IT Career Orientation: Exploring the Bridge Software Engineer (BrSE) Position

What is a Bridge Software Engineer?

A Bridge Software Engineer (BrSE – Bridge Software Engineer) is the person who plays the intermediary role between the client and the company’s technical team. They ensure that the requirements from the client are accurately conveyed to the development team, while also reporting progress and product quality from the company back to the client.

In many software enterprises, BrSEs follow the entire project lifecycle: from receiving requirements, analyzing, communicating, supervising progress, to the acceptance of the product. In addition, BrSEs may also work directly at the client’s company (onshore) and coordinate the development team in their home country (offshore).

Currently, BrSEs who use English and Japanese are the two groups with the highest recruitment demand, offering competitive salaries and good benefits.

Should you become a Bridge Software Engineer?

To answer this question, you need to consider both the benefits and the challenges of the job.

Benefits of being a BrSE

High income: This is a position that requires many skills and knowledge, with salaries that can reach from 40 – 50 million VND/month or more.

Career development opportunities: Working directly with clients and being responsible for many tasks helps you train project management skills and broaden your career path.

International experiences: Many BrSEs have the opportunity to work, and even settle abroad, bringing rich experiences and exposure.

Challenges of being a BrSE

Language: Foreign languages are a major barrier. Even with many years of study, many people still find it difficult to communicate effectively with clients.

Distance and offshore working model: Most of the work is carried out online, which can lead to limitations in communication.

Time zone differences: You need to adapt to different working hours, which may affect your personal life.

Cultural differences: Differences in culture can easily cause misunderstandings, requiring tact in communication and behavior.

Specific tasks of a BrSE

Communicating project requirements: Work with clients, receive requirements, and explain them to the development team.

Writing and translating documents: Prepare or adjust design documents, translate from the client’s language to make them easier for the technical team to understand.

Presentation & explanation: Present design content to the development team, and answer questions.

Product testing: Ensure the product meets requirements, detect bugs for the development team to fix.

Progress reporting: Update the client on the project status, handle issues that arise.

Meeting coordination: Organize and manage meetings between the client and the offshore team, often serving as the interpreter.

With long-term experience, a BrSE can also take on the role of a Business Analyst (BA) at the early stage of the project.

Skills needed to become a BrSE

Technical expertise:

Basic coding skills to understand the project and communicate accurately.

Foreign languages:

Proficiency in listening – speaking – reading – writing, especially in Japanese or English.

Soft skills:

Good communication, high sense of responsibility, ability to manage and organize work.

Ability to self-learn, adapt quickly, and handle problems flexibly.

Salary of a Bridge Software Engineer

According to surveys, the income of BrSEs is quite high:

Average: ~42.9 million VND/month.

Common range: 27.8 – 55.7 million VND/month.

Highest: Can reach over 90 million VND/month, depending on ability and the enterprise.

Where to find BrSE jobs?

You can look for jobs through:

Direct application: Apply to IT enterprises or outsourcing companies.

Groups, social networks: Join IT communities, but be cautious of unverified job postings.

Job websites: Visit congvieclam.vn to find reliable BrSE job postings, compare, and choose suitable jobs.