Career paths and roles on design teams
Introduction
Hi.
Entry-Level / Junior Roles
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Junior Web Developer
Description: Works on basic coding tasks, fixes bugs, and assists senior developers.
Skills Required: HTML, CSS, basic JavaScript, understanding of web fundamentals.
Salary Range: $45,000 – $65,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Contributes to developing features and fixing bugs, ensuring the product functions correctly.
- Team: Supports senior developers, bringing fresh ideas and learning through collaboration.
- Overall Design: Helps implement design specifications, ensuring visual and interactive elements meet design goals.
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Junior Front-End Developer
Description: Focuses on developing user-facing features under supervision.
Skills Required: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, basic knowledge of frameworks like React or Vue.js.
Salary Range: $50,000 – $70,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Enhances the user interface, improving user experience and engagement.
- Team: Bridges designers and back-end developers, facilitating smooth integration.
- Overall Design: Translates design mockups into functional interfaces, maintaining consistency.
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Junior Back-End Developer
Description: Assists in building server-side logic and database integration.
Skills Required: Basic understanding of server-side languages (e.g., Node.js, PHP), databases (MySQL, MongoDB).
Salary Range: $50,000 – $70,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Develops core functionalities, ensuring data integrity and application performance.
- Team: Collaborates with front-end developers to integrate user-facing elements.
- Overall Design: Contributes to the system architecture, influencing data flow and functionality.
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Junior Full-Stack Developer
Description: Works on both front-end and back-end tasks with guidance.
Skills Required: Fundamental skills in front-end and back-end technologies.
Salary Range: $55,000 – $75,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Offers versatility by contributing to all aspects of development, speeding up project timelines.
- Team: Enhances team flexibility, providing support where needed.
- Overall Design: Ensures cohesive implementation across the stack, aligning with design objectives.
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Junior QA Tester / QA Engineer
Description: Performs manual testing to identify bugs and issues.
Skills Required: Attention to detail, basic understanding of testing methodologies.
Salary Range: $40,000 – $60,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures quality by detecting defects early, improving reliability.
- Team: Provides critical feedback, promoting a culture of excellence.
- Overall Design: Validates that the product meets design and user expectations.
Intermediate / Mid-Level Roles
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Front-End Developer (HTML/CSS Specialist)
Description: Specializes in building responsive, accessible web interfaces focusing on HTML and CSS.
Skills Required: Expert-level HTML and CSS, responsive design, accessibility standards.
Salary Range: $65,000 – $90,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Creates user-friendly interfaces, enhancing user satisfaction and accessibility.
- Team: Works closely with designers, ensuring visual designs are accurately implemented.
- Overall Design: Maintains consistency and quality in the user interface, adhering to design principles.
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CMS Developer / Specialist
Description: Customizes CMS platforms, develops themes and plugins, extends functionality.
Skills Required: Proficiency with CMS platforms (WordPress, Drupal), PHP, HTML, CSS.
Salary Range: $60,000 – $85,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Enhances content management capabilities, improving efficiency and scalability.
- Team: Serves as a liaison between content creators and technical teams.
- Overall Design: Implements custom themes aligning with brand and design standards.
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Web Designer
Description: Designs and implements website layouts using HTML and CSS.
Skills Required: Advanced HTML and CSS, design proficiency, UX/UI principles.
Salary Range: $60,000 – $80,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Develops visually appealing and intuitive websites, improving user engagement.
- Team: Collaborates with developers to ensure designs are feasible and optimized.
- Overall Design: Shapes the visual identity and user experience of the product.
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Web Producer / Digital Producer
Description: Oversees digital content production, coordinates teams, ensures timely delivery.
Skills Required: Project coordination, CMS proficiency, basic HTML/CSS.
Salary Range: $60,000 – $85,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures high-quality content aligns with strategic objectives.
- Team: Facilitates communication between departments, enhancing collaboration.
- Overall Design: Maintains consistency in content and design across platforms.
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Content Strategist
Description: Develops content strategies aligning with business goals and user needs.
Skills Required: Content planning, SEO knowledge, CMS proficiency.
Salary Range: $65,000 – $90,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures content is engaging and effective, improving user retention.
- Team: Coordinates with creators and marketers to produce cohesive messaging.
- Overall Design: Influences how content is structured and presented, enhancing usability.
Senior / Advanced Roles
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Senior Front-End Developer (HTML/CSS-focused)
Description: Oversees front-end development, ensuring best practices and accessibility.
Skills Required: Expert HTML/CSS, leadership, accessibility expertise.
Salary Range: $85,000 – $115,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Leads development of high-quality interfaces, enhancing performance and accessibility.
- Team: Mentors developers, sets coding standards, promotes innovation.
- Overall Design: Influences front-end architecture, ensuring alignment with design vision.
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Senior CMS Developer
Description: Designs complex CMS solutions, optimizes performance, leads CMS development team.
Skills Required: Advanced CMS knowledge, PHP, leadership skills.
Salary Range: $85,000 – $115,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Delivers robust CMS functionality, improving content management efficiency.
- Team: Guides the CMS team, fosters skill development and collaboration.
- Overall Design: Ensures CMS capabilities support the desired design and user experience.
