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What does a project developer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
9 min read
Quoted expert
Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.
What does a project developer do

Project developers research aspects of each project to check that it follows all regulations and to complete the project on time and under the budget. They are responsible for overseeing various projects for their companies. They staff the project and make necessary purchases. Staffing could include hiring contractors and hiring new employees for the company. Their tasks are to report and resolve issues blocking work on project elements, develop project timeline and milestones with mitigation planning, and establish critical requirements of a project through stakeholder assessment.

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Project developer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real project developer resumes:

  • Develop detailed Unix shell and Perl scripts to automate complex but repetitive configuration management operations in ClearCase.
  • Fix existing bugs, including image polishing using Photoshop, CSS issues and JavaScript browser compatibility issues.
  • Handle JavaScript for validation of forms (and contents) and URL base redirection of pages.
  • Optimize and fine tune complex PL/SQL packages, SQL queries using TKPROF and other SQL tuning techniques.
  • Used JIRA to keep track of outstanding bugs to reduce downtime, increase productivity, and improve communication.
  • Used ASP.NET MVC with combination of AngularJS to do the web stuff and also bootstrap for responsive web design.
  • Gain experience on open source project by implementing web base OCR for image document using Java and open source software Tesseract-OCR.
  • Improve success of development deliveries by implementing scrum.
  • Modified/Enhance third-party bug tracking/ticketing software package written in PHP.
  • Handle unprocessed HTML documents and insert formatting according to company standards.
  • Develop data persistence and transmissions base on XML and relational databases.
  • Develop hardware auditing system for automate provisioning using PHP and PostgreSQL.
  • Conduct onsite evaluations obtaining technical information need for solar pv system design.
  • Design and implement a revenue interface to handle deposits electronically using XML.
  • Claim management tool with MVC design and develop using test driven/agile methodology.

Project developer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of Project Developers are proficient in Project Development, Renewable Energy, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.

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

  • Project Development, 13%

    Project development- collaborative teamwork while at Northampton Community College- setting up Play Days for children with disabilities.

  • Renewable Energy, 12%

    Assist in developing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, cost estimating in projects and subcontractor management.

  • Project Management, 12%

    General Contracting & Development group based in New York City Project Management Executive/Owners Rep for residential, institutional & retails projects.

  • HVAC, 5%

    Provided current market analyses of hydroponic, aeroponic, cultured dirt, lighting, HVAC and CO2 enrichment systems.

  • PowerPoint, 5%

    Prepare PowerPoint and Excel Spreadsheet Presentations for Functional Review to executive management.

  • C++, 4%

    Develop custom software on a contract basis using C, C++, ASP, and ODBC

Common skills that a project developer uses to do their job include "project development," "renewable energy," and "project management." You can find details on the most important project developer responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a project developer to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." Project developers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "developed web dynpro application to extract data from sap bapi using adaptive rfc made use of java connectors in the process. "

Communication skills. Many project developer duties rely on communication skills. "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project," so a project developer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways project developer responsibilities rely on communication skills: "used jquery ajax / angular js http service for client server communication using ajax for saving and retrieving details. "

Creativity. This is an important skill for project developers to perform their duties. For an example of how project developer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a project developer: "organize project development- marketing, inventory, purchasing, aesthetic design. ".

Detail oriented. For certain project developer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of a project developer rely on this skill, as "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." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what project developers do: "detailed analysis of ways to optimise existing tools performance project development & maintenance of tools to support qchat application. "

Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for project developer responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of project developers all the time, as "software developers must be able to work well with others who contribute to designing, developing, and programming successful software." An excerpt from a real project developer resume shows how this skill is central to what a project developer does: "mentor and coach entrepreneurs in areas of interpersonal skills, personal finance, business development & leadership. "

Problem-solving skills. Another skill commonly found on project developer job descriptions is "problem-solving skills." It can come up quite often in project developer duties, since "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day project developer responsibilities: "implemented dynamic e-business solutions using asp, java servlets, allair's coldfusion, and webobject. "

See the full list of project developer skills

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Compare different project developers

Project developer vs. Developer/consultant

A developer/consultant is responsible for developing system databases and applications, depending on the business' needs and clients' specifications. Developers/consultants design their services to manage optimal performance and maximize productivity for timely submission of projects, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty. They also handle clients' inquiries and concerns, informing them about necessary adjustments to improve strategic procedures and processes. A developer/consultant must have excellent communication and analytical skills, as well as extensive experience with the technology industry.

