Backend Developer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a backend developer. Feel free to use our backend developer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a backend developer.
Who is a Backend Developer?
Web development has been a booming field in recent years. Websites are gaining popularity and organizations realize that they must have an online presence to attract more leads. They are now looking for talented individuals who can use the most recent technologies to create and maintain the best-looking, best-performing web apps.
It’s a highly lucrative field that makes it easy to make a lot of money. It’s no surprise that web development is a popular career choice for the younger generation. But, choosing a career path is not the same as actually following it. Preparation, education, and a series of practice sessions are necessary.
You probably know that in a typical client/server architecture, the application data is stored on the server side and sent to the client side. The backend is the server-side work of a web app. This is where the backend developers do their work.
Backend developers use programming languages to create code that makes web apps work the way they are supposed to. These developers create code that runs on the webserver. These developers write back-end code and also develop APIs for mobile versions of these web applications.
Back-end development refers to server-side programming. It is concerned with databases, scripting, and website architecture. It covers behind-the-scenes activities that take place when a website performs any action. This could be a login to an account or a purchase made from an online store. Back-end developers create code that allows browsers to connect with database information.
Backend developers design and program systems to support websites. They often use programming languages such as Java, and PHP. The infrastructure on which a website runs is often created by them. Once a website has been launched, they manage and maintain the database, troubleshoot performance issues, and analyze data.
These web developers mainly focus on the back-end aspects of websites, such as programming for servers, databases, content management systems, or other programming pieces that support the front end of the website. The website’s front end is what users see. However, the backend helps keep the website functioning properly and efficiently.
Backend Developer Job Description
Below are the backend developer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a backend developer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a backend developer include the following:
- Collaborating with front-end developers to develop server-side algorithms that transfer data to client-side web apps efficiently.
- Cross-collaborating with PM (Project Manager) and QA (Quality Assurance), engineers to optimize and create a high-quality User Experience (UX).
- Ensuring that the application works fast when there is a traffic change.
- Working with stakeholders to identify their needs and translate them into technical requirements. Then, create the most efficient and effective technical solution.
- Optimizing your applications to increase efficiency and response time.
- Analyzing the goals and requirements, dealing with bugs and errors, and creating efficient and quick solutions.
- Developing and managing APIs that allow two programs to communicate over the internet. These APIs can be executed across all devices.
- Implementing security systems and best practices
- Maintaining legacy applications (older programs that were built by other programmers).
- Meeting with programmers to gather requirements for a project
- Participating in continuing education to stay current on best practices, learn programming languages, and help other team members.
- Tsking the lead in projects as needed
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in computer programming, computer science, or another related field.
- You may need to have more education and experience.
- Understanding and fluency in specific languages such as Java, PHP, or Python may be necessary.
- Solid knowledge of web development cycles and programming techniques.
- Focus on efficiency, user experience, and process improvement.
- Great time and project management skills.
- Strong problem-solving skills and communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to work with others or alone.
- Willingness to be at a desk for long periods
Essential Skills
- Popular Frameworks
Once you have chosen a language, you will need to be familiar with the frameworks that are associated with it. A web framework is intended to assist in the development of web applications. It is a platform on which backend developers can create specific programs in their preferred language.
- Data Structures and Algorithms
Backend development is data-driven. As such, it’s important to understand the structures, algorithms, and processes used to display and implement data. These include binary and linear search, hashcode implementations, and data sorting.
- Databases and cache
Database management systems are located adjacent to data structures. Websites use databases to store and organize a large amount of information. Database management systems (or DBMSes), are how developers make use of this information.
- Understanding APIs
Backend development has become more important because APIs are becoming an increasingly important part of the process. An API, or Application Programming Interface, is an interface that allows applications to communicate with each other. You are using an API to connect to Amazon when you order products from Amazon. APIs are an important part of creating server-side architectures. They can sometimes replace more complicated and complex programming to allow the software to communicate.
- Version Control and Version Control System
Because it allows you to track the changes made to websites, computer programs, and documents over time, version control is an essential component of backend programming. A version control system makes it easy to access, modify, and restore code.
- Problem-solving skills
It can be difficult, but backend development is a great career choice for those who enjoy solving problems. A backend developer can be described as the problem solver of a website in many ways.
- Communication and interpersonal skills
Although you can work alone in backend web development, there are still opportunities for strong soft skills such as communication and interpersonal relationship.
It is common for backend developers to work closely with frontend designers and a team of people to ensure that a site functions at its full potential.
- Python
You need to learn Python skills if you want to become a back-end developer. Although it doesn’t have anything to do with Python’s name, Python is a leading language for development. Stack Overflow’s 2019 study found that Python was the second-most liked programming language in the world, after Java.
