Also known as...
Full Stack Web Developer
The role in brief...
A Full Stack Developer is skilled with both the front end and back ends of a website or application. Tackling projects that involve databases, building interactive user- facing websites to meet client needs, they solve difficult problems and build beautiful and intuitive features which are focused on the user’s website experience. They work within a cross-functional team of technologists, designers, product owners and agile coaches.
Shaping, designing, building and testing digital products/services with users as the project progresses to deliver a quality technical product that meets the client brief.
Working with...
- Internal: Client Teams; Strategy; Insight; Technology Teams across the network, as appropriate, Content, Visual and Experience designers, Commercial Producers, Finance Team; HR/Talent Team.
- External: Third party technology agencies, other agencies; client contacts.
- Full Stack Developer may report into the Senior Full Stack Director, Technology Lead, Technology Director.
- They will often have line management responsibility for Back and Front End Developers being accountable for their performance and providing them with professional development opportunities.
Responsible for...
- Translating the technology requirement of the brief to deliver a solution that is able to deliver on the client’s ambitions for the brief.
- Oversight of the front-end code and development, focusing on the interactive aspect of a website. They develop this by applying the best design patterns for various application requirements (MVC, MVVM, Mediator, Rx, Flux, etc.) as they shape the visual design, web design, and user experience skills.
- Applying proficient knowledge of front-end languages of HTML, CSS. Java Script and others to the project.
- Oversight of the back-end code focusing on databases and data driven aspects of website development and maintenance building the foundation and underlying technologies essential to creating and supporting a complete website.
- The technological robustness of both the front and end and back end technologies, with sufficient mastery of both, so that they can allocate their time as the project requires.
- Woking with clients during the planning phase of the product, reviewing plans, updating of progressing and revising time and costs as required.
- Applying back end, server-side programming languages like Ruby, PHP, .Net and Python as required for the project.
- Familiarity with database technology such as MySQL, Oracle and MongoDB or others.
- Involved in recruitment and selection decisions.
- Focused on the personal and professional development of their team.
Those who succeed are...
- Current and proficient in their technical practice with a solid working understanding in user-centred processes and latest testing tools.
- Interested in keeping up with the latest trends in technology.
- Collaborative as they work in multidisciplinary teams of designers, developers and product managers using Agile and Lean principles.
- Experienced in working within agile environments including Scrum / Kanban. Capable of conveying technical ides and concepts clearly to a range of stakeholders.
- Resilient and patient as they work with ambiguity and multiple contexts, applying their practice across a range of industries with variable deliverables and goals.
Where they come from, and where they go…
Typically, a Full Stack Developer has a degree in Computer Science along with experience with databases. They have knowledge of security concerns and best practice along with knowledge of web or visual design, plus user experience.
They may have started off building websites competence in HTML and CSS. They may also have worked in the Mid Stack with Java. A Full Stack Developer can work on either the front or back end. When developing a career to a Senior Full Stack Developer, they may focus their technology mastery on an area they are most interested in.
How is this role different to User Experience (UX or UE) Designers?
The UX/UE Designer focuses on the entire process of acquiring and integrating a product. This includes aspects of branding, design, usability and function. Typically, they have an interest in layout, design, typography, prototyping, user flows and/or behavioural psychology. They will have a portfolio of early project work demonstrating excellent design skills or successful user interfaces.