What Does a Lead Developer Do?

A lead developer is responsible for creating software programs and applications, following the client and the business's software quality standards and design specifications. Lead developers assist a team of developers in implementing strategic procedures, managing system codes, debugging applications, running diagnostic tests, and troubleshooting defects to ensure its smooth performance. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, performing feature adjustments as needed. A lead developer must have strong knowledge of the technology industry and command on programming languages and software design processes.

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Lead Developer Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real lead developer resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

  • Develop UNIX shell scripts to automate the process of running jobs/batches for scheduling and process the feeds.
  • Consult on the database schema, create business environments, write stored procedures in PL/SQL, authore reports and manage security.
  • Configure and manage JGroup multicasting communication for apache tomcat web servers.
  • Develop an UI tool for inbound and outbound file monitoring tool using HTML, CSS, JavaScript etc.
  • Used HTML5 create forms and tables to display client's personal information which is fetched from back-end by using AJAX.
  • Object orient design and implementation with agile application development using scrum.
  • Maintain a JavaScript API library that provide basis for development of CTI client applications interacting with LiveOps telephony system.
  • Used Jenkins for continuous auto build tool for continuous integration.
  • Develop dashboard and generate reports using apex forms and pages.
  • Configure OWSM polices on OSB proxies and SOA BPEL composites.
  • Develop standards and best practices for SOA and OSB environments.
  • Analyze software requirements and write technical user stories in JIRA tool.
  • Develop MicroServices for different level of layers in flow of network.
  • Design the application migration plan and document the design using Microsoft Visio.
  • Created/Authore customized python XML/HTML processing object orient code to read 10K Edgar files.
Lead Developer Traits
Analytical skills
Analytical skills have to do with gathering information from various sources and then interpreting the data in order to reach a logical conclusion that benefits the business.
Communication skills
Communication skills shows that you are able to relay your thoughts, opinions and ideas clearly to those around you.
Creativity
Creativity involves thinking about a task or problem in an entirely new or different light.

Lead Developer Jobs You Might Like

  • High Paying Lead Developer Jobs - $161K and Up
  • Work From Home Lead Developer Jobs
  • Entry Level Lead Developer Jobs
  • Part Time Lead Developer Jobs
  • Actively Hiring
  • No Degree Lead Developer Jobs
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Lead Developer Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as a lead developer is "should I become a lead developer?" You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, lead developer careers are projected to have a growth rate described as "much faster than average" at 21% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What's more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a lead developer by 2028 is 284,100.

Lead developers average about $55.93 an hour, which makes the lead developer annual salary $116,340. Additionally, lead developers are known to earn anywhere from $83,000 to $161,000 a year. This means that the top-earning lead developers make $64,000 more than the lowest earning ones.

Once you've become a lead developer, you may be curious about what other opportunities are out there. Careers aren't one size fits all. For that reason, we discovered some other jobs that you may find appealing. Some jobs you might find interesting include a mobile applications developer, data warehouse developer, applications developer, and senior .net developer.

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Lead Developer Jobs You Might Like

12 Lead Developer Resume Examples

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Jeffrey Campbell
Lead Developer
Contact Information
Chicago, IL
(690) 555-1997
Skills
  • QA
  • MVC
  • Front End
  • Company Website
  • New Technologies
  • Sdlc
  • Javascript
  • Github
  • Software Applications
  • DOM
Employment History
Lead Developer
2020 - Present
Lucent Technologies
Chicago, IL
  • Developed web pages utilizing Microsoft FrontPage, Visual Studio/Visual InterDev.
  • Piloted new tools and techniques for software development and project management.
  • Documented migration procedures, conducted on-site migrations, and provided customer technical support.
  • Developed Web forms application to invoke the Web services and WCF Services.
Applications Developer
2019 - 2020
Tata Consultancy Services
Chicago, IL
  • Worked on integration interface, workflow, methods, series and system parameters of Demantra.
  • Use java, PL/SQL, WAS6.0 as Appserver, as well as MS-VSS Gathered requirements and specifications for enhancements to websites.
  • Participate in client side data validations using the JavaScript and used CVS as source control tool.
  • Used ActiveBatch to deploye the ETL jobs in sequence.
Web Developer
2018 - 2019
Walgreen Co
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
  • Used SOAP UI for testing the REST web services.
  • Utilized GPS location-based services and Google Maps API to enable Google map search for locations in close proximity.
  • Used JSF Framework for the presentation tier of the application which is based on the MVC design pattern.
  • Implemented custom Android Action Bar for use as Android app title bar.
Web Developer And Programmer
2017 - 2018
Walgreen Co
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
  • Developed Web forms/user interfaces using Struts MVC, jQuery and JSP.
  • Designed, installed and configured Walgreen's corporate intranet and email infrastructure.
  • Developed REST services using spring and used JAXB API for XML parsing.
  • Design mobile UI application using JQueryMobile, JQuery, HTML 5, JSP, JavaScript and CSS3 as per W3 standards.
  • Implemented client side validations using JavaScript.
Education
Bachelor's Degree Computer Information Systems
2014 - 2017
DeVry University
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
 
