“Teamwork makes the dream work” – we’ve all heard this one.
But, just because it’s an overused cliché doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
If you want to build a successful software product, you need the right team – but, what should the team look like? And how do you hire the right people?
Well, we’ve got you covered.
In this article, we’ll discuss the 7 key roles you need to have in software development team and give you some top tips for assembling a great team.
Justa third of their time is spent writing new code, and the rest they spend on other tasks.
They also have to maintain existing code, coordinate with the rest of the team, and even do testing if you don’t have QA engineers.
In short, they’re the backbone of every software development team
Key responsibilities of a software engineer
Writing code and developing software – their main responsibility, software engineers are in charge of writing the code and developing your software product
Code maintenance and refactoring – software engineers are responsible for maintaining and refactoring existing code to improve its performance
Writing technical documentation – they are responsible for writing technical documentation for your product’s code, APIs, and system architecture
Necessary skills a software engineer needs to have
Problem-solving and analytical skills – they need these skills in order to troubleshoot and solve complex issues when developing software
Knowledge of algorithms and data structures – they need to have in-depth knowledge of algorithms and data structures and their applications in modern software products
Proficiency in programming languages – a software engineer needs to be proficient in at least one programming language, depending on their area of interest and specialization
Pro-tip for picking the right software engineer
Make sure they’re able to effectively communicate if they run into problems, so their team lead or other team members can help guide them if they get stuck.
Ivan Trogrlic
Android Team Lead at DECODE
Solution architect
The solution architect is one of the most underrated roles on a software development team.
And they’re key if you want to build a successful product.
But, why are they so important?
Solution architecture acts as a bridge between your product’s technical and enterprise architectures.
In other words, it’s all about finding and designing the best technical solutions to solve specific business problems.
In a nutshell, the solution architect designs how your product will work – this includes choosing the tech stack the team will use to build it and managing technical risks.
This ensures your product has rock-solid foundations when your team actually starts building it.
And that’s why you need a solution architect on your team.
Key responsibilities of a solution architect
Architecture design – the solution architect creates a comprehensive software architecture that meets both business and technical requirements
Choosing the tech stack – they’re in charge of choosing the right technologies and tools to implement your architecture design
Technical risk management – solution architects identify and mitigate technical risks and make sure your product is technically feasible
Necessary skills a solution architect needs to have
Technical expertise – a solution architect needs to have in-depth knowledge of software development, including programming languages, frameworks, and tools
System design – they need to be able to design scalable and efficient software systems, architectures, and solutions
Understanding of business processes – a solution architect needs to understand business processes and how the software they design can support them
Pro-tip for picking the right solution architect
You need to find someone who can not only create high-level architecture but also transform it into a design the development team can actually implement.
Nino Strmo
Head of Solution Architecture at DECODE
Product manager
The product manager is responsible for defining the vision and strategy for your product.
This includes:
Creating a strategic roadmap for the team to follow
Defining KPIs for success
Prioritizing features
In other words, their job is balancing between user, tech, and business needs to build a successful product.
They’re in charge of overseeing the development process from start to finish to make sure it’s aligned with your business goals.
But, this doesn’t mean they manage everything – the day-to-day tasks are handled by the project manager.
The product manager is a higher-level, strategic role whose job it is to make sure you build a product that can succeed in the market.
And that’s why you need them on your software development team.
Key responsibilities of a product manager
Product vision and strategy – the product manager’s main responsibility, they define the product vision and create a strategic roadmap for the whole development team to follow
Prioritizing and defining features – they prioritize and define features based on user feedback, market needs, and business goals
Defining KPIs for product success – they define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success
Necessary skills a product manager needs to have
Strategic thinking – they need to be able to see the bigger picture and juggle conflicting demands from different stakeholders to create a successful, long-term product vision and strategy
Excellent communication skills – a product manager needs to have excellent communication skills to collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders
Analytical skills – they need to have strong analytical skills to successfully analyze data and make informed decisions
Pro-tip for picking the right product manager
The product manager needs to understand exactly what your users want and how to turn that into your product’s long-term vision.