If we compare the average project developer annual salary with that of a developer/consultant, we find that developer/consultants typically earn a $8,742 higher salary than project developers make annually.Even though project developers and developer/consultants are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require project management, c++, and java in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between project developers and developer/consultant. For instance, project developer responsibilities require skills such as "project development," "renewable energy," "hvac," and "powerpoint." Whereas a developer/consultant is skilled in "microservices," "mvc," "ajax," and "data analysis." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Developer/consultants tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $101,340. In contrast, project developers make the biggest average salary, $92,232, in the hospitality industry.The education levels that developer/consultants earn slightly differ from project developers. In particular, developer/consultants are 3.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a project developer. Additionally, they're 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Project developer vs. Software developer internship

A software developer intern is responsible for assisting the software engineers with the design implementation and shadowing their duties to understand the processes more efficiently. Software developer interns use their classroom knowledge on practical applications, suggesting recommendations on how to make the project successful. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, attend meetings, and help with maintaining complex systems and networks. A software developer intern must have excellent communication skills, as well as having strong attention to detail and the ability to learn fast.

On average, software developer interns earn a $51,286 lower salary than project developers a year.A few skills overlap for project developers and software developer interns. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "c++," "java," and "web application. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, project developer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project development," "renewable energy," "project management," and "hvac." Meanwhile, a software developer internship has duties that require skills in areas such as "software development," "aws," "data analysis," and "c." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, software developer interns earn a lower salary than project developers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, software developer interns earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $41,281. Whereas project developers have higher pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $92,232.In general, software developer interns achieve similar levels of education than project developers. They're 3.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for project developers in the next 3-5 years?

Oliver Bonham-Carter Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Allegheny College

In the next few years, technologies related to artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing, container-orchestration systems, and cybersecurity will continue to become more important and prominent. These technologies have the foundation to improve the quality of life in terms of health, education, fighting misinformation, creating better connections, fighting climate change, etc. IoT with smart devices connected online will continue to rise, thus producing more data, which will necessitate AI, data analytics, and security solutions. Additionally, I foresee 5G technology to play an essential role in the next few years, as e-commerce expands into autonomous delivery services. In the software engineering field, to enable fast, secure, and connected software development, technologies allowing to automate a part of that process, such as version control, containerization, and Kubernetes, will also become increasingly important.

Project developer vs. Web application developer

A web application developer is responsible for designing website and system applications following clients' specifications and business' needs. Web application developers utilize their expertise in programming languages and system codes, ensuring the efficiency and smooth navigation of the website. They also run multiple diagnostic tests on the output before release, identifying inconsistencies, and addressing incompatibilities on browsers and devices. A web application developer should be detail-oriented and highly-technical as this job requires excellent digital knowledge to manage complex systems.

An average web application developer eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of project developers. The difference in salaries amounts to web application developers earning a $3,926 lower average salary than project developers.By looking over several project developers and web application developers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "database," "java," and "web application." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a project developer is likely to be skilled in "project development," "renewable energy," "project management," and "hvac," while a typical web application developer is skilled in "html css," "git," "web forms," and "front end."

Web application developers earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $88,928. Comparatively, project developers have the highest earning potential in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $92,232.When it comes to education, web application developers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to project developers. In fact, they're 2.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Project developer vs. Developer analyst

A developer analyst is an individual who is responsible for building application requirements and develops database solutions that allow operational efficiency and user-friendly tools. Developer analysts are required to develop a detailed definition of business solutions that can include database design, data flow, and transaction processing requirements. They work with other teams to design and implement a web application that manages internal processes and can result in increased productivity. Developer analysts are also required to perform integration tests for various vendors for services that are according to business requirements and testing processes.

Developer analysts tend to earn a lower pay than project developers by an average of $4,487 per year.While their salaries may vary, project developers and developer analysts both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "renewable energy," "c++," and "java. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "project development," "project management," "hvac," and "powerpoint" are skills that commonly show up on project developer resumes. On the other hand, developer analysts use skills like eclipse, architecture, data analysis, and web services on their resumes.developer analysts enjoy the best pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $99,277. For comparison, project developers earn the highest salary in the hospitality industry.The average resume of developer analysts showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to project developers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.3%.

Types of project developer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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