Key Roles on a Software Team

Are you ready to make your mark in the world of tech? 0:00 Join us as we explore the key roles in software development. 0:03 You just may find the perfect fit on a software team. 0:07 Hello, I'm Kira. 0:12 In this Treehouse microcourse, we'll give you an in-depth look at the dynamic 0:14 roles that make up a successful software team. 0:19 You'll learn the tasks performed in each role, the skills needed, and 0:22 the characteristics of people that thrive in these positions. 0:26 As you'll find out, you don't have to know a programming language to work in tech. 0:30 Whether you're an analytical problem solver, a creative thinker, 0:35 or a little of both, there's a place for you on a software team. 0:40 There are many dynamic roles on a software team, both technical and 0:44 non technical, and each with its own responsibilities and skill sets. 0:48 Here are the eight roles we'll explore. 0:53 Project manager, user experience designer, 0:55 business analyst, product owner, 1:00 software developer, quality assurance engineer, 1:04 DevOps engineer, and technical writer. 1:10 Every team is unique, and the specific roles on software teams can vary greatly. 1:15 Not every team is made up of the exact roles, we'll learn about in this video. 1:20 Some roles can overlap and job titles may differ from company to company. 1:25 Team members may even take on multiple roles depending on the nature of 1:30 the project or the expertise of the individuals on a team. 1:35 Before we dive in, it's worth noting that though these roles are each distinctive, 1:39 they all share something in common. 1:44 They all require effective collaboration between team members, 1:46 a crucial skill on any software team. 1:50 Learning good collaboration skills is the starting point for 1:52 any of the roles we're about to look at. 1:56 So with that, let's get started. 1:58 Think of a project manager like the captain of a team, 2:02 providing direction, motivation, and guidance on a project. 2:06 They oversee the entire software development project from initial planning 2:10 to final delivery to ensure the project is completed on time and on budget. 2:15 A successful project manager is organized, has a detail-oriented mindset, 2:20 is adaptable in the face of changing priorities, 2:26 can communicate across all levels, and motivates their team to rally. 2:30 They are skilled in project management methodologies, communication, 2:36 negotiation, and problem solving. 2:40 The key tasks in the project manager role are, plan and 2:44 manage project timelines, assign tasks and monitor progress. 2:49 Identify and mitigate risks that can impede progress on a project. 2:55 Ensure the project meets its deadlines, which may be rigorous. 2:59 And communicate status to stakeholders regularly. 3:04 If you aren't sure what a stakeholder is, a stakeholder is any person or 3:10 group who has an interest in or can influence a project. 3:15 Stakeholders may be external, for example, customers, users, or vendors. 3:19 Or they may be internal, such as managers, executives, or other employees. 3:26 Next up on our list, user experience designer. 3:33 User experience or UX designer serves as an advocate for the needs of the end 3:39 users, designing the overall user experience of the software system. 3:44 They are responsible for creating user personas, 3:49 designing wireframes, conducting usability testing. 3:52 And ensuring that the software solution is intuitive, user-friendly, and 3:56 meets the needs of the end-users. 4:00 Successful UX designers are empathetic to users' needs. 4:02 Innately curious about human behavior. 4:07 Design minded and thoughtful in their approach to providing 4:10 meaningful experiences to users, and are meticulous in their work. 4:15 The key tasks in the UX designer role are, conduct user research and 4:20 analysis, test and iterate designs with users. 4:25 Create user personas and scenarios. 4:30 Design prototypes and wireframes. 4:33 And act as an advocate for the needs of the end-users. 4:36 Having a strong portfolio is key to landing a UX job. 4:40 Your portfolio should showcase your best work and 4:44 include case studies demonstrating your design process and problem-solving skills. 4:47 In case you're interested, a wireframe is a diagram that represents the user 4:53 interface and core functionality of a digital application. 4:57 Wireframing is one of the most important steps for a UX designer, 5:01 allowing them to visualize the blueprint of a website or app. 5:05 Next up is my personal favorite. 5:09 Business analyst, 5:12 a business analyst is a translator ensuring everyone is on the same page, 5:14 and that the software solution aligns with the business objectives. 5:19 They act as a bridge between business stakeholders and the technical team. 5:24 Translating business needs into written requirements that the technical team uses 5:28 to build software features. 5:33 A successful business analyst has an analytical mind for 5:34 complex problem solving. 5:38 They're curious by nature and flexible to changing priorities, 5:40 possessing exceptional verbal and written communication skills, 5:44 as well as the ability to negotiate effectively. 5:48 A basic understanding of technology and 5:51 software development is a bonus in this role. 5:53 In order to communicate with developers and 5:56 understand technical limitations and possibilities. 