Unraveling the Tapestry of Tech Job Titles

Photo by Abolfazl eslami on Unsplash

Towards the end of 2022, I found myself looking for my next role, and I ultimately ended up at the fin-tech startup Spendesk. During this time, I came across a huge variety of job titles that even changed in meaning between the companies I looked at.

What I came to realise is that the tech industry, known for its innovation and creativity, is equally inventive when it comes to job titles. But what do these titles mean? How do they reflect the work that is being done, and how do they fit into the broader tech ecosystem?

In this blog post, I want to unravel the intricate tapestry of tech job titles, demystifying the roles and responsibilities behind these complex monikers. So whether you’re a seasoned tech professional, a newcomer to the industry, or simply curious about the workings of the tech world, join me as I dissect the fascinating landscape of tech job titles.

Rapid Innovation:

The foremost driver of diverse job titles in the tech industry is the speed of technological innovation.

As the industry evolves, new roles are continually being created to address emerging needs and challenges. A prime example is the rise of titles such as “Blockchain Developer” and “Data Scientist” in recent years, which would have been alien a decade ago.

This rapid change in our industry also results in job titles fading away, one such example is ‘webmaster’ which was a common title for someone who is responsible for managing, maintaining, and updating a website. While you may find some job ads listing this role, it is more common that the role is split into several roles or is simply refered to as a web developer.

Diverse Skill Sets:

The tech industry encompasses a vast array of skills and specialisations. A Software Engineer, for instance, could specialise in anything from frontend development and backend development to data engineering or security.

These specialisations often find their way into job titles, leading to various roles. This leads to labels like JavaScript Engineer, PHP Developer, and even UX Developer, where the first two titles focus on the technology the developer uses, and the latter focuses on a specific aspect of your…