Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Software developer to numerical tool and process control programmer

A software developer already meets 69% of what the numerical tool and process control programmer role asks for. The move turns on 13 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From software developer
69 % overlap
Strong match
To numerical tool and process control programmer
40 You already bring
13 Still to learn
66 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

44.7/ 100

1 How much of what a numerical tool and process control programmer is expected to do is already part of a software developer’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the numerical tool and process control programmer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A numerical tool and process control programmer role treats 38 of its required skills as things a software developer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • ABAP
  • AJAX
  • APL
  • ASP.NET
  • Assembly (computer programming)
  • C#

What stands in the way is 13 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 40 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A numerical tool and process control programmer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a software developer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held CoffeeScript information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held Erlang information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held Smalltalk (computer programming) information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held Microsoft Visual C++ information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held ABAP information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held APL information and communication technologies (icts)

All 40 carried skills, including the 38 the numerical tool and process control programmer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 26 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 working with computers 3 required, 3 supplementary
  • still to learn program a CNC controller required
  • still to learn set up the controller of a machine required
  • still to learn use CAD software required
  • optional, not held perform data analysis optional
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
  • optional, not held use computer-aided engineering systems optional
02 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 4 supplementary
  • still to learn blueprints required
  • still to learn quality and cycle time optimisation required
  • optional, not held electrical engineering optional
  • optional, not held lathe machine parts optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing processes optional
  • optional, not held mechanics optional
03 information skills 2 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn apply control process statistical methods required
  • still to learn read standard blueprints required
  • optional, not held use technical documentation optional
04 information and communication technologies (icts) 2 required
  • still to learn ICT system programming required
  • still to learn CAD software required
05 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 2 supplementary
  • still to learn troubleshoot required
  • optional, not held advise client on technical possibilities optional
  • optional, not held advise on safety improvements optional
06 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required, 2 supplementary
  • still to learn statistical process control required
  • optional, not held 3D modelling optional
  • optional, not held mathematics optional

2 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a numerical tool and process control programmer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 40 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held ABAP knowledge
  • already held AJAX knowledge
  • already held APL knowledge
  • already held ASP.NET knowledge
  • already held Assembly (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held C# knowledge
  • already held C++ knowledge
  • already held COBOL knowledge
  • already held CoffeeScript knowledge
  • already held Common Lisp knowledge
  • already held Erlang knowledge
  • already held Groovy knowledge
  • already held Haskell knowledge
  • already held Java (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held JavaScript knowledge
  • already held Lisp knowledge
  • already held MATLAB knowledge
  • already held ML (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Microsoft Visual C++ knowledge
  • already held Objective-C knowledge
  • already held OpenEdge Advanced Business Language knowledge
  • already held PHP knowledge
  • already held Pascal (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Perl knowledge
  • already held Prolog (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Python (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held R knowledge
  • already held Ruby (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held SAP R3 knowledge
  • already held SAS language knowledge
  • already held Scala knowledge
  • already held Scratch (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Smalltalk (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held Swift (computer programming) knowledge
  • already held TypeScript knowledge
  • already held VBScript knowledge
  • already held Visual Basic knowledge
  • already held computer programming knowledge
  • already held engineering principles knowledge
  • already held engineering processes knowledge
The 2 learning areas not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn use measurement instruments required
  • optional, not held tend lathe optional
08 management skills 1 required
  • still to learn ensure equipment availability required
13 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held 3D modelling optional
  • optional, not held advise client on technical possibilities optional
  • optional, not held advise on safety improvements optional
  • optional, not held electrical engineering optional
  • optional, not held lathe machine parts optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing processes optional
  • optional, not held mathematics optional
  • optional, not held mechanics optional
  • optional, not held perform data analysis optional
  • optional, not held tend lathe optional
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
  • optional, not held use computer-aided engineering systems optional
  • optional, not held use technical documentation optional
68 held skills the numerical tool and process control programmer role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role Ajax Framework knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Ansible knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Apache Maven knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Apache Tomcat knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Drupal knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Eclipse (integrated development environment software) knowledge
  • not needed by the target role IBM WebSphere knowledge
  • not needed by the target role ICT debugging tools knowledge
  • not needed by the target role ICT security legislation knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Internet of Things knowledge
  • not needed by the target role JavaScript Framework knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Jenkins (tools for software configuration management) knowledge
  • not needed by the target role KDevelop knowledge
  • not needed by the target role NoSQL knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Oracle Application Development Framework knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Puppet (tools for software configuration management) knowledge
  • not needed by the target role SPARK knowledge
  • not needed by the target role SQL knowledge
  • not needed by the target role STAF knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Salt (tools for software configuration management) knowledge
  • not needed by the target role WordPress knowledge
  • not needed by the target role World Wide Web Consortium standards knowledge
  • not needed by the target role Xcode knowledge
  • not needed by the target role adapt to changes in technological development plans skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse software specifications skill
  • not needed by the target role blockchain openness knowledge
  • not needed by the target role blockchain platforms knowledge
  • not needed by the target role collect customer feedback on applications skill
  • not needed by the target role create flowchart diagram skill
  • not needed by the target role cyber attack counter-measures knowledge
  • not needed by the target role data visualisation software knowledge
  • not needed by the target role debug software skill
  • not needed by the target role defence standard procedures knowledge
  • not needed by the target role define technical requirements skill
  • not needed by the target role design user interface skill
  • not needed by the target role develop automated migration methods skill
  • not needed by the target role develop creative ideas skill
  • not needed by the target role develop software prototype skill
  • not needed by the target role do cloud refactoring skill
  • not needed by the target role identify customer requirements skill

28 further entries not listed here

11 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn ICT system programming required
  • still to learn CAD software required
  • still to learn blueprints required
  • still to learn quality and cycle time optimisation required
  • still to learn statistical process control required
  • optional, not held 3D modelling optional
  • optional, not held electrical engineering optional
  • optional, not held lathe machine parts optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing processes optional
  • optional, not held mathematics optional
  • optional, not held mechanics optional
Index

Other moves recorded from software developer

Full index of moves from software developer

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a software developer become a numerical tool and process control programmer?

Yes, and it is a moderate move. A software developer already covers 69% of what a numerical tool and process control programmer is expected to do: 40 skills carry over, 38 of which the numerical tool and process control programmer role treats as required.

What skills does a software developer need to become a numerical tool and process control programmer?

13 required skills are missing, plus 13 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with computers. The single most important is ICT system programming.

How hard is the move from software developer to numerical tool and process control programmer?

Its learning distance is 44.7 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.