Full Stack Developer: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a full stack developer?

A full stack developer is an IT specialist experienced in managing both client-facing and server-side aspects of websites and applications. They often take the lead on development tasks, using various languages, frameworks and technologies to create a seamless user experience that aligns with the company’s goals. Their role may involve designing intuitive interfaces on the front end, building and integrating APIs or managing data and infrastructure on the back end.

Defining your recruitment needs for a full stack developer role

To define your recruitment needs, start by assessing the scope of work your new full stack developer will be responsible for and outlining the key responsibilities and duties of the job. Set a realistic budget based on market rates and whether you require any highly specialised skills, then choose a job title that accurately reflects the position and stands out to potential candidates. Consider whether you require a full-time, part-time or freelance full stack developer, based on the volume and consistency of the work. This position is sometimes confused with a front-end developer or software engineer. While these professionals may share many skills, the multifaceted role of a full stack developer is distinct.

Why recruit a full stack developer?

Full stack developers design user interfaces, build server-side logic, manage databases and make sure applications run smoothly across platforms. Their versatility reduces the need for multiple tech employees and can speed up development cycles, along with supporting end-to-end project delivery. If web or app offerings are a key part of your business, or you want to scale your digital services or are looking for a way to boost efficiency in your tech team, now may be a good time to recruit a full stack developer.

Contributions of a great full stack developer:

• Designing and developing both front-end interfaces and back-end systems
• Writing scalable, secure and maintainable code across the entire stack
• Troubleshooting, debugging and optimising application performance for reliability and speed

What are the types of full stack developers?

Full stack developers are typically categorised by the technology stacks they specialise in. Common examples include:

• MERN: MongoDB, Express.js, React and Node.js
• MEAN: MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS and Node.js
• Django stack: Python, Django and MySQL

While many full stack developers are proficient in more than one stack, it’s useful to identify which ones they’re most experienced with and ensure these align with your organisation’s tech stack and goals.

Similar positions to a full stack developer include:

• Front-end developer: builds the user-facing parts of websites or applications using languages like HTML, CSS and JavaScript. While full stack developers handle these tasks too, front end developers differ in that they don’t typically deal with server-side systems or database management.
• Back-end developer: creates and maintains server-side systems, databases and APIs. Again, full stack developers share these capabilities, but they also work on the front end, while these professionals don’t.
• Software engineer: primarily concerned with designing, developing and maintaining software systems (e.g. applications, operating systems or embedded systems). Unlike full stack developers, their work isn’t necessarily focused on web development or on tackling both front-end and back-end tasks.

When writing your full stack developer job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on full stack developer jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Software developer
• Software engineer
• Web developer
• Developer
• Front-end developer
• Php developer
• Php
• Software
• React developer
• C#

Want more hiring insights for your full stack developer role? Sign in or create your free Indeed account.

Where to find full stack developers

To find the right full stack developer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruitment strategies:

• Recruitment platforms like Indeed: aim to make your job description stand out, with specific details of the role, any special perks and targeted keywords
• Stack Overflow, GitHub or Tech UK: developer communities such as these can be a rich resource for scouting top tech talent
• London Tech Week or local meetups for the tech industry: in-person events offer opportunities for networking, along with access to potential candidates who may not be actively searching for a job
• Internal promotions or lateral hiring: if you already have an established IT team, you could investigate whether any existing employees might be ready to upskill and take on the job

Post your job online: Try posting your full stack developer job on Indeed to find and attract quality full stack developer candidates

Skills to look for in a full stack developer

A successful full stack developer candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• Proficiency in front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and back-end (Node.js, Python, PHP) development
• Experience with frameworks like React, Angular or Vue.js
• Familiarity with server-side languages and database management using SQL or NoSQL technologies
• Familiarity with version control tools like Git and collaborative workflows like GitFlow
• Understanding of cross-browser compatibility, responsive design and web performance optimisation
• Ability to troubleshoot complex bugs and implement secure, scalable solutions across the stack

Writing a full stack developer job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular jobseeker search terms and recruitment insights for a full stack developer, you’re ready to write a job description.

A full stack developer job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing full stack developer job descriptions.

Interviewing full stack developer candidates

Strong candidates for full stack developer positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Integrating front-end and back-end systems in real-world applications
• JavaScript frameworks and server-side technologies
• Debugging complex cross-stack issues under pressure
• Optimising application performance and scalability across the stack
• Working in agile teams and handling all aspects of a project

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of full stack developer interview questions for examples (with sample answers).