Software Development Team: Designations & Structure

Designations are very important and play a very important role in any organisation. Companies give a designation to every employee based on the duties and work they perform, and it can include duties, like clerical, executive-level, or managerial work. A designation defines the role and responsibilities that are required for a particular position, and companies provide designations on the basis of the employee’s qualifications, work experience, and area of expertise. Every job opening has a job title or designation, and when anyone mentions that in the resume or CV, the recruiter or employer shows interest in your application if that matches the role for which they are hiring, and it also gets easier for the employer to filter the resumes and shortlist the candidates as the designations are almost identical in most of the companies.

Some of the primary designations used in software development companies are as follows:

1. Software Developer Intern:

This is an entry-level position for those who want to become software developers or software engineers after their graduation or post-graduation. The software developer interns are mostly from a computer science background or a related field and have a keen interest in building software, applications, and other computer programs. The interns are not expected to have any prior work experience, but if they have done internships before, that is an added advantage that makes them stand out from all other candidates. During their internships, software developer interns get a chance to work closely with the software development team, and they get to learn a lot of skills about various ongoing and upcoming technologies, which helps them increase their knowledge and skills.

Software developer internships are paid in some companies, and in some companies, these internships are not paid. Some companies also offer full-time positions to candidates who excel during their internship period.

Skills for a Software Developer Intern:

• Should have a computer science background.
• Good knowledge of data structures and algorithms, databases, and programming concepts.
• Experience in basic web or app development.
• Ability and eagerness to learn and explore new topics independently.
• Quality to learn quickly and adapt to a fast-changing environment.

2. Junior Software Developer:

A junior software developer is also one of the entry-level jobs, and this is mostly for candidates that are from a computer science background, an information technology background, or a related field. These software developers collaborate with the software development team to create software and codes, and this position does not require a lot of work experience, but internships may be required in some companies. The role of the junior software developer mainly includes learning basic code, supporting the team, correcting errors that arise during coding, and compiling user data. Junior software developer is expected to have some basic knowledge related to their field, and the rest is taught to them by their mentors and seniors once they join the company.

Skills for a Junior Software Developer:

• Should have a computer science background.
• Good knowledge of data structures and algorithms, databases, and programming concepts.
• Experience in basic web or app development.
• Ability and eagerness to learn and explore new topics independently.
• Quality to learn quickly and adapt to a fast-changing environment.

3. Software Developer:

A software developer is a person who identifies user needs, develops software as per those needs and also improves and maintains existing software and applications. There are a lot of software and applications that a software developer or a software engineer creates, such as games, middleware, operating systems, business applications, and many more. The software developer also gets the chance to train software interns and junior software developers. Nowadays, to be a software developer, you should have a bachelor’s or a master’s degree, and to get placed in a good company, one must have a certain percentage of marks and should try to do internships before the degree is completed, as most of the companies look for experienced candidates, which helps them in cost-cutting and time-saving because a lot of costs occurs in training the freshers.

Skills for a Software Developer:

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science.
• At least 3+ years of experience in software development (experience levels can vary from company to company and sometimes in internal job postings; it can depend on the candidate’s qualifications and expertise in using the tools and programs).
• Should have a strong knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and computer science fundamentals. Data structures and algorithms are the most important parts for any software developer, and having a strong foundation in DSA concepts can take you to the top amongst the many developers.
• Should have a strong knowledge of coding and good problem-solving skills.
• Should have a good knowledge of databases.
• Should have experience working in the cloud.
• Should be knowledgeable and experienced in web architecture.

4. Senior Software Developer:

A senior software developer is a person whose main responsibilities include planning, designing, building, maintaining, and updating a website or a web application, as well as writing well-designed, testable code. To become a successful software developer, one should have a strong knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and computer science fundamentals. Data structures and algorithms are the most important parts for any software developer, and having a strong foundation in DSA concepts can take you to the top amongst the many developers. A senior developer should always have a strong knowledge of coding and good problem-solving skills.

