Launch Your Tech Career: Junior Software Developer Jobs

Like in all industries, new additions to the software development workforce most often start in entry-level roles, completing tasks under the guidance of an experienced manager or supervisor. 

For software careers, this often means entering the profession as a Junior Software Developer. In this post, we’ll explore this role, including daily tasks, common responsibilities, and how long you can expect to stay junior before a promotion.

What does a Junior Software Developer do? 

Junior software developers help development teams with all coding and software design tasks. These are important roles that perform many basic, potentially time-consuming tasks that make software operational. These new team members create a foundation that allows their teams, companies – and the industry – to thrive. 

Here are 6 common tasks that junior software developers work on regularly:

1. Works Under Supervision

At the beginning, you’ll work under a supervisor or manager. These experienced developers and leaders understand the codebase and are familiar with the goals of the company. As new developers gain experience and trust, this supervision will decrease and you’ll be given greater independence and responsibility.

2. Attends Meetings

Communication is an important part of software development, so junior developers will be required to attend and participate in team and company meetings to stay on top of projects, assignments, obstacles, goals, and more.

3. Learns the Codebase

All software-based organizations have a codebase, which is a collection of source code used to build applications or complete projects. One of your responsibilities will be to learn the organization’s codebase and understand it deeply.

4. Completes Simple (and then Increasingly Complex) Tasks

As you gain experience, your assigned tasks go from simple to more complex. Jr. Developers might start with documentation or work to improve or debug the organization’s code. Over time, as you’re more comfortable with the codebase and overall team and company structure, you’ll work on larger issues and be given more responsibility.

5. Monitors System Performance

Although this task may come later, many junior software developers will be asked to monitor the technical performance of internal systems and report the results to managers.

6. Gathers and Reports Consumer Information

Software teams constantly monitor their software’s performance. A junior software developer is often charged with gathering information from consumers about functionality and reporting these findings to management. 

These are just some of the potential tasks of a Jr. Software Developer. The position consists of important, often basic tasks that grow in complexity and responsibility over time.  

Junior Software Developer Job Stability and Advancement

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupation of “Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers” will grow by 25% between 2022 and 2032. For perspective, the entire job market is expected to grow by 3%. Software development is, and will continue to be, in high demand, meaning that skilled, hardworking, and well-trained developers won’t be junior for long. 

We’ve seen this from Tech Elevator graduates, who, on average, are promoted after just 1.7 years in their first job after the bootcamp. Working in junior software development jobs is often a brief but foundational stop along their growing, fulfilling software careers.