managers to obtain information on limitations and capabilities for data processing projects. |
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| Prepare reports and correspondence concerning project specifications, activities and status. |
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| Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration. |
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| Utilize microcontrollers to develop control signals, implement control algorithms and measure process variables such as temperatures, pressures and positions. |
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| Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation. |
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| Specify power supply requirements and configuration. |
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Tools
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| Desktop computers |
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| High end computer servers |
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| Application servers |
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| Directory servers |
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| Integrated circuit testers |
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| In circuit emulators ICE |
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| Logic analyzers |
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| Mainframe computers |
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| Notebook computers |
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| Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers |
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| Personal digital assistant PDAs |
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Technology
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| Administration software |
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| Software distribution management software |
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| Analytical or scientific software |
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| Data analysis software |
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| Dynamic modeling software |
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| Mathworks Simulink |
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| SAS software |
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| Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE |
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| Application server software |
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| BEA WebLogic Server |
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| IBM WebSphere |
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| Oracle Application Server |
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| Backup or archival software |
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| Backup and archival software |
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| Computer aided design CAD software |
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| Computer assisted software engineering CASE software |
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| Configuration management software |
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| Automated installation software |
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| Deployment software |
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| IBM Rational ClearCase |
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| Patch management software |
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| Visible Razor |
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| Data base management system software |
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| Computer Associates integrated data management system CA-IDMS |
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| Data definition language DDL |
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| Data manipulation language DML |
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| Database management software |
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| Distributed database management software |
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| IBM DB2 |
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| Microsoft Access |
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| Microsoft SQL Server |
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| Microsoft transact-structural query language T-SQL |
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| MySQL software |
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| Oracle procedural language/structured query language PL/SQL |
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| Relational database management software |
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| Sybase SQL Server |
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| Data base reporting software |
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| DataVision software |
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| Data base user interface and query software |
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| Structured query language SQL |
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| Development environment software |
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| A programming language APL |
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| Activity based costing ABC |
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| Ada |
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| Algorithmic language ALGOL |
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| American National Standards Institute ANSI C |
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| Assembler |
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| AWK |
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| B |
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| Basic combined programming language BCPL |
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| Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC |
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| Borland JBuilder |
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| C |
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| Class oriented ring associated language CORAL |
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| CLU |
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| Combined programming language CPL |
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| Common business oriented language COBOL |
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| Eclipse software |
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| Embedded systems development software |
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| Extensible markup language XML |
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| Flow-Matic |
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| Formula translation/translator FORTRAN |
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| FORTH |
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| Haskell |
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| IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer D93 |
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| Icon |
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| Integrated development environment IDE software |
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| Interface definition language IDL |
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| J |
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| Java 2 Enterprise Edition J2EE |
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| Kernel |
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| List processing language LISP |
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| Microsoft Visual Basic |
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| Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript |
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| Microsoft Visual Studio |
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| ML |
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| MUMPS M |
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| Parlog |
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| Pascal |
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| Programming language one PL/I |
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| Prolog |
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| Restructured extended executor REXX |
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| Ruby |
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| Scheme |
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| String oriented symbolic language SNOBOL |
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| Symantec Visual Caf |
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| Web service definition language WDSL |
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| Document management software |
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| Electronic mail software |
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| Enterprise application integration software |
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| Enterprise application integration EAI software |
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| SAP Netweaver |
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| File versioning software |
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| Version control software |
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| Filesystem software |
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| File server software |
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| Graphical user interface development software |
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| Graphical user interface GUI design software |
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| Network operation system software |
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| IBM z/OS operating systems |
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| Novell network software |
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| Object or component oriented development software |
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| BETA |
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| Borland Delphi |
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| C++ |
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| Categorical abstract machine language CAML |
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| Common extended self-containing prolog CESP |
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| Component object model COM software |
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| Distributed component object model DCOM software |
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| Distributed, reusable Ada generated from an object-oriented notation DRAGOON |
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| E++ |
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| Eiffel |
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| Emerald |
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| Extended self-containing Prolog ESP |
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| Java |
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| Lisp object-oriented programming system LOOPS |
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| Microsoft Visual Basic.NET |
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| Microsoft Visual C# .NET |
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| Modula |
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| Oberon |
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| Objective-C |
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| Oblog |
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| Polka |
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| Practical extraction and reporting language Perl |
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| Python |
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| Sather |
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| Self |
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| Simulation language SIMULA |
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| Smalltalk |
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| Operating system software |
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| Apple Macintosh OS/X |
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| Cisco Systems IOS |
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| Disk operating system DOS software |
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| IBM AIX |
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| Job control language JCL |
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| Magellan Firmware |
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| Microsoft Windows |
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| MVS software |
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| Novell Linux |
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| OpenVMS |
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| Operating system shells |
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| QNX software |
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| Real time operating system RTOS software |
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| Sun Microsystem Solaris |
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| Unix |
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| VxWorks software |
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| Win CE |
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| Platform interconnectivity software |
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| Migration software |
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| Presentation software |
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| Microsoft PowerPoint |
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| Program testing software |
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| Defect tracking software |
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| Dynamic analysis software |
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| Fault testing software |
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| Functional testing software |
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| IBM Rational ClearQuest |
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| IBM Rational PurifyPlus |
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| Integration testing software |
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| Interoperability testing software |
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| Load testing software |
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| Mercury Interactive LoadRunner |
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| Mercury Interactive WinRunner |
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| Migration testing software |
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| Mutation testing software |
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| Recovery testing software |
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| Regression testing software |
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| Security testing software |
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| Static analysis software |
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