 
Jane Richardson
Lead Developer
Contact Info
Orlando, FL
(510) 555-8396
Skills
Technical AssistanceWindowsSeleniumFIInformation TechnologyTest ResultsVisioIntranetData WarehouseArchitecture
Employment History
Lead Developer
2012 - Present
The Walt Disney Company
Orlando, FL
  • Lead build phase and quality assure code to ensure fulfilling requirements and adhering to ETL architecture.
  • Involved in the defining and development of RESTful web services for OLCI.
  • Provided 24/7 customer support to TIBCO Spotfire users.
  • Designed, implemented, and tested new operations for Disney's California Adventure and incorporated new operating manuals & procedures.
Systems Analyst
2011 - 2012
The Walt Disney Company
Orlando, FL
  • Manage Maximo Web Services via MEA.
  • Provided 1st level phone support for desktop, remote access, and POS issues.
  • Worked on the Tyco Split project which included creation of new hardware setup and migration of code to the new environments.
  • Utilize Microsoft Access and SQL queries to maintain and update internal database.
Test Analyst
2010 - 2011
The Walt Disney Company
Orlando, FL
  • Performed Data-Driven and Keyword driven testing in QTP.
  • Developed automated Selenium testing suite used for smoke and environment stability tests.
  • Trained, coached, and directed QA team members.
  • Performed extensive Data Validation, Data Verification against Data Warehouse Loading Flat file Data into Teradata tables using Unix Shell scripts.
ETL Tester
2007 - 2010
The Walt Disney Company
Orlando, FL
  • Created and authored test cases for mobile web devices such as iPhone and android mobiles.
  • Support the software development life cycle for mobile platforms, including iOS and Android.
  • Attended daily project status meetings and weekly QA status meetings.
Education
Bachelor's Degree Computer Science
2004 - 2007
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
 
 
Andrea Stephens
Lead Developer
Midland, MI
(670) 555-0103
Experience
Lead Developer2020 - Present
Tata Consultancy Services•Midland, MI
  • Develop application code java programs.
  • Consumed SOAP/REST web-services in AXIS, Apache CXF and Spring RestTemplate with XML and JSON format.
  • Worked with XSD and XML files generation through ETL process.
  • Developed critical part of the Web Services and UI Layer for a Paint Vendor Store tools.
Consultant2016 - 2020
Robert Half International•Minneapolis, MN
  • Support government representatives at meetings and briefings at all levels; assist in the development of detailed financial statements and reporting.
  • Prepared Financial Statements, weekly management reports, payroll reports and daily sales reports.
  • Stage, configure, and install all new Desktop PCs, Laptops, and Blackberry devices.
  • Prepared and analyzed financial statements, consolidations, account variances, reconciliations, journal entries and accruals for several European divisions.
  • Synchronized project managers in keeping change orders log organized in Excel and updated their database management system.
Web Developer2015 - 2016
AT&T•Dallas, TX
  • Used Grunt to compile Sass files.
  • Used apahe xmlbeans for xml binding.
  • Implemented MVC architecture application using spring, JSP & Java beans.
  • Involved in writing ANT build scripts and to push onto different environments.
Web Programmer2014 - 2015
Bank of America•Dallas, TX
  • Based on SRS document, performed Class and Database design in Visio.
  • Used Connect SOAP rule to fetch the web services.
  • Extracted data from the XML file and loaded it into the database.
  • Involved in the daily Scrum calls, update the status to the Product Owner and Project Manager.
  • Participated and refactored JavaScript codes using Google's JavaScript Style Guide.
Skills
Design PatternsWeb ServicesSEOCompany WebsiteHealthcareHtmlTroubleshootArchitectureJavascriptTechnical Expertise
Education
Bachelor's Degree Computer Science2011 - 2014
University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX
 
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Lead Developer Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 10% of Lead Developers are proficient in Java, JavaScript, and Architecture. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Lead Developers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Java, 10%

    Design, develop and maintain student loan portfolio management applications using Java and related technologies.