Boris Plavljanic
Product Manager at DECODE
Product designer
Product designers play a key role on a software development team – they design your product’s look (user interface) and feel (user experience).
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the difference between UX and UI:
The product designer is in charge of designing both i.e. making a visually attractive product that’s intuitive and easy to use.
But, the role goes beyond just UX/UI design, too.
Product designers take a broader approach and make sure their design meets business needs, too.
And that’s why they’re so important.
Key responsibilities of a product designer
Creating the visual design – the product designer is in charge of creating visually appealing user interfaces and design systems
Optimizing the user experience – they’re responsible for optimizing your product’s UX and making sure it’s usable, intuitive, and engaging
Doing user research and testing – the product designer organizes and conducts user research and testing in order to gather feedback and improve your product’s design and UX
Necessary skills a product designer needs to have
UX/UI design – a product designer needs to be proficient in designing and building products that both look good and are easy to use
Attention to detail – they need to have a keen eye for detail to create high-quality designs
Visual design – they need to have strong graphic design skills and a deep understanding of visual aesthetics
Pro-tip for picking the right product designer
Make sure that they don’t just have the right design skills, but also the right mindset. A great designer should be able to switch between different user perspectives, know when to compromise, and be invested in your product’s success.
Matej Maric
Product Designer at DECODE
Project manager
On a software development team, the project manager is in charge of managing the day-to-day tasks during development.
They make sure development is completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
Poor project management can cost you a lot of money and derail development.
So, having a competent project manager is an absolute must.
Here are a few key stats that show just why project management is so important:
So, without good project management, you risk scope creep derailing your product’s development and losing a lot of money.
But, the right project manager will make coordinating between the development team and other stakeholders a breeze.
And that’s exactly what you need for a successful project.
Key responsibilities of a project manager
Monitoring progress and setting deadlines – the project manager monitors team members’ progress and sets deadlines to keep the project on track and on time
Team coordination – they coordinate and help different team members collaborate and resolve any conflicts that might happen
Planning – the project manager’s main task, they’re in charge of outlining tasks and timelines and the resources needed to complete them
Necessary skills a project manager needs to have
Time management – time management skills help project managers effectively prioritize tasks and keep the project on schedule
Strong communication skills – strong communication skills are a must for project managers, especially if they’re working on complex projects with lots of moving parts
Problem-solving skills – project managers need to have top-tier problem-solving skills to identify and resolve problems before they negatively impact the project
Pro-tip for picking the right project manager
They have to be able to effectively multitask and communicate with everyone involved in the project – 80% of a project manager’s job is talking to other people.
Boris Plavljanic
Product Manager at DECODE
Team lead
The team lead is responsible for guiding and mentoring your software development team so they successfully meet project goals.
Usually, though not always, the team lead will be the most senior engineer on the team.
But, seniority isn’t the be-all and end-all when picking a team lead.
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They need to have in-depth technical knowledge, sure, but their leadership and people management skills are just as important.
Their main responsibility is keeping the team on track and helping them solve any problems they encounter during development.
And that’s why they’re a crucial part of every development team.
Key responsibilities of a team lead
Technical support and guidance – the team lead gives technical support and guidance to the whole team and helps them solve any problems they run into during development
Conducting code reviews – the team lead is responsible for leading code reviews to ensure code quality and that coding best practices and standards are followed
Mentoring – they offer support and coaching to junior team members to help them grow professionally
Necessary skills a team lead needs to have
Technical proficiency – a team lead needs to have in-depth knowledge of different languages, frameworks, tools, and coding best practices
Leadership skills – they need to have strong leadership skills and be able to motivate and inspire others on the team
Communication and collaboration – a team lead needs to be able to effectively communicate and collaborate with both team members and stakeholders
Pro-tip for picking the right team lead
They need to be willing to help team members when they run into issues and guide them in the right direction, so that the whole team can be more efficient and successful.
Ivan Trogrlic
Android Team Lead at DECODE
QA engineer
Nobody wants to get derailed by bugs – and QA engineers are key to preventing that from happening to your product.
