What does a senior stack engineer do?

A senior stack engineer is responsible for creating and designing servers and managing user interface on web applications. Senior stack engineers develop interactive functionalities and features for the database to support the business operation processes. They also modify existing web systems, upgrade network infrastructure, and set up configurations. A senior stack engineer must have excellent technical and computer skills to ensure smooth navigation for servers, as well as a strong command of programming languages to write and test codes.
Senior stack engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior stack engineer resumes:
- 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.
- Work on the front end development using JSP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and AngularJS.
- Used JavaScript task runners like grunt and gulp.
- Design online shopping cart applications using with HTML, DHTML, XML and CSS base on W3C standards.
- Deploy to AWS, load balance Nginx.
- Migrate backend from Perl to NodeJS microservices.
- Generate the Istanbul report on NPM test.
- Work on Java server side programming using Servlets.
- Create Perl base microservices to migrate data into MongoDB.
- Implement code splitting with Webpack to improve mobile performance.
- Create continuous build system for internal code deployment using Jenkins.
- Build the business logic in the application using Scala and Java.
Senior stack engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Senior Stack Engineers are proficient in Java, JavaScript, and Python. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Math skills, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Stack Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Java, 11%
Developed back-end logic with Core Java using technologies including Collection Framework, Multi-Threading.
- JavaScript, 7%
Developed applications using ColdFusion and JavaScript.
- Python, 6%
Enhanced products Design and Functionality using Python Web Framework
- AWS, 5%
Worked with Bootstrap for UI, Amazon Web Services(AWS) for file/image hosting.
- Spring Boot, 5%
Redesigned Rule Engine for scaling them using Spring Boot applications and each rule has its micro service wit out using drools.
- CSS, 4%
Designed online shopping cart applications using with HTML, DHTML, XML and CSS based on W3C standards.
"java," "javascript," and "python" are among the most common skills that senior stack engineers use at work. You can find even more senior stack engineer responsibilities below, including:
Listening skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior stack engineer to carry out their responsibilities is listening skills. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." Additionally, a senior stack engineer resume shows how their duties depend on listening skills: "maintained and extended a java library that communicated commands and data to the nice call logging system over tcp/ip. "
Math skills. Many senior stack engineer duties rely on math skills. "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.," so a senior stack engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior stack engineer responsibilities rely on math skills: "created a redis plugin for heka and built a logging/statistics pipeline for a new version of the company's server architecture. "
Mechanical skills. senior stack engineers are also known for mechanical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior stack engineer responsibilities, because "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." A senior stack engineer resume example shows how mechanical skills is used in the workplace: "do preventive maintenance of mechanical equipment. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain senior stack engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a senior stack engineer rely on this skill, as "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what senior stack engineers do: "solved javascript file circular dependency issue in chat application, which is a node.js project. "
Creativity. Another common skill required for senior stack engineer responsibilities is "creativity." This skill comes up in the duties of senior stack engineers all the time, as "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." An excerpt from a real senior stack engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a senior stack engineer does: "invented in spare time and administrator of zentronis, an internal cms designed to allow kb's to be searchable. "
The three companies that hire the most senior stack engineers are:
- Humana286 senior stack engineers jobs
- CyberCoders228 senior stack engineers jobs
- American Express186 senior stack engineers jobs
Compare different senior stack engineers
Senior stack engineer vs. Software engineering internship
A software engineer intern is responsible for assisting the technology department's operations, using their class knowledge on performing practical applications. Software engineer interns support software engineers on their processes, shadowing their daily tasks, and performing duties under mentors' supervision. They assess ideas, contribute to the development of new applications, and research current technology trends to help with product innovations. A software engineer intern must have excellent knowledge of the technology systems industry, programming languages, and learn efficiently through observations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between senior stack engineers and software engineering internship. For instance, senior stack engineer responsibilities require skills such as "javascript," "c #," "continuous integration," and "redux." Whereas a software engineering internship is skilled in "object oriented programming," "software development," "cloud," and "emerging technologies." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Software engineering interns really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $54,203. Comparatively, senior stack engineers tend to make the most money in the internet industry with an average salary of $137,819.On average, software engineering interns reach similar levels of education than senior stack engineers. Software engineering interns are 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior stack engineer vs. Sales engineering manager
A sales engineering manager specializes in developing systems and procedures to optimize a company's sales operations, aiming for client satisfaction and profit growth. It is their duty to set goals and timelines, establish guidelines, manage different teams, research new business and client opportunities, gather and analyze data to identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing operations, develop sales strategies, and implement solutions against problem areas. Moreover, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while enforcing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior stack engineer resumes. While senior stack engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "javascript," "python," "aws," and "spring boot," sales engineering managers use skills like "cloud," "pre sales," "customer satisfaction," and "post sales."
On average, sales engineering managers earn a lower salary than senior stack engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, sales engineering managers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $122,411. Whereas senior stack engineers have higher pay in the internet industry, with an average salary of $137,819.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Sales engineering managers tend to reach lower levels of education than senior stack engineers. In fact, they're 12.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior stack engineer vs. Field applications engineer
The field applications engineer works with regional sales managers, company customers, and manufacturer's representatives to design and manage technical methods for quality control to ensure compliance with the ISO laboratory accreditation. They are technically expert and knowledgeable about sales techniques to boost sales and to develop new organizational objectives by maintaining their relationship with the consultants, inspectors, subcontractors, and potential clients regularly. Some of their duties and responsibilities include customer assistance to help customers understand all products and services, providing technical support and configure services, and analyzing customer requirements.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior stack engineers are more likely to have skills like "javascript," "python," "aws," and "spring boot." But a field applications engineer is more likely to have skills like "technical support," "c++," "semiconductor," and "fae."
Field applications engineers earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $106,007. Comparatively, senior stack engineers have the highest earning potential in the internet industry, with an average salary of $137,819.Most field applications engineers achieve a lower degree level compared to senior stack engineers. For example, they're 6.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior stack engineer vs. Professional services engineer
Professional Services Engineers are employees who represent their company in their client's work environment. They are usually software engineers or any other information technology-related engineers. They are expected to be familiar with company's products. Professional Services Engineers act as the bridge between the company and the client. They are usually assigned to be on-site at the client's office to act as the technical representative of the company. As such, they do the installing, setting up, managing, troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing the company's software for the client. They may also help out in product training and maximizing the user experience.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior stack engineers and professional services engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior stack engineer might have more use for skills like "python," "aws," "spring boot," and "front end." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of professional services engineers require skills like "customer service," "professional services," "customer satisfaction," and "professional development. "
In general, professional services engineers earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $113,168. The highest-paying industry for a senior stack engineer is the internet industry.The average resume of professional services engineers showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to senior stack engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 11.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of senior stack engineer
Updated January 8, 2025