The internet has annihilated the old way of doing business, as goods and services can be sold from anywhere in the world. Programming jobs are powering this digital nomad revolution.
The pandemic of 2020 forced many companies to go remote; going to the office became discouraged, and most teams began operating through a combination of chat rooms and video conferencing. Because many people travel the world while working high-paying jobs in the digital economy, programming is one of the most in-demand jobs for remote work.
Development roles often overlap in knowledge and skill set, so getting basic credentials like a Computer Science degree will help. Many of these jobs require only a resume. Many teams work together using software like Zoom, Skype, or Slack. The sky’s the limit once you have the basic skills and credentials. You can work from anywhere and keep increasing your income as you learn. Make sure to have a specialty to stand out. The best way to show this is the projects you’ve worked on. That will help you get any development job you want and live as a digital nomad.
What follows are nine types of dev jobs you can do remotely.
Front-End Developer
These are the people who make designs. Front-end developers can create websites and make user interfaces in complicated apps. Front-end development is the least technically demanding part of the development field, which isn’t saying that it doesn’t require technical skills. It is also a results-based discipline. To get started, you’ll need to learn HTML and CSS fundamentals and begin working on a portfolio.
Graphic design skills are helpful too. One should learn the basics of Photoshop, Canva, or GIMP. These programs make creating custom designs easier. You should also know JavaScript. Most front-end developers know the basics of jQuery and react. This is what makes pages responsive and mobile-friendly. These days being able to create mobile-friendly websites is a must.
Basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Pay Per Click advertising skills are an edge too. Customers and employers will favor someone who can help them get a return on investment. This is why some front-end developers make high incomes, and others don’t.
A college degree is a plus, but plenty of digital nomads design websites without college. It deals more with user psychology. You have to understand how people think. Keeping things simple is what counts.
Data Engineer
Analyzing data and recommending improvements is a data engineer’s job. They compile data to gain insight from company data. This may be from users, sales reports, and more. Data packaged by engineers is sent to other departments, so they need to know basic programming, automation, and more. Some helpful languages to know are ones like SQL and Python. Most potential employers will require a degree in math, statistics, or computer science.
Embedded Software Engineer
These developers interact with many different types of controllers found in manufacturing, healthcare, and more. The path to becoming an embedded software engineer requires a good knowledge of hardware. Operating system versatility is a must too. Many devices use their own custom operating systems. A degree in Information Technology or Computer Science will be most helpful, and languages to learn include C, C++, and Assembly.
Support Engineer
This path is similar to what it sounds like. Support engineers find problems in the products and fix them. They often comb through support requests to notice common patterns. Some companies will have them doing more customer-facing work. Others will have them work on internal systems. College degrees are less required for his position. Getting at least an Associate’s degree in an information technology field is a plus. The type of person who excels in these roles has a natural curiosity for how things work. They will likely have multiple side projects they can demonstrate. This will give a depth of knowledge of operating systems and computer networking.
Full-Stack Engineer
A full-stack engineer tends to be a jack of all trades. They usually have a few years of server-side and front-end development experience. They should be familiar with front-end languages like HTML and CSS. Full-stack engineers should also know back-end languages like Java, .Net, Python, or Ruby. A bachelor’s degree in computer science is very helpful too. Computer science gives the background to understand algorithms, data structures, and computer systems.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps engineers are the liaison between different business functions. They need basic experience in programming, system administration, and business functions. The biggest requirement is a willingness to learn and deal with other people. Each business function has its own culture and priorities. Being able to communicate the needs of business and tech people is the core of this job. Degrees like Computer Information Systems or Management Information Systems help greatly. To excel in this role, you must continuously break out of your comfort zone. Those who keep learning in new projects are the most sought after.
Back-End Engineer
The back-end engineers often work with server-side programming. They are fluent with one or more languages like PHP, Python, SQL, Java, Ruby, and Node.js. Entry-level positions usually require a Computer Science degree. This is a more “techy” role, but being a good communicator will set you apart. Working knowledge of front-end development will make that easier.
WordPress Developer
Most blogs run on WordPress. It is both beginner-friendly and allows infinite customization. WordPress developers often get into the field by building a portfolio of themes. They need to understand HTML, CSS, and PHP; a bit of JavaScript does not hurt either. A degree in Computer Science will help get your foot in the door. This specialty is different since it relies more on self-teaching. WordPress Developers should focus on building a deep portfolio. This position relies more on marketing yourself than using credentials. Knowing on-page SEO increases your value too.
Node.js Engineer
These engineers write the server-side code. They need to understand how to solve problems that relate to networking and servers. It can help to have a bit of system admin knowledge too. This specialty is more like a subspecialty of back-end engineering. Computer science is a helpful field to study. You should also have a strong knowledge of how servers work. Employers will want to see a strong knowledge of the “node.js” framework. Being familiar with MySQL databases is required too.
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