Published on May 22, 2025by Claudio Teixeira
An overview of common job positions in the software engineering technical and management tracks.
What is this?
This document provides a summary of various job positions within the software engineering field, categorized into Technical and Management tracks. Each role includes a brief description and its main responsibilities.
Technical Track
| Position | Description | Main Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Front-End Engineer | Builds user-facing components of applications. | Develops UI with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; ensures usability and performance; collaborates with designers. |
| Back-End Engineer | Focuses on server-side logic and databases. | Implements APIs, manages databases, ensures security and scalability. |
| Full Stack Engineer/Developer | Works on both front-end and back-end systems. | Designs UIs, builds server logic, manages databases, integrates APIs, tests and debugs code. |
| Software Engineer in Test (QA) | Ensures software quality through testing. | Writes test plans, automates tests, identifies bugs, ensures compliance with standards. |
| SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) | Combines development and testing skills. | Develops test automation frameworks, writes code for tests, collaborates on quality improvements. |
| Systems Engineer | Designs and manages complex software and hardware systems. | Integrates components, configures systems, troubleshoots, ensures reliability and security. |
| Mobile Engineer | Develops applications for mobile platforms (iOS/Android). | Builds features, fixes bugs, optimizes performance, ensures compatibility across devices. |
| DevOps Engineer | Bridges development and operations for CI/CD and automation. | Automates deployments, manages infrastructure, monitors systems, ensures reliability. |
| Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) | Maintains system availability and performance. | Automates operations, monitors systems, responds to incidents, improves reliability. |
| Web Application Security Engineer | Secures web applications against threats. | Performs vulnerability assessments, implements security protocols, tests for exploits. |
| Machine Learning Engineer | Designs and implements ML models and algorithms. | Data preprocessing, model training, evaluation, optimization, deployment. |
| Artificial Intelligence Engineer | Builds intelligent systems for tasks like NLP and vision. | Develops AI algorithms, integrates ML, works on cognitive systems, processes data. |
| Data Scientist | Analyzes large datasets to extract insights and build models. | Data mining, preprocessing, building ML models, presenting results, collaborating with teams. |
| Business Analyst | Bridges business needs and technical solutions. | Gathers requirements, analyzes data, models processes, creates specs, supports implementation. |
| Blockchain Engineer | Develops blockchain-based solutions and smart contracts. | Designs DApps, implements smart contracts, ensures security, integrates cryptography. |
| Embedded Systems Engineer | Develops software for specialized hardware. | Writes firmware, debugs hardware-software integration, tests embedded systems. |
| Robotics Engineer | Designs and builds robotic systems. | Integrates hardware/software, develops control algorithms, tests robotic functions. |
| IoT Engineer | Builds systems connecting devices to the internet. | Develops device software, integrates sensors, manages data flow, ensures connectivity. |
| Software Integration Engineer | Ensures multiple software systems work together. | Develops integration solutions, resolves compatibility issues, manages data exchange. |
| User Experience (UX) Engineer | Optimizes product usability and user flows. | Conducts user research, designs wireframes, tests usability, collaborates with design/dev teams. |
| User Interface (UI) Engineer | Designs and implements visual elements of software. | Develops UIs, ensures visual consistency, applies design principles, collaborates with UX. |
| Staff Engineer | Senior technical leader, often responsible for cross-team architecture. | Solves organization-wide challenges, focuses on high-level technical leadership and strategic impact. |
| Principal Software Engineer | Acts as a top technical expert, architecting complex systems. | Guides engineering best practices, focuses on innovation and strategic impact. |
| Principal AI Engineer | Leads AI/ML solution design and deployment. | Sets technical direction for AI/ML, mentors teams, focuses on high-level technical leadership. |
| Principal Machine Learning Engineer | Specializes in advanced machine learning systems and model architecture. | Manages production ML pipelines, focuses on innovation and strategic impact in ML. |
| Lead Data Scientist | Heads data science initiatives and leads advanced analytics projects. | Mentors other data scientists, focuses on high-level technical leadership in data science. |
| Distinguished Engineer | Recognized as an industry or company-wide expert. | Drives innovation, sets technical standards, focuses on strategic impact. |
Management Track
| Position | Description | Main Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Engineer | Entry-level; learns and contributes to projects under supervision. | Completes assigned tasks, learns codebase, participates in team meetings. |
| Mid-Level Engineer | More experienced; works with less supervision, may mentor juniors. | Designs features, reviews code, mentors juniors, contributes to architecture. |
| Senior Engineer | Highly skilled; leads complex projects and mentors others. | Architects solutions, debugs complex issues, mentors, ensures code quality. |
| Tech Lead | Leads technical direction and team execution. | Guides team, makes technical decisions, mentors, ensures project success. |
| Engineering Lead | Manages multiple teams or larger teams, oversees tech leads. | Manages teams, clears bottlenecks, coordinates progress, may still code. |
| Software Engineering Manager | First formal management level; oversees team performance and delivery. | Manages team, sets goals, handles performance reviews, ensures deadlines are met. |
| Director of Engineering | Oversees multiple teams/projects, sets technical vision. | Manages managers, aligns teams with company goals, oversees R&D, manages budgets. |
| VP of Engineering | Executive overseeing engineering department. | Sets department strategy, manages directors, collaborates with C-suite, oversees hiring and culture. |
| Chief Technology Officer (CTO) | Top technical executive, shapes technology vision and strategy. | Sets company-wide tech direction, represents tech to stakeholders, leads innovation. |
Note: The "Advanced/Senior Technical Titles" typically focus on high-level technical leadership, innovation, and strategic impact rather than people management.
[1]: Onet Online https://www.onetonline.org/