Software engineering is the process of solving customer problems through the systematic development and evolution of large, high-quality software systems within constraints of cost, time, and other factors. It aims to reduce complexity, minimize costs, decrease timelines, handle large projects, ensure reliability, improve efficiency and productivity. The scope of software engineering broadly encompasses historical, economic, maintenance, requirements analysis and design, and team development aspects, and deals with issues like building good systems, managing systems, specifying software requirements, and testing systems.