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Web Services Manager / Director of Web Operations
Description: Manages all web services, including development, content, and infrastructure.
Skills Required: Extensive web technologies knowledge, leadership.
Salary Range: $90,000 – $130,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures reliability and scalability, directly affecting user satisfaction.
- Team: Aligns cross-functional teams, driving strategic initiatives.
- Overall Design: Guides evolution of web platforms to meet future design needs.
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Digital Project Manager
Description: Oversees web projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality.
Skills Required: Project management, communication, risk management.
Salary Range: $80,000 – $115,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures projects meet objectives, enhancing product success.
- Team: Coordinates efforts, resolves conflicts, keeps teams aligned.
- Overall Design: Balances design goals with practical constraints.
Non-Developer Career Paths
Entry-Level / Junior Roles
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Web Content Editor / CMS Content Manager
Description: Manages website content using CMS platforms.
Skills Required: CMS proficiency, basic HTML, attention to detail.
Salary Range: $40,000 – $55,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Keeps content updated, enhancing user engagement and SEO.
- Team: Works with content creators, ensuring timely publication.
- Overall Design: Ensures content aligns with design and branding guidelines.
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Junior Web Designer
Description: Focuses on visual aspects, creating layouts using HTML and CSS.
Skills Required: HTML, CSS, design principles, design tools.
Salary Range: $45,000 – $60,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Contributes to visual appeal, improving user experience.
- Team: Collaborates with developers and senior designers.
- Overall Design: Assists in creating cohesive and attractive designs.
Intermediate / Mid-Level Roles
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UX Designer
Description: Designs user experiences based on research and testing.
Skills Required: User-centered design, wireframing, prototyping.
Salary Range: $70,000 – $100,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Enhances usability and satisfaction, directly influencing success.
- Team: Collaborates across teams to align design with user needs.
- Overall Design: Shapes user journey, ensuring intuitive interactions.
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UI Designer
Description: Focuses on visual elements like typography, colors, and layouts.
Skills Required: Visual design, design tools, attention to detail.
Salary Range: $65,000 – $90,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Creates engaging interfaces, boosting user engagement.
- Team: Works with UX designers and developers for accurate implementation.
- Overall Design: Defines visual style, reinforcing brand identity.
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Project Manager
Description: Plans and executes projects, managing teams and resources.
Skills Required: Leadership, communication, project methodologies.
Salary Range: $75,000 – $110,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures projects meet goals, enhancing quality and delivery.
- Team: Facilitates teamwork, addresses challenges, aligns efforts.
- Overall Design: Integrates design objectives within project scope.
Senior / Advanced Roles
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Senior UX Designer / UX Lead
Description: Leads UX projects, mentors designers, defines UX strategy.
Skills Required: Leadership, advanced UX methodologies, strategic planning.
Salary Range: $95,000 – $130,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Drives user-centric design, enhancing overall product value.
- Team: Mentors team members, fostering a strong UX culture.
- Overall Design: Influences product direction, ensuring cohesive user experiences.
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Senior Project Manager / Program Manager
Description: Manages complex or multiple projects simultaneously.
Skills Required: Advanced project management, resource allocation.
Salary Range: $100,000 – $140,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Oversees large-scale initiatives, impacting strategic outcomes.
- Team: Leads cross-functional teams, optimizing performance.
- Overall Design: Ensures design integrity across projects.
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Director of Web Operations
Description: Oversees all aspects of web presence, from content to infrastructure.
Skills Required: Executive leadership, strategic planning, technology expertise.
Salary Range: $120,000 – $160,000+ per year
Impact:
- Product: Shapes the web strategy, directly influencing market presence.
- Team: Guides departments towards common goals, fostering innovation.
- Overall Design: Ensures alignment between design, functionality, and business objectives.
Roles Bridging Technical and Non-Technical Teams
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Technical Project Coordinator
Description: Facilitates communication between technical teams and stakeholders.
Skills Required: Understanding of web technologies, coordination, communication.
Salary Range: $50,000 – $70,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures requirements are understood and met, improving quality.
- Team: Acts as a bridge, reducing misunderstandings and delays.
- Overall Design: Helps integrate stakeholder feedback into design processes.
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Implementation Specialist
Description: Assists clients in setting up and customizing web solutions.
Skills Required: CMS expertise, client relations, basic HTML/CSS.
Salary Range: $55,000 – $80,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Tailors solutions to client needs, increasing satisfaction.
- Team: Coordinates between clients and technical teams for smooth delivery.
- Overall Design: Customizes design elements to match client branding.
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Technical Account Manager
Description: Manages client relationships from a technical standpoint.
Skills Required: Client management, technical understanding, communication.
Salary Range: $65,000 – $90,000 per year
Impact:
- Product: Ensures client requirements enhance the product’s value.
- Team: Facilitates feedback loops, aligning client and team objectives.
- Overall Design: Balances client desires with design feasibility.
Conclusion
Understanding the impact of each role helps learners see how their contributions fit into the bigger picture:
- Product Impact: Every role plays a part in shaping the product’s functionality, quality, and user satisfaction.
- Team Impact: Collaboration and communication are essential, with each role supporting and enhancing team dynamics.
- Overall Design Impact: Roles influence the design’s execution, consistency, and alignment with user needs and business goals.