  • JavaScript, 5%

    Maintained a JavaScript API library that provided basis for development of CTI client applications interacting with LiveOps telephony system.

  • Architecture, 5%

    Developed JSON based REST services as parallel providers for selected entities as proof-of-concept, pending enterprise standardization and SOA architecture acceptance.

  • C++, 4%

    Involved in design & development of trading application SDK (in managed C++) used for Buy-Side and Sell-Side client applications.

  • Web Application, 4%

    Designed and developed a web application to support Business to Government transactions with a moderate level of automation and interactivity.

  • GIT, 4%

    Trained a team of o shore developers in the use of git, and git flow.

"java," "javascript," and "architecture" aren't the only skills we found lead developers list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of lead developer responsibilities that we found, including:

  • The most important skills for a lead developer to have in this position are analytical skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a lead developer resume, you'll understand why: "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." According to resumes we found, analytical skills can be used by a lead developer in order to "supported java j2ee based applications for financial analysis, cost benefit analysis etc. "

  • Another trait important for fulfilling lead developer duties is communication skills. According to a lead developer resume, "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project." Here's an example of how lead developers are able to utilize communication skills: "designed and developed underlying j2ee framework for series of telecommunication applications. "

  • Creativity is also an important skill for lead developers to have. This example of how lead developers use this skill comes from a lead developer resume, "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "included proficiency with adobe creative suites, html, css, javascript, php & more. "

  • A lead developer responsibilities sometimes require "detail oriented." The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." This resume example shows how this skill is used by lead developers: "developed class diagrams, sequence diagrams, database tables, and mapping between relational database tables and object oriented java objects. "

  • Yet another important skill that a lead developer must demonstrate is "problem-solving skills." Because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process. This is clearly demonstrated in this example from a lead developer who stated: "developed the various j2ee applications to support and integrate with imaging solutions. "

    • See the full list of lead developer skills.

    After discovering the most helpful skills, we moved onto what kind of education might be helpful in becoming a lead developer. We found that 68.0% of lead developers have graduated with a bachelor's degree and 20.9% of people in this position have earned their master's degrees. While most lead developers have a college degree, you may find it's also true that generally it's impossible to be successful in this career with only a high school degree. In fact, our research shows that one out of every nine lead developers were not college graduates.

    Those lead developers who do attend college, typically earn either computer science degrees or business degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for lead developers include electrical engineering degrees or computer engineering degrees.

    When you're ready to become a lead developer, you might wonder which companies hire lead developers. According to our research through lead developer resumes, lead developers are mostly hired by ICF, Arrow Electronics, and Deloitte. Now is a good time to apply as ICF has 141 lead developers job openings, and there are 103 at Arrow Electronics and 101 at Deloitte.

    Since salary is important to some lead developers, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at Mayo Clinic, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and Meta. If you were to take a closer look at Mayo Clinic, you'd find that the average lead developer salary is $167,859. Then at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, lead developers receive an average salary of $166,130, while the salary at Meta is $164,980.

    View more details on lead developer salaries across the United States.

    If you earned a degree from the top 100 educational institutions in the United States, you might want to take a look at IBM, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon Technologies. These three companies have hired a significant number of lead developers from these institutions.

    For the most part, lead developers make their living in the technology and professional industries. Lead developers tend to make the most in the retail industry with an average salary of $119,501. The lead developer annual salary in the finance and manufacturing industries generally make $118,956 and $115,629 respectively. Additionally, lead developers who work in the retail industry make 8.4% more than lead developers in the professional Industry.

    The three companies that hire the most prestigious lead developers are:

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    Lead Developer Jobs You Might Like

    • High Paying Lead Developer Jobs - $161K and Up
    • Work From Home Lead Developer Jobs
    • Entry Level Lead Developer Jobs
    • Part Time Lead Developer Jobs
    • Actively Hiring
    • No Degree Lead Developer Jobs
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    What Mobile Applications Developers Do

    A mobile application developer is responsible for designing programming applications for mobile devices according to clients' specifications and business demands. Mobile application developers must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as computer system commands to develop efficient scripts and smooth navigation of operating systems. They analyze the clients' needs and recommend application solutions within their budget limitations and timeframe. A mobile application developer identifies inconsistencies and glitches with the output before submission to ensure its stability and optimal performance.

