What is a senior stack engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Christian Hansen Ph.D.

A senior stack engineer is responsible for the development and maintenance of software applications. They design and develop software systems using a variety of programming languages. A senior stack engineer also manages databases, servers, and other infrastructure components that are necessary for the smooth operation of software applications. They work closely with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions. Additionally, they mentor junior engineers and guide them to ensure quality.

What's a day at work look like for a senior stack engineer?

Christian Hansen Ph.D.

Professor and Department Chair, Eastern Washington University

In the post-pandemic era, a typical workday for a recent graduate will likely involve some form of remote work. I predict that many businesses will benefit from the reduced cost of remote infrastructure compared to the cost of maintaining brick and mortar office space. Many new graduates will continue to spend their day on a computer while collaborating in teams via Zoom and other teleconference tools. People working in disciplines that have traditionally been "on the ground" will move towards more hybrid modes of work, reducing the need for travel and participating in face-to-face meetings and training.

ScoreSenior Stack EngineerUS Average

Salary

8.2

Avg. Salary $122,731

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 16.93%

Black or African American 3.08%

Hispanic or Latino 7.86%

Unknown 4.51%

White 67.51%

Gender

female 16.06%

male 83.94%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

4.4

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a senior stack engineer?

Pros

High earning potential
High demand for senior stack engineers in the current job market
Access to cutting-edge technology and tools
Ability to work remotely or from various locations
Collaboration with cross-functional teams

Cons

Constant need to stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends
High expectations from management and stakeholders
Inability to specialize in a specific area or technology stack
Exposure to security risks and vulnerabilities in software development projects
Limited opportunities for face-to-face interaction with team members.

Key steps to become a senior stack engineer

Explore senior stack engineer education requirements

Most common senior stack engineer degrees

Bachelor's

69.9 %

Master's

22.6 %

Associate

2.7 %

Start to develop specific senior stack engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Java	11.25%
JavaScript	7.50%
Python	5.67%
AWS	4.92%
Spring Boot	4.76%

Complete relevant senior stack engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior stack engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior stack engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior stack engineer resumes.

Research senior stack engineer duties and responsibilities

Co-Ordinate with DevOps team to manage and monitor servers on AWS EC2.
Work in a back and front-end WordPress environment to manage company blog content.
Manage a team of 5 UI engineers, providing tasking, tracking, and mentoring.
Manage technical investigations of software and database problems; coordinating between users and developers, and developing fixes or recommending workarounds.

Get senior stack engineer experience

Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become a senior stack engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior stack engineer include software engineer, senior software engineer team lead and engineer.

Apply for senior stack engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a senior stack engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams