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Full-Stack Developer Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Last updated: April 15, 2023

A Full Stack Developer, or Full Stack Software Engineer, is a Computer Programmer who uses coding to operate on both front- and back-end systems. Their main duties include creating user interactions on various websites and platforms, writing code optimized for mobile and developing databases and services for functionality.

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Full-Stack Developer Duties and Responsibilities

A job description for a Full-Stack Developer may contain the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Managing the complete software development process from conception to deployment

  • Maintaining and upgrading the software following deployment

  • Managing the end-to-end life cycle for the production of software and applications

  • Overseeing and guiding the analyzing, writing, building, and deployment of software

  • Overseeing the automated testing and providing feedback to management during the development process

  • Modifying and testing changes to previously developed programs

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Full-Stack Developer Job Description Examples

What Does a Full-Stack Developer Do? 

Full Stack Developers work in the IT department of a company performing both front- and back-end operations on websites and computer systems. They design front-end website architecture and work closely with the Graphic Designers in the company to ensure website applications collaborate well with their design elements. Full Stack Developers often oversee an entire project from start to finish.

They evaluate the needs of users and analyze any technical issues to program highly functional systems. Full Stack Developers are also responsible for staying updated on developments in web applications and constantly train themselves to learn new coding languages.

Full-Stack Developer Skills and Qualifications

A job description for a Full-Stack Developer should list the following skills and qualifications requirements:

  • Front-end technology: Expertise in front-end technologies, including JavaScript, CSS3 and HTML5 and third-party libraries such as React Js, Angular, jQuery and LESS

  • Development languages: Knowledge of server-side programming languages including Net, Java, Ruby and Python

  • Database and cache: Familiarity with DBMS technology, including SQLServer, Oracle, MongoDB and MySQL and caching mechanisms such as Redis, Memcached and Varnish

  • Basic design ability: Including knowledge of UI/UX and basic prototype design

  • Server: Experience working with Nginx or Apache servers with a solid background in Linux

  • Excellent writing and communication skills
  • Ability to visualize a proposed system and be able to build it

Full-Stack Developer Salary Expectations

The average salary for a Full-Stack Developer is $111,293 per year. This information is based on 11,238 anonymously submitted salaries to Indeed from employees and users along with past and present Full-Stack Developer job postings on Indeed within the last 36 months.

Full-Stack Developer Education and Training Requirements

Educational requirements for a Full-Stack Developer position vary based on company-specific needs. Some companies accept an associate’s degree, but most require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or another related technical field. In addition, a Full-Stack Developer should have industry certifications in various web design and programming languages, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C#, Python and similar certifications.

Full-Stack Developer Experience Requirements

It takes time for an individual to develop the skills and knowledge required to be a Full-Stack Developer. Besides knowing about front-end technologies as well as back-end technologies, they must understand each in great detail to ensure smooth and easy communication between them.

An applicant can gain this experience by learning basic HTML, deploying an HTML site to production, learning one back-end language and integrating it into HTML, setting up a virtual server for deployment, deploying a dynamic application, learning one relational database system and integrating it into an app, learning basic CSS and learning JavaScript in order to provide client-facing behavior.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

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Frequently asked questions about Full Stack Developers

What settings do Full Stack Developers work in?

Full Stack Developers can work in a wide variety of environments, but many of them operate in an office setting on an IT team. They’ll use front- and back-end coding to update a company’s website and build applications for consumers or employees to use. Some of them may work for agencies, developing computer systems and websites for various companies to enhance their efficiencies. Others may work independently in contract or freelance roles, building software or websites for companies and moving onto a different organization once the project is complete.

What makes a good Full Stack Developer?

An effective Full Stack Developer has strong knowledge of and experience in writing in basic coding languages, like HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Impressive candidates also know how to write in certain back-end programming languages like PHP, Python or Ruby. They should also have knowledge of basic web architecture and design skills to more effectively collaborate with Graphic Designers and help them build a user-friendly website.

Since they’re overseeing the entire system creation and implementation process, Full Stack Developers should have project management skills to delegate certain duties and ensure the project remains on tasks and meets certain deadlines.

What's the difference between a Full Stack Developer and a Software Engineer?

Though they both collaborate closely on the application creation process, they hold some key differences in their responsibilities. A Full Stack Developer is in charge of the entire system implementation process from beginning to end and understands how to structure coding to help build the application.

A Software Engineer works solely on one stage of the application process, which is the initial development process. They design the application and the Full Stack Developer collaborates with other employees to implement the other stages of the system production and updating process.

Who reports to a Full Stack Developer?

A Full Stack Developer often leads a team to build an application or highly functioning website for businesses. The team members who report to them often depend on the company’s size and type of applications they regularly build.

Computer systems employees like UX Designers, Front-End Developers, Back-End Developers and Software Engineers typically follow project guidelines laid out by the Full Stack Developer. If these employees have any questions or concerns about their duties for a project, they’ll come to the Full Stack Developer for guidance or advice.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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