Front-End Developer Job Description and Template

What Does a Front-End Developer Do?

The majority of a front-end developer's time is spent perfecting the way a website looks and feels when you interact with it. Using design and prototyping tools such as Photoshop, Proto.io, and Canva, a front-end developer's job description requires that they create designs before any coding commences.

They play an important role in the bigger picture of any website development project. What they produce (mock designs), become the guideline, and the expected final product that a client approves.

What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Front-End Web Developer?

A good front-end web developer quickly takes on the role of the visual appearance mechanic when working with other developers. To them, finer details about how a web application looks matter more than what goes on when information is passed from the input boxes to the backend of the pages.

A few aspects of a web application that fall into the responsibilities tray of a front-end web developer include the following:

1. Font styles: Deliberately picking out the font of every written content published on the web application. Think how a newspaper application requires easy to read word form and size vs. how a children's education application will get more engagement if the content is bigger and more colorful in comparison.

2. Mobile-friendly interface design: Every website now has to adjust to the screen through which it is accessed. Adjusting websites such that mobile users don't have to zoom in to view content, is solely the responsibility of the front-end web developer.

3. Optimization of image/video delivery: When a good front-end developer is part of your team, high-quality content will not compromise the performance of your web applications. Compressing, and image lazy-loading are some tricks up their sleeves.

4. User experience (UX) design and optimization: If you've ever landed on a website and felt the ease that navigating through the pages and information you came for, it was all intentionally designed to be so.

What Are the Skills Needed to Be a Front-End Web Developer?

Carrying out the roles and responsibilities prescribed by a front-end web developer's job description requires proficiency with tools of the trade and understanding how the programming languages work to create web pages.

These are the most sought after front-end programming abilities on the market at the time of writing. Most front-end developer job descriptions will specify how many years of experience candidates should possess. However, it is solely the responsibility of any programmer to add to this list with newer and relevant skills.

• Vue JS: This is a growing iteration and library of Javascript packed with plug-ins that make the creation of front end elements quick and beautiful. Alternatives include AngularJS, ReactJS, and JQuery.
• Bootstrap: This is not a language, rather a boilerplate framework filled to the brim with forms, page layouts, controls, and other beautiful templates to start creating a web application interface with.
• CSS/HTML: The equivalence of a coloring pen in the hands of a front-end developer. CSS is the language that adds flair to any project. It is best used in conjunction with (or behind) a preprocessor such as LESS (Leaner CSS) or Sass (Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets) and with other markup languages.

Must-Have Front-End Development Tools

These tools are part and parcel of the complete set you'd expect a front-end developer to use through the course of a project.

• A text editor: This is a coding application that allows a developer to edit projects using programming languages appropriate to their project. Popular examples include; Atom, VS Code, Notepad++, and Sublime.
• Version control services: This class of tools makes collaborating on the coding of interfaces possible across teams regardless of their location. Industry staples include the following options; GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab.
• Team communication tools: Collaboration on the front-end development of a project demands almost-constant chat, voice calls, video demonstrations, and walkthroughs. Tools like Slack, Skype, Teams, and Mattermost are good enablers of this function. It also helps for the front-end web designer/developer to communicate with back-end developers, too.
• Interface design tools: As previously stated, it is the responsibility of a front-end developer to create a prototype of a project. Canva, Photoshop, Proto.io, and Figma are just a few applications that make it all possible.

Front-End Developer Job Description Template

Note: Use this template to hire a front-end developer. Copy and customize it for your needs.

[insert company description here]

As our company grows, the role of a front-end developer has become vacant. As such we're on the lookout for the best talent. While our business operates from the comfort of our [insert location] based office building, this role has flexible working location options.

Front-end web developer job roles & responsibilities

Candidates for this position should be ready to take on the following roles and responsibilities in addition to others that senior stakeholders and team members may assign at random.

• Translating user requirements into mockups for presentation
• Creating user experience (UX) optimized interfaces for web applications
• Contributing creative effort to the development process in and around the organization
• Keeping user interfaces and functionality up to date
• Learning new UI/UX technologies and applying them to projects assigned
• Good understanding of SEO for web design and optimization

Desired qualifications, skills, framework, & experience

While formal qualification adds luster to your application, we don't make hiring decisions based solely on it. Experience using the following tools, frameworks, and UX development languages brings you closer to working with us.

• Advanced Adobe Design Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver) experience
• Canva/Figma or other mock-up design platform experience for quick web development prototyping and website design
• Functional experience with AngularJS/ Vue JS/ React JS or any other Javascript frameworks or library
• Project collaboration and version control with GitHub/Bitbucket/ or GitLab
• Strong command of the CSS language and a preprocessor of your choice LESS/ Sass.

Must-Haves:

• Must be obscenely creative and willing to try out new design narratives
• Experience working as part of a team
• The ability to work under minimum supervision

Bonus Qualifications:

• An active portfolio showcasing your best graphic design and web design skills
• Agency environment experience
• Client interaction/ presentation experience

Personal Attributes:

• Good communication skills
• Team player with strong problem-solving skills
• Quick learner
• Values communication and asks when in doubt.

Compensation

Depends on experience. However, we offer competitive compensation packages. All tools that we expect you to be proficient in will come with certification-ready training from their vendors. More detailed breakdowns of our remuneration structures will be shared with successful candidates during the interview process.

How To Apply

A well thought out and designed resume that convinces the hiring team of your talents must be sent to [insert contact details here]. Also, include your Behance profile or any other portfolio links for us to review before getting in touch with the first round of interviews.

Due to the expected high volume of applications, please allow at least two weeks for us to process your applications. Only qualified applicants will be contacted.