Skills for a Senior Software Developer:

• Should have prior experience and expertise in developing software.
• Should have expertise in developing high-quality software design and architecture.
• Should be proficient in reviewing and debugging codes.
• Should have good experience leading junior engineers and developers.
• Must be proficient in programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and C#.
• Should be good at working collaboratively with others to achieve goals.
• Should be proficient in DBMS, data structures, and algorithms.
• Should have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Should have good problem-solving and time-management skills for better productivity.
• Should be familiar with operating systems, like Linux, Mac OS, Windows, etc.

5. Technical Lead/Team Lead:

In a software company, a technical lead is a person who takes responsibility for the technical teams and projects that are going on. However, their duties also depend on the type of company and product. The main task of the technical lead is to manage the technical team and distribute tasks as per the project requirements. As a technical lead, one should have the ability to work in a team and be good at motivating team members to achieve their tasks. To be a good technical team leader, one should have experience building software and applications. In short, the team leader is a mentor who helps the team members overcome the troubles they face during work.

Skills for a Technical Lead/Team Lead:

• Should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science.
• Should have work experience of 4+ years.
• One must have certification in project or product management.
• Should have the ability to manage and lead cross-functional teams.
• Should have very good leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Should have a good understanding of the technical requirements.
• Should identify risks as soon as possible that might arise during the product development lifecycle.
• Should have excellent technical and troubleshooting skills.

6. Technical Architect:

There can be multiple designations for a technical or software architect, but the technical architect is the one who is considered responsible for all the critical decisions related to software development in a software company. He defines the architecture of a software system, its main components and interface, and a general architectural vision that guides the organisation and serves as a basis for mutual understanding between all parties involved in product development. In smaller companies, it is often seen that the technical lead also takes care of architecture. However, in larger companies, the team lead takes care of the team and makes sure that they are developing the software as designed by the architecture. A technical architect is a person who is responsible for determining organisational needs and identifying system specifications.

Skills for a Technical Architect:

• Should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science.
• Should have work experience of 4-5+ years.
• Should be able to lead the complete project life cycle and help the software development team understand the architecture of a software system.
• Should be responsible for communicating and explaining system requirements to software designers and developers and helping them by assisting throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Should have a good knowledge of computer hardware and networking systems.
• Must be familiar with programming languages, like JavaScript, Java, SQL, SAP, Oracle, and C# and with operating systems like Windows, UNIX, and databases like MySQL, along with having good experience in cloud computing and cloud technologies.

7. Chief Technical Officer (CTO):

A CTO (chief technical officer) is the highest technical position in any company, and he is a technical expert who is responsible for all decision-making, planning, and leading the software technology and the various teams. He is also responsible for implementing policies related to the software. A chief technical officer helps the teams fix IT-related issues and is also responsible for developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating the company’s technology resources. A CTO is also responsible for attending seminars, visiting colleges, and guiding students and tech enthusiasts by sharing their knowledge and experience. In short, a CTO is a decision-maker for the technology in a company, and he is responsible for communicating project-related updates with the CEO of the company.

In many companies, the CTO is also responsible for infrastructure management, which might include duties, like overseeing data, security, networks, and maintenance, and this might also include the organisation’s overall technical strategy. CTOs are responsible for delivering projects as per customer needs, and their responsibilities might also include customer relations, understanding target markets, and aiding in the delivery of IT projects.

Skills for a Chief Technical Officer (CTO):

• Should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science.
• Should have 8+ years of work experience in IT management.
• Should remain updated about new technologies.
• You will be responsible for technology platforms, partnerships, and external relationships.
• Must have in-depth knowledge of web system architecture, design, and development.
• Must have outstanding communication, interpersonal, motivational, strategic thinking, interpersonal, and leadership skills, along with good project management skills.
• Must have good negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Should oversee all system design and changes in system architecture.

Moreover, the role and responsibilities of the employees in the companies vary from company to company depending on the industry type and company requirements. Designations make it very easy for anyone to understand the role and responsibilities of the individual, and designations also play a crucial role in attracting new hires. One can mention their designation on their social media profiles or any personal accounts to attract more attention. Designation lets you know about your performance and gives you and others a clear idea that the designated person is growing. Also, the designations and your qualifications show your excellence in your field. Companies should always try to give the designation to any employee only after checking their role and responsibilities.