5:59 The key tasks in the business analyst role are, gather requirements 6:03 from stakeholders, analyze data in order to identify solutions. 6:08 Translate business needs into user stories. 6:13 Ensure that the software solution meets the objectives of the business. 6:17 And work closely with developers and testers at all stages of a project. 6:21 A user story is a description of a feature or functionality of a software 6:27 application written from the perspective of the user or 6:31 customer who will be using the software. 6:35 Writing user stories is often a responsibility that falls on the business 6:37 analyst, though a product owner may write them depending on the team structure. 6:42 Now, let's look at the product owner role. 6:46 A product owner is like a gatekeeper for the product, defining and 6:50 prioritizing each feature of the software. 6:54 A product owner represents the needs of the stakeholders, ensuring the software 6:57 solution built by the dev team is aligned with business requirements. 7:02 A successful project manager is a visionary who keeps the big picture always 7:06 in focus. 7:11 They are agile if they need to pivot quickly. 7:11 Empathetic in understanding user's needs, decisive in making 7:15 tough calls confidently, and possess a strong business mind. 7:20 They must have a deep understanding of the business and users' needs, 7:25 as well as the ability to communicate those needs effectively to the tech team. 7:29 The key tasks in the product owner role are, collaborate with users and 7:34 stakeholders in order to define the product vision and strategy. 7:39 Ensure that the product being designed and built meets the stakeholder's needs, 7:44 make decisions based on data, and prioritize and manage the product backlog. 7:50 By the way, a backlog is a list of tasks or 7:57 features that must be completed for a given project. 8:00 Next, we'll learn about the role of software developer. 8:04 Sometimes called software engineers, 8:10 software developers are the coders on a development team, writing code, and 8:12 building software applications that meet the requirements of a project. 8:17 They must have working knowledge of the programming languages being used and 8:21 of software development best practices. 8:26 A software developer is a logical and analytical problem solver, is 8:28 detail-oriented and precise in execution, is committed to being a lifelong learner. 8:33 They have a passion for coding. 8:39 As well as proficiency in multiple programming languages. 8:42 Software developers typically know several programming languages, 8:46 as the choice of language depends on the specific task and project requirements. 8:50 Some of the most commonly used programming languages by software 8:55 developers include, JavaScript, Python, HTML, and SQL. 9:00 The key tasks in the software developer role are, analyze requirements for 9:04 the product that needs to be built, design and 9:09 develop features that make up the software system. 9:12 For example, the architecture, interfaces, algorithms and data structures. 9:15 Write and debug code in order to create functional software, 9:21 perform code maintenance, which involves identifying and fixing bugs, 9:25 adding new features and optimizing performance. 9:30 Finally, because the software development industry is constantly evolving, 9:34 developers must continuously learn and adapt to new tools and frameworks. 9:39 If you're confused as to why I keep talking about bugs, that's okay. 9:44 In the world of programming, a bug isn't actually an insect. 9:50 A bug refers to an error or 9:55 defect in a software program's source code that results in unexpected behavior. 9:56 When there's a bug in software, 10:01 it means that something's not working the way it's supposed to. 10:03 Next, we'll learn about QA engineers. 10:07 They're the ones whose job it is to find bugs and fix them. 10:11 Think of a QA engineer as a detective, 10:17 tenaciously testing the software to make sure it works as expected. 10:19 A successful QA engineer has sharp eye for detail and 10:24 can identify even the smallest of defects or issues in software. 10:27 They are critical thinkers and problem solvers, 10:31 doggedly persistent when it comes to seeking out defects in the product, 10:35 and they have an inquisitive nature with a passion for testing. 10:39 QA engineers are responsible for creating and executing test plans. 10:44 So they must have expertise in testing methodologies, knowledge of the software 10:48 development life cycle, and of the software product and its features. 10:53 The key tasks in the QA engineer role are, develop test plans and strategies. 10:58 Execute and automate test cases, analyze test results and 11:04 clearly document any issues found, collaborate with developers on 11:09 solutions to defects, and verify the overall quality of the software product. 11:14 Like any good detective, a QA engineer pays attention to detail, 11:20 asks the right questions, and uses logic and 11:24 reasoning to identify patterns, make connections, and draw conclusions. 11:28 In quality assurance, test automation refers to the use of software tools and 11:33 scripts to automatically execute tests that would otherwise be performed 11:38 manually by a human tester. 