Their job is to make sure your product is bug-free and meets quality standards before you launch it.
Here’s what a typical day for a QA engineer looks like:
So, QA engineers are in charge of planning and running tests to find and fix any bugs or issues with your product.
In other words, they make sure your product is actually usable and works as intended.
And that’s why they’re indispensable.
Key responsibilities of a QA engineer
Finding and fixing bugs – QA engineers find and fix bugs in your software to ensure it remains consistently high-quality
Creating test plans – they create test plans on every level and create an in-depth testing strategy
Running manual and automated tests – QA engineers run both manual and automated tests to make sure all bugs and issues are fixed
Necessary skills a QA engineer needs to have
Attention to detail – QA engineers need to be meticulous and observant to spot issues and inconsistencies in the software’s code
Proficiency in different testing methods – they need to be proficient in a number of different testing methods and know when to use (or not use) each one
Critical thinking and problem solving – critical thinking and problem solving help QA engineers anticipate where problems might happen, so your testing efforts can be more focused
Pro-tip for picking the right QA engineer
They need to have the QA mindset – that’s a combination of curiosity, professional pessimism, attention to detail, and looking at problems with a critical eye.
Marko Brajer
QA Engineer at DECODE
Key tips for assembling a software development team
Here, we’ll give you some important tips for assembling a successful development team.
Clearly define roles and responsibilities
Clearly defining roles and responsibilities on your software development team should be the first thing you do when you’re building it.
If your team knows exactly what they’re doing and why from the start, they’ll work much more efficiently.
Here’s a few more reasons why clear roles and responsibilities are so important:
Cognitive diversity is especially importantif you’re building a productin a competitive market.
Being able to solve problems faster and better adapt to changing circumstances than your competitors can mean the difference between success and failure.
And that’s why hiring a cognitively diverse team should be your top priority.
Invest in continuous learning
When you hire a software development team, you’re making an investment in your company’s future.
Unless you’re outsourcing, the team you hire will be there to stay for the long term.
And to get the most out of them, you need to encourage and invest in continuous learning for your team.
They need to have the necessary experience and expertise to build your product from start to finish.
If they do, you’ll know you’ve found the right development partner.
Software development team roles: FAQs
There’s no easy answer to this question because it depends on a number of different factors like:
Type and complexity of your product
Size and experience of the development team
The tech stack
But, on average, we can break down the costs by complexity like this:
A simple product – $20,000-$60,000
A medium-complexity product – $60,000-$90,000
A complex product – $100,000+
We asked our CDO, Ante Baus, this question and this is what he had to say:
The most common mistake you can make when assembling a software development team is building a team with imbalanced seniority.
For example, if you’re building a complex product, having too many junior engineers on your team will likely lead to delays and a lower-quality product.
But, the same is true in reverse – if you’re building a simple product, too many senior engineers on the team will be a waste of resources you can better use elsewhere.
So, make sure your team’s seniority levels are in line with your product’s complexity.
The choice between building an in-house team or outsourcing to a vendor will depend mainly on your specific needs and your budget.
Outsourcing is a good choice if:
You want to lower development costs
You need a more easily scalable team
You need access to a larger talent pool
Need a software development team?
Do you have everything you need to build a great product but just need the right team to make it a reality?
Well, you’re in the right place.
Whether you need a full dedicated team or a couple of experts to plug skill gaps in your in-house team, we’ll be happy to help.
If you want to learn more, feel free to reach out and we’ll set up a quick meeting to discuss your needs in more detail.
Mario makes every project run smoothly. A firm believer that people are DECODE’s most vital resource, he naturally grew into his former role as People Operations Manager. Now, his encyclopaedic knowledge of every DECODEr’s role, and his expertise in all things tech, enables him to guide DECODE's technical vision as CTO to make sure we're always ahead of the curve.
Part engineer, and seemingly part therapist, Mario is always calm under pressure, which helps to maintain the office’s stress-free vibe. In fact, sitting and thinking is his main hobby. What’s more Zen than that?
