Seven roles in a software development team

You need more than developers and engineers to structure an effective software development team. 

There are many different roles needed in the software development lifecycle, and the ‘ideal’ team is made up of the following roles:

1. UX designers
2. Business analyst
3. Software developers
4. Project manager
5. Scrum master
6. Product owner
7. Team lead / Tech lead

Software developers

Software developers conceive of, design, and build computer programs. Some develop new applications for mobile or desktop use, while others build underlying operating systems. Either way, software developers identify user needs, build programs, test out new software, and make improvements.

Key skills for software developers:

• Problem-solving
• Programming languages (JavaScript, Python, R, SQL, Java, C, Ruby…)
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Teamwork

Average base pay in Scotland according to glassdoor.co.uk:  £40K

Tech Lead

They play the role of architect, project manager, software engineer, mentor, and teammate all at once. Tech leads are responsible for helping drive the high-level architectural discussions regarding the work that the team is doing. They lead design meetings and tech breakdowns.

Key skills for tech lead: 

• Excellent communication skills
• Visionaries 
• Curious, always asking ‘why?’
• Top-notch management skills

Average base pay in Scotland according to glassdoor.co.uk:  £58K

UX Designers

A UX Designer is focused on all aspects of a product’s development, including design, usability, function, and even branding and marketing. Their work touches the entire end-to-end journey of a user’s interaction with a product, and includes identifying new opportunities for the product and business.

Key skills for software developers:

• Visual communication
• Prototyping
• Wireframing
• Research
• Teamwork

Average base pay in Scotland according to glassdoor.co.uk:  £37K

Business Analyst

Business analysts identify business areas that can be improved to increase efficiency and strengthen business processes. They often work closely with others throughout the business hierarchy to communicate their findings and help implement changes.

Key skills for business analysts: 

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Communication skills
• Decision-making skills
• Programming languages: The most common programming languages used in business analytics are R programming, for statistical analysis, and Python, for general programming
• Creation of reports and data dashboards
• Databases and SQL

Average base pay in Scotland according to glassdoor.co.uk:  £38K

Project Manager

Software project managers are in charge of the planning, scheduling, budgeting, execution, and delivery of software and web projects. They ensure the successful completion of all software projects and also oversee the people performing work on the projects.

Key skills for project managers:

• Effective Communication. From project kick-offs to stakeholder meetings, project managers are constantly communicating
• Negotiation
• Scheduling and time management
• Leadership
• Technical expertise
• Risk management
• Critical thinking and problem solving

Average base pay in Scotland according to glassdoor.co.uk:  £44.8K

Scrum master

A Scrum master is the leader of the Scrum team. They’re in charge of establishing the Scrum methodology and keeping team members focused on Scrum principles and practices. Scrum masters are often people-oriented and enjoy helping team members grow and improve.

Key skills for scrum masters:

• Strong scrum and agile training
• Organisational skills
• Technical familiarity
• Teaching and coaching abilities

Average base pay in Scotland according to glassdoor.co.uk:  £50K

Product owner

The Product Owner Role is an essential member of any agile scrum team. The primary goal in a Product Owner role is to represent the customer to the development team. A key activity is to manage and make visible the product backlog, or the prioritised list of requirements for future product development.

Key skills for product owners:

•  Communication skills
• Analytical skills
• Focus, the product owner’s responsibilities include ownership of the process and a commitment to the project, vision, team, and business. They need to collaborate with everyone and attend all meetings related to the product. High levels of responsibility require intense focus
• Project management

Average base pay in Scotland according to glassdoor.co.uk:  £51K

Build your skills with our software development courses

Digital skills like programming are critically important for building the products, services and careers we need to drive our economy.

Whether you aspire to become a software developer or simply want to work more effectively as a digital professional, our software courses are great starting points.