    We looked at the average lead developer annual salary and compared it with the average of a mobile applications developer. Generally speaking, mobile applications developers receive $17,083 lower pay than lead developers per year.

    While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both lead developers and mobile applications developers positions are skilled in java, javascript, and c++.

    As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a lead developer responsibility requires skills such as "architecture," "digital transformation," "code reviews," and "sql server." Whereas a mobile applications developer is skilled in "c #," "objective-c," "xcode," and "ios applications." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

    Mobile applications developers really shine in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $107,574. Whereas lead developers tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $119,501.

    On average, mobile applications developers reach similar levels of education than lead developers. Mobile applications developers are 3.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

    What Are The Duties Of a Data Warehouse Developer?

    Data Warehouse Developers are information technology (IT) professionals assigned to manage company-related information or data. They are responsible for creating the company's data warehouse, where the company's data will be stored. Data warehouse developers are also expected to provide the maintenance needs related to the program.

    Next up, we have the data warehouse developer profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a lead developer annual salary. In fact, data warehouse developers salary difference is $22,959 lower than the salary of lead developers per year.

    Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Lead developers and data warehouse developers both include similar skills like "java," "ui," and "html css" on their resumes.

    But both careers also use different skills, according to real lead developer resumes. While lead developer responsibilities can utilize skills like "javascript," "architecture," "c++," and "web application," some data warehouse developers use skills like "hadoop," "visualization," "data analysis," and "power bi."

    It's been discovered that data warehouse developers earn lower salaries compared to lead developers, but we wanted to find out where data warehouse developers earned the most pay. The answer? The insurance industry. The average salary in the industry is $107,723. Additionally, lead developers earn the highest paychecks in the retail with an average salary of $119,501.

    In general, data warehouse developers study at similar levels of education than lead developers. They're 4.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    How an Applications Developer Compares

    An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs. Duties of an application developer also include running diagnostic tests to ensure the application's performance and stability, providing instruction manuals for reference, performing troubleshooting for any inconsistencies, upgrading design codes for optimization, and launching the application following the client's timetable.

    The third profession we take a look at is applications developer. On an average scale, these workers bring in lower salaries than lead developers. In fact, they make a $27,135 lower salary per year.

    By looking over several lead developers and applications developers resumes, we found that both roles utilize similar skills, such as "java," "javascript," and "c++." But beyond that the careers look very different.

    Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from lead developer resumes include skills like "architecture," "code reviews," "crm," and "mvc," whereas an applications developer might be skilled in "database," "regression," "front end," and "html5. "

    Additionally, applications developers earn a higher salary in the finance industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $103,905. Additionally, lead developers earn an average salary of $119,501 in the retail industry.

    When it comes to education, applications developers tend to earn similar education levels than lead developers. In fact, they're 2.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

    Description Of a Senior .NET Developer

    A senior .NET developer is responsible for creating and managing software applications and programming languages under the .NET framework. Senior .NET developers carefully analyze software specifications and system requirements to ensure high-quality concept implementation using optimal operating procedures. A senior .NET developer runs diagnostic tests to identify its inconsistencies, perform adjustments as needed, and create reports of the system's features and methodologies. A senior .NET developer must have strong knowledge of the technology industry and software programming disciplines to assist junior developers and drive strategic results.

    Senior .net developers tend to earn a lower pay than lead developers by about $21,148 per year.

    While both lead developers and senior .net developers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like java, javascript, and architecture, the two careers also vary in other skills.

    Even though a few skill sets overlap, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a lead developer might have more use for skills like "c++," "git," "api," and "code reviews." Meanwhile, some senior .net developers might include skills like "asp," "net mvc," "web api," and "net framework" on their resume.

    In general, senior .net developers make a higher salary in the finance industry with an average of $106,638. The highest lead developer annual salary stems from the retail industry.

    The average resume of senior .net developers showed that they earn similar levels of education to lead developers. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 1.3% more. Additionally, they're less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.1%.

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    Updated October 2, 2020