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Developer Career Path and Progression

Posted on December 2022

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โ€‹Your technical proficiency, critical thinking and communication skills helped you progress to a mid-level or senior position. But where to go from here? We explore some of the most in-demand career paths for Developers.

Software Developer career progression

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for Software Developers is expected to grow by 25% from 2021 to 2031. In the Asia-Pacific, a Software Developer is one of the top 5 in-demand jobs and in Europe, employment in this sector is projected to grow by 21% by 2028. It is evident that the demand for Software Developers is increasing worldwide. Letโ€™s delve into some specific roles which are poised to gain more traction in the near future:

Lead Developer/Technical Architect

Often considered the unicorns of the tech world, the demand for candidates for this role is growing rapidly. Itโ€™s estimated that in the US alone there will be9,100 annual job openings for Technical Architects for the next decade. Itโ€™s an ideal position if you do not want your career progression to include team management. Instead, this role is perfect for Developers looking to implement decisions and coordinate work while continuing to write code. Typical Lead Developer requirements include demonstrated expertise in the relevant subject matter, several yearsโ€™ experience in professional programming, and proficiency in conceptualizing, planning, as well as building software to solve complex problems.

Development Team Manager/Software Development Manager

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that employment growth for those in this field will grow by 25% between 2023 and 2031. This is higher than the national average, and the demand is largely driven by the increased number of products and projects which require software to run.

These managerial roles usually include responsibilities such as managing teams of Developers, as well as large-scale project management. Effective conflict mediation and good people skills are among the roleโ€™s key requirements.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Between 2018 and 2028 the industry is expected to see a 6% growth in employment opportunities for CTOs. The demand for candidates in this role is high and the compensation packages offered are higher than average for most Technology occupations.

In addition to the relevant qualifications, the role requires you to communicate effectively, think strategically, and to be a technological development expert.

Web Developer career progression

Web Developer careers from mid to senior levels offer exciting opportunities for growth and development within the sector, such as:

Software Architect

After a Full Stack Developer, which is seeing a 162% employment growth, another high-demand job in Web Development is a Software Architect.

Senior Web Developer

Companies in all sectors place great emphasis on hiring Developers with deep understanding of the web tech stack. This is what is currently driving employment demand upward. The US Department of Labor Statistics expects there to be 19,000 more Web Developer jobs by 2029, and this figure will rise when you take global employment requirements into account too.

Front End Developer career progression

The Front End Developer career path offers several possible routes for people looking to progress, and this employment sector is expected to see employment growth of 23% between 2021 and 2031.

Moving to the mid-level position of Interactive Developer, you could see your opportunities to move up to positions such as Senior Developer, and from there to Senior Software Engineer, which could open the path to becoming a CTO in the long term.  

Alternatively, why not consider a role as a Senior Web Developer? This could open up the opportunity to later become a Senior Software Engineer or a Director of Software Development. You could also follow the path of a Software Developer to a Business Analyst and Product Owner, or to a Project Manager, Development Manager, and Senior Development Manager.

Move your career forward with Glocomms

There is significant scope for Developers to grow their careers given the variety of mid-to-senior level roles and responsibilities in the sector.

Due to Glocommsโ€™ extensive experience and specialist talent capabilities in the technology industry, we have a range of Developer roles that offer long-term career development and the opportunity to advance your career. Explore the latest job opportunities and progress your career with us.

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