11:42 When test automation is used, a QA engineer writes code that performs these 11:44 tests automatically, and then executes the code using specialized software tools. 11:49 Next, we'll learn about DevOps engineers. 11:55 Combining software development and IT operations, 12:00 a DevOps engineer is the automator on a team, 12:03 ensuring that the software development process is efficient and secure. 12:06 They are responsible for implementing and managing the tools and 12:11 processes used in the software development lifecycle. 12:14 In a DevOps environment, even small mistakes can have big consequences. 12:17 So a successful DevOps engineer is calm under pressure. 12:22 DevOps engineers manage complex and rapidly evolving technology stacks, 12:25 which requires them to be adaptable and quick to learn. 12:30 They're versatile troubleshooters, who must be able to solve complex technical 12:34 problems quickly and efficiently. 12:38 They should be able to write scripts to automate repetitive and 12:40 time-consuming tasks, and create tools to optimize the software development process. 12:44 A strong grasp of software development and 12:49 operations is optimal in this role, as well as knowledge of tools, 12:52 technologies, and platforms used in the DevOps ecosystem. 12:56 The key tasks in the DevOps engineer role are, to automate the deployment and 13:00 testing processes, monitor and optimize system performance. 13:06 Maintain and configure system infrastructure as code, 13:11 ensure security and compliance standards. 13:15 And like software developers, DevOps engineers must be committed to continuous 13:18 learning and staying up to date with new technologies and best practices. 13:23 They should always be looking for 13:27 ways to improve the development process and enhance their skills. 13:30 There are a few programming languages that are essential for 13:34 DevOps engineers to know, including, Python, Java, 13:38 JavaScript, Bash, and YAML, to name a few. 13:43 In addition to these languages, DevOps engineers should also be familiar with 13:46 tools like Git, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, and Puppet. 13:51 It's also important to have a solid understanding of networking and security. 13:56 The final role we'll look at in this video is next, tech writer. 14:03 A technical writer is an interpreter writing clear and 14:09 concise documentation that explains how to use the software. 14:12 User manuals and training materials created by a technical writer convey 14:16 technical concepts to a business audience. 14:21 A successful tech writer is a proficient communicator and 14:24 can express themselves well with words. 14:27 They have keen attention to detail, strong research and critical thinking skills, 14:30 who can translate technical jargon into easier-to-understand language. 14:35 Working closely with the dev team, 14:39 a tech writer ensures the documentation accurately reflects the software solution. 14:41 The key tasks of a technical writer are, write user manuals and 14:47 guides, review, edit, and maintain written technical content. 14:53 Ensure accuracy and consistency in business documentation, 14:58 communicate complex ideas in a concise manner. 15:03 And collaborate with technical teams and subject matter experts. 15:06 To land a job as a technical writer, 15:11 start by creating a portfolio to showcase your skills. 15:13 Include writing samples, articles, and any relevant projects you've worked on. 15:17 Curious what kind of salary a technical writer makes. 15:24 In 2021, technical writers in the software industry average 15:28 just over 80,000 US dollars per year, 15:33 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not too shabby! 15:36 And there you have it, eight different roles, 15:44 all working together to create a high quality, reliable and 15:47 user friendly product that provides value to its users by solving a problem or need. 15:51 From project management and UX design to software development and QA. 15:56 Every role on a software team has its own unique set of tasks and expertise. 16:01 Some are business focused while others are highly technical, those who work 16:06 with code have educated themselves in the programming languages and 16:11 tools for their specific roles. 16:15 Those who interact with end users have cultivated solid collaboration and 16:17 communication skills. 16:21 And those successful in writing and 16:23 design have built strong portfolios of work showcasing their skills. 16:25 So, which role is for you? 16:30 Are you a detective, or more of a captain? 16:35 Perhaps you're drawn to coding, or maybe design or writing is your thing. 16:39 If you still aren't sure, try making a list of your strengths and passions. 16:44 Match them to the characteristics described in the roles we just looked at, 16:49 and decide on a path. 16:54 Then take your first step. 16:55 It doesn't have to be hard to begin a career in tech. 16:58 And with courses for every role in our list, 17:02 Treehouse is the perfect place to start your journey. 17:05 Take the next step with Treehouse. 17:10 Check out the many courses we offer in support of a career in software. 17:13 No matter which path you choose, remember to keep learning and 17:18 developing your skills. 17:22 Good luck and thanks for watching. 17:24

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