A full-stack developer (also known as a full-stack engineer) is an IT specialist who works with the system’s front-end and back-end. Thus, they deal with the user interface and create flexible and convenient features for customer interaction. At the same time, professionals handle the back end of the resource and build servers and databases for the site’s functionality. 

In this article, we will create a full-stack developer job description with the position’s necessary skills and main responsibilities. 

What Is a Full-Stack Developer – Brief Overview

According to Statista, a full-stack developer is the most requested IT role. It reaches more than 47% in demand. It is because an experienced and proficient developer can replace front-end and back-end experts and become an excellent team manager who establishes communication between both parties. 

What does this position entail? Foremost, we should consider that the specialist understands the user interface (front-end) and functionality (back-end) of the resource. It means that they can work simultaneously with the navigation and usability of the site and with its internal optimization to ensure error-free performance. Such devs manage a project from start to finish and ensure its smooth performance at every stage. It applies to pre-launch testing and regular monitoring and installation of security updates. It’s worth noting that engineers cooperate closely with many other professionals, including graphic designers, to ensure that new designs look responsive and run flawlessly. 

To cover all these needs, engineers need to know HTML and CSS for designing elements and Python, Net, and Java for internal programming. A set of skills allows specialists to get a comprehensive vision of the project and build all the elements in harmony with each other. In addition, on large-scale tasks, knowledge of both technologies allows the coordination of the efforts of front-end and back-end devs to ensure smooth system development. 

Job Description for Full-Stack Developer – Top Responsibilities 

Full-stack engineers have many responsibilities related to launching, maintaining, and updating the resource. Here is an approximate full-stack developer job description that these experts perform:

  • Design and implement front-end architecture using modern frameworks like React or Angular to provide responsive and visually appealing user interfaces.
  • Construct a robust back-end with Node.js, Python, or Java.
  • Integrate third-party services and APIs for smooth data flow and communication between platforms and services.
  • Manage end-to-end cycles, test and monitor website performance.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional departments, including graphic designers, front-end devs, and programmers.
  • Check and upgrade the software to maintain error-free performance across all platforms.

Full-Stack Engineer Skills & Qualifications

To fully monitor the software, a professional should be proficient in many technologies. Let’s look at the table with the main hard skills you need for this position collected based on the full-stack developer job description.

ExpertiseTechnologies
Front-end HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular, Vue.js
Programming LanguagesJavaScript, Python, Ruby, Java, PHP, TypeScript
Database and CacheMySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, SQLite
DesignUI/UX Design, Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch, Bootstrap
ServersApache, Nginx, Docker, Kubernetes
Version ControlGit, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
Testing and DebuggingJest, Mocha, Selenium, Cypress, Postman
Cloud ServicesAWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Heroku
DevOps ToolsJenkins, Travis CI, CircleCI, Ansible
API REST, GraphQL, JSON, XML, SOAP

It is worth noting that even though full-stack devs know both sides of the platform, these qualifications may sometimes be insufficient to construct a complex system. In this case, the best solution is to hire front-end and back-end developers to deal with the project together. This way, you will get an even more expert view of each aspect and will be able to get a high-quality result.

Full-Stack Developer Soft Skills

System devs often hold managerial positions. Due to their holistic understanding of the project and ability to deal with different applications and programming languages, they set the vector of development and manage the work of other members. Thus, experts ensure that the design, UI, functionality, and performance are on the same level and consistent with each other. In addition to managerial abilities, experts should be able to collaborate in a team and establish communication. This is necessary for smooth collaboration between different parts of the resource building. 

In a nutshell, here are a few soft skills that will come in handy in this position: 

  • leadership – the ability to manage a team and control the performance of its members; 
  • time management – the capacity to set adequate deadlines and stick to them; 
  • communication – the desire to establish contact with other employees to discuss ideas and find the best solutions; 
  • desire to improve – the drive to upgrade qualifications, learn about new technologies, and keep up with the latest developments.

Full-Stack Developer Education and Training 

Different companies have different requirements for candidates. For example, startup organizations hire junior specialists because they offer their services at much lower rates. However, most firms still prefer middle and senior engineers. Such experts have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT or another technical field and certified knowledge in various apps. Popular certifications include the following: 

  • Certified Associate JavaScript Programmer Certification (JSA);
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate;
  • AWS Certification;
  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA);
  • Oracle Certified Professional: Java SE Programmer;
  • Google Professional Cloud Expert;
  • Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP);
  • CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist (CSIS).

Specialists with expertise in these areas can handle the construction of various elements and help maintain the website. 

Full Stack Developer Salary

According to Indeed, full-stack web developer job descriptions, the average salary of a system programmer in the United States reaches an average of $125,000 per year. However, this amount varies depending on many factors, including the technologies the specialist works with and the level of expertise. Here is how the annual salaries of engineers with different experience look like. 

Experience LevelEstimated Annual Salary (USD)
Junior$80,000
Middle$130,000
Senior$160,000+

If you’re looking for more cost-effective cooperation, consider offshoring from other countries. This allows you to get a high level of expertise and significantly lower rates.

Full-Stack Developer Job Description Example

Summarizing all the necessary qualifications and responsibilities on the job, let’s create an example of a Java full-stack developer job description. Here you can see what points are important to employers and what awaits you in this position.

Job Title: Full-Stack Developer

Senior Full-Stack Developer Job Description: We are looking for a reliable and experienced engineer to build flexible web applications and services. You will work on both front-end and back-end components and collaborate with our team to design, program, and deploy high-quality software solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design, develop, and maintain web applications, APIs, and services using modern tools.
  • Cooperate closely with product managers, designers, and other engineers.
  • Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
  • Perform thorough testing and debugging of applications to ensure reliability and performance.
  • Optimize applications for maximum speed and scalability.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

  • Strong experience with front-end tools and frameworks.
  • Proficiency with programming technologies (Python, Ruby, Java) and databases (SQL, NoSQL).
  • Experience in designing and dealing with RESTful APIs and/or GraphQL.
  • Proficient in version control systems, especially Git.
  • Strong problem-solving ability to work independently or in a team.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with cloud services such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
  • Experience with DevOps practices and tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Experience in Agile environments.

Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Final Words

To sum up, the full-stack developer job description involves the ability to work with front- and back-end systems. It requires understanding various technologies, from HTML and Figma to Ruby and cloud storage. All these qualifications focus on ensuring smooth and error-free software construction and operation at all stages.  

If you’re looking for a full-stack developer to join your team and are considering IT outsourcing as a model of cooperation, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our experts will help you find a reliable specialist with relevant expertise and soft skills for your project. Let’s complete your team right now!