Python’s popularity stems from its ability to support multiple programming styles and provide excellent data visualizations. Python allows developers to use both procedural and object-oriented programming methods with equal ease. Python’s extensive data libraries make visualization and development quick and easy. The program more language is easy to learn and is the most important skill back-end developers need to have.
- Java
Let’s start by saying that Java is not JavaScript. Although they have very similar names (and did briefly cross paths during Netscape’s era), they are vastly different. To borrow a quote by David Diehl, a tech journalist, JavaScript and Java evolved in such different ways that both of them are now referred to as “Java”
JavaScript is used primarily to add animation and interactivity to websites. Java, however, is a general-purpose language for programming applications. Both languages can be used on the same browser, or both can be run on a server. They are however vastly different in terms of their execution and capabilities.
Java is intended primarily for back-end development. Java, a more robust system, is usually written in an Integrated Development Environment before being compiled into bytecode. This low-level code can be read by a program interpreter and not human developers. JavaScript, on the other hand, can be executed in its original syntax using a JavaScript engine. Java can generally handle more complex programming tasks than its front-end counterpart.
Java is a very useful skill for back-end developers. It’s a high-performance language that supports object-oriented programming and can be used in any system that supports Java Virtual machines.
- PHP
Hypertext Preprocessor (or PHP) is one of the most popular and widely used server-side languages in development. PHP, unlike Java and Python, is a scripting language. It interprets programming instructions at runtime, which allows it to automate repetitive tasks or improve application performance.
Guru99 has shared statistics that PHP is used to develop over 20 million applications and websites. PHP is an open-source language that is easy to learn and cost-effective since most web hosting servers support it by default. Although PHP is not a key skill for back-end developers, if they are familiar with it, it will make an aspiring programmer more marketable.
- SQL
Although technology can become obsolete quickly, SQL seems to be an exception to that rule. SQL (or Structured Query Language) has been deemed an industry-standard language in 1986 by the American National Standards Institute. It allows back-end developers to access and modify relational databases as they need. SQL allows programmers to easily insert, delete, store and modify records, as well as file queries against the database. They can also create new tables, store procedures, and grant permissions to those tables and procedures. SQL is essential if you are going to ever have to work with relational databases, and back-end developers will most likely need it.
How to Become a Backend Developer
- Learn more
Although there is no specific education required to be a backend developer, companies are increasingly looking for developers who have a bachelor’s degree in computer science. You can still work as a backend web developer even if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree. This is especially true if your certifications or training include a boot camp in programming. Web development is an evolving field. This means it is highly competitive. You may want to do everything you can to stand out from the rest.
You should be able to learn programming languages and the basics of backend development if you are pursuing a degree. If you don’t want to pursue a degree, some apps and websites can help you learn the basics.
- Try learning a backend programming language
To be a backend developer, you should have at least one programming language you are learning. You will continue to learn as your career develops. The most common languages are PHP, Ruby, and Java. To start your career, it is best to master one of these languages. However, depending on your education and your aptitude, you may need to be proficient in multiple languages. These languages are the code that runs your website’s server, so they are crucial.
It is best to examine all languages and choose the one that interests you most. This will allow you to learn faster. There is no need to be a backend developer who can only use one of the languages. However, it is helpful to be familiar with multiple programming languages.
- Learn how to manage hosting
You may not be able to choose where your website is hosted depending on the time you were hired. You should still be familiar with the various website hosting options available, especially if your goal is to develop a startup or work on a project. Hosting now comes in two main options: managed to host servers or cloud hosting providers. As the interface to the server is easier to use, the first option is better suited for those with less technical knowledge. For those who have development skills, the second option is more appealing.
- Learn more about frameworks
Frameworks are built on a programming language. They allow developers to create templates and other code that can be reused, which can help you save time and money over programming a whole website.
- Find out more about databases
A lot of websites depend on some kind of database. It may be used to manage information from users or allow users to access specific information. Databases are not just about user data. They can also store bulk data needed by the server to function. It’s important to understand the basics of databases before you start developing your first project.
- Additional skills can be learned
Web development is a competitive industry so any additional skills that you can acquire through formal education or your learning will make you a more attractive employee. If you aren’t sure what skills employers seek, you can search through job listings for backend engineers and focus your efforts on learning them.
Where to Work
Backend developers often work long hours. You can find back-end developers almost anywhere. They work as permanent, full-time employees in large corporations as well small and medium-sized businesses.
They also work as independent contractors, freelancers, or consultants.
Backend Developer Salary Scale
The average annual salary for Backend Developers in the United States is $80,258.