Fullstack Engineer

What is a Fullstack Engineer?

A Fullstack Engineer bridges the gap between Backend and Frontend projects. Fullstack Engineers fulfill many of the same responsibilities as other engineers - but spend their time working on projects from backend coding through front end (sometimes even consumer) design.
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For smaller companies or startups, Fullstack Engineers can often be founding members of the company, and have the ability to influence many product and development decisions.

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What’s the difference between a Fullstack Engineer and other types of engineers?

A Fullstack Engineer will need to be well-versed in both frontend and backend software development. A Fullstack Engineer will be expected to understand both tech stacks and languages that both functions use, but won’t spend 100% of their time dedicated to one or another. Fullstack Engineers will also need to provide direction to other team members, and develop a vision for design, infrastructure development, and consistent testing.

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What is the typical background of a Fullstack Engineer?

A Fullstack Engineer will often have a bachelors or masters degree in Computer Science, and several years of experience in one (or both) backend or frontend engineering. For Senior Fullstack Engineer roles (or Engineering Manager roles that oversee Fullstack Engineers), more years of experience - such as 5-10 years in progressive roles - may be required.

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What are some of the typical responsibilities of a Fullstack Engineer?

A Fullstack Engineer most likely enjoys seeing a project through completion - from building backend code all the way through finalizing experiences for their product’s end users or consumers.

On the backend side, a Fullstack Engineer will need to work on developing the backend systems of new features, troubleshoot errors, and work through testing of what they build. Fullstack Engineers will also need a thorough understanding of how to connect their work to databases, integrate with APIs, and of course, a thorough understanding of one or more programming languages.

On the frontend side, a Fullstack Engineer may need to understand how to translate Figma drawings or wireframes (the bare bones of a website) into user experiences. A successful Fullstack Engineer should have some instinct around which designs look good, and how to translate code into a user-friendly experience.

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What are some of the skills a successful Fullstack Engineer should have?

• Experience in a variety of languages: A Fullstack Engineer may need experience with Java, CSS, Kotlin, HTML, SaSS, or Python, in addition to other languages or frameworks, in order to do their work.
• Enthusiasm for learning new skills: A Fullstack Engineer may be expected to consistently learn new skills, languages or tools, as their breadth of work spans several areas of work. An interest in constantly evolving their skills is important for Fullstack Engineers.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills: Fullstack Engineers often need to have excellent communication and teamwork skills to effectively lead a team, and convince them to pursue their vision.
• Project management skills: Being able to manage time across different projects and engineering deliverables is key. A Fullstack Engineer may be able to work with Product teams to come up with time estimates, but will often need an understanding of how to manage their time and projects themselves.

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What is a Fullstack Engineer salary like in 2024?

On average in 2024, we’re seeing a median salary of $160K for Fullstack Engineering roles. Experience is typically correlated with higher salary ranges, as Senior Fullstack Engineers with 6+ years of experience earn between $150-200K. Lead Fullstack Engineers with 5+ years of experience have a higher salary floor of $150K, with ceilings up to $200K, highlighting the value of leadership in engineering roles.

Some roles offer equity and bonuses as part of the compensation package, which can significantly increase the total earnings over time. This is particularly notable in positions where equity is offered based on a percentage, indicating a potential for substantial long-term gains.

Fullstack Engineers with specialized skills, such as those working on web platforms, command higher top-end salaries.