Employers

Full stack developers are employed by corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations that need IT services. They also work for consulting firms that provide these services to the aforementioned entities. Some developers start their own consulting businesses. Others decide to leave hands-on, day-to-day work as a developer to become high school or college computer science teachers, corporate technology trainers, or IT writers or bloggers. There are also opportunities for software developers in the military.

Starting Out

You will need at least three years of experience as a front-end or back-end developer or engineer—or in another related IT position—to become a full stack developer. Learn as much as you can in these positions, including new programming languages and developmental frameworks—as well as about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning—so that you are well-prepared if a position as a full stack developer become available. Some full stack developers first obtained experience by working on a development team at a start-up company.

Current developers can learn about job openings via job sites, professional associations, online and in-person networking events, career fairs, and through the Web sites of companies and other organizations that employ developers.

At employers that have established clear delineations between the work of full stack developers and engineers, a developer can obtain additional experience and training to be promoted to the position of full stack engineer. Developers and engineers can also advance to become department managers, directors of product development, or even chief technology officers. Some full stack professionals become high school teachers or college professors.

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/full-stack-developer-jobs
• https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/full-stack-developer-jobs-SRCH_KO0,20.htm
• https://jobs.computer.org
• http://jobs.acm.org
• https://www.cybercareers.gov/job-seeker
• https://www.dice.com

Become active in your school's computer club or local technology groups.

Learn how to code in several languages. This is a key skill for success as a full stack developer.

Read ACM Career News at https://www.acm.org/articles/careernews.