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The constant developments, upgrades and changing landscape of technology has not only advanced, but had a profound impact on our daily lives. All businesses now have a dependency on the internet, which has given rise to the need for skilled back-end developers.
As the technological backbone of a firm, back-end developers are responsible for coding, programming and software engineering. In essence, it is their duty to check everything is working correctly and running like a well oiled machine, while also ensuring the product or service offered by their company adheres to the customers’ specific needs.
The bulk of the work undertaken by a back-end developer often remains unseen by computer users, yet it’s a hugely important cog in the wheel of any commercial enterprise. In simple terms, a back-end developer’s job description will revolve around designing, modifying, repairing, and maintaining software applications, information systems and more, ensuring smooth, stress-free usage for colleagues, clients, customers, and other end users.
Back-end developers have a crucial role to play as they are responsible for code creation and architecture, marrying up front end elements with the server and database. The job description for back-end developers doesn’t stop there as they also have to pay close attention to scalability, speed and security for the applications they develop. While having strong technical skills, back-end developers also need to be creative problem solvers, collaborators and critical thinkers. They need to be able to navigate through the advancements in technology and develop, deploy, maintain and debug their applications.
This is just the beginning, though, as their duties branch out into other vital areas, including:
Back-End Developers can come from a variety of backgrounds, but there are several common personal traits which they will often have in common. Among the skills back-end developers possess are a strong eye for detail, the ability to multi-task and a penchant for being organised. These trio of attributes are incredibly important as not only do they need to keep everything in working order, but when times get busy, they may be assigned numerous tasks or projects that need to be taken care of simultaneously. This is where the organisational skills come in handy as they need to be on top of everything to keep the business’s operations moving smoothly and seamlessly. They are also likely to be good at time management and to have a heightened talent for solving problems under pressure. This will enable them to deal with issues that pop up at any time and may need to be addressed immediately as it can have serious and adverse repercussions for a business.
Delving further into the skills back-end developers need to broaden their horizons and have multiple career options open to them, it is crucial that they possess a significant understanding of different programming languages, systems frameworks, and hosting environments. Security compliance knowledge is also of importance, particularly in the realm of cyber security as it has become incredibly important for businesses to protect their private and classified data in today’s digitally advanced world. Finally, a general understanding of overall back-end developments and incoming changes in the industry will prove to be incredibly useful as it showcases a deep-rooted passion to potential employers.
From a work experience perspective, back-end developers should have already built up a solid platform for themselves by having worked in other aspects of mobile, web and cloud app development. Usually, the back-end developer role forms part of a team with other specialist individuals and can sometimes be aligned directly with one or more front-end developers.
Realistic candidates in this sector will be expected to have an understanding of at least one of the common back-end programming languages; PHP, Python, Ruby, Java, Net, JavaScript, Golang or Rust, along with firm knowledge of databases such as MySQL, Postgress, MongoDB, Redis and Neo4j. Understanding of code versioning (GIT) and building pipelines CI/CD is also part of the job description for back-end developers. A working knowledge of HTML, JavaScript and CSS is also important although less so than in a Front-End Developer role.
Applicants with a good working background will also be in higher demand on the job market as employers will trust that they are capable of being calm and composed in a myriad of situations that they may find themselves in. Furthermore, it increases the chance of landing senior roles that would otherwise be out of reach.
Most back-end developers are likely to have a strong academic background, with degrees in fields like computer science, advanced mathematics, website development or computer programming. In many cases, potential employers are searching for specific skills in back-end developers, such as showing complete fluency in one or more computer-based languages.
The sky is really the limit when it comes to the future career prospects for back-end developers as some transition to working as front-end developers or computer programmers. Others venture down different roads and opt for higher positions, such as senior developers or lead developers, as well as IT Directors. The more advanced roles will often require a greater reliance on team management, which means that candidates must grow and nurture their leadership skills as it will be integral to their success when they start filling managerial positions.
The salary of back-end developers largely depends on their skills and the seniority of their position within a company. Starting off, those in a more junior spot do get paid well, but ultimately, their pay increases as they climb up the ranks and add more skills to their arsenal. Once back-end developers occupy senior and managerial roles, their salary becomes commensurately higher.
With so many companies on the lookout for back-end developers, there is no shortage of positions available for people looking to get their foot in the door or take the next step up the ladder in their career progression.
