The E-Commerce Developer Job Description, According to Actual Developers

You can only read so many keyword-heavy, boilerplate job descriptions before the words start to blur. Skip that—and hear about what e-commerce developers do from the people who are actually working in this career.

Ecommerce websites have revolutionized our lives.

Gone are the days of having to jump in your car, sit through traffic, hunt for parking and meander through displays in a shop every time you want to buy something. Now, we can locate the exact items we want online, and check out, in minutes. Revolutionary.

But e-commerce is so much more than a convenient alternative to running errands. It’s a career path. One you want to learn everything about.

As a tech-head, you already know website developers are the lifeblood of our modern economy. But e-commerce companies aren’t like other businesses. And ecommerce websites aren’t like other websites. They’re more nuanced. More complex. So, e-commerce developers must have their work cut out for them, right?

We spoke to experts in the field to see what they have to say.

What does an e-commerce developer do?

Ecommerce developers build, design and maintain websites for companies with online storefronts (AKA e-commerce businesses). This type of work can involve lots of data and database technologies.

Front-end and back-end development

“As an e-commerce web developer, my role is to build the front and back end of online stores,” says Rodney Warner, CEO of web design firm, Connective. “This means creating a visually-appealing and functional website that not only matches the brand's style, but also ensures a smooth shopping experience for customers.”

An ecommerce developer’s job consists of everything from merchandising to integrating payment processing systems. You might use a variety of tools and platforms, like Salesforce Commerce Cloud^® and others.

Building an intuitive user experience

“Creating an e-commerce website is like creating a super-sophisticated supermarket,” shares Juan Pablo Nores, front-end developer at Capicua.

“The customer has to be able to navigate it by themselves, find whatever they are searching for with ease, and be offered things they might like along the way,” Nores adds.

This is one aspect of the career that really sets it apart from other web development roles--when you’re an ecommerce developer, your understanding of customers’ buying habits is equally as important as your technical web dev knowledge.

Strategizing to increase sales

Have you ever noticed how grocery stores stock household staples—like milk, eggs and bread—at the back of the store? Customers generally have to walk past at least a dozen aisles, plus a myriad of product displays and sale items, just to find what they came for. This strategic move is what usually leads shoppers to the discovery—and purchase—of new snacks, sides and desserts to try.

Can you imagine a way for online retailers to try similar strategies without exasperating online shoppers? If so, you’re clearly cut out for this type of role.

Making sure customers see items related to products they’re interested in is one of ecommerce developers’ many important responsibilities.

Supporting the customer journey

“E-commerce web development is like being an architect and an interior designer at the same time,” says Guillaume Drew, founder and CEO of online bedding retailer, Or & Zon. “You’re not just building a structure; you’re meticulously planning the shopper's journey from the homepage to the checkout, ensuring it's engaging, intuitive, and reflective of the brand’s ethos.”

Utilizing best practices in sales

“E-commerce development demands a close understanding of sales funnels, product display optimization, and the psychology behind online purchasing behaviors,” says Steve Pogson, founder of e-commerce growth agency, First Pier.

“For those aspiring to become e-commerce web developers, my advice is to dive deep into digital marketing and understand the consumer journey inside out,” he adds.

Ecommerce development vs. general web development

Businesses outside of the ecommerce world build websites for all kinds of purposes. Restaurants create websites to share their menus online. Doctors’ offices build sites to accept online appointment bookings. Blog sites want to share information and pictures to build up a loyal audience.

Notice how most of these goals revolve around communication?

Most businesses outside of e-commerce are not processing transactions online.

This seemingly straightforward difference completely redefines web developers’ job duties. “With a brochure website (one that is not trading and does not have a shop), the focus is typically on branding and making sure it looks good,” says Eamonn Mooney, web developer and owner of Kaizen Media. “With an ecommerce site, we need to focus on user experience, especially when it comes to a customer’s purchasing experience,”

As Mooney explains, the job of an ecommerce developer involves providing a seamless, user-friendly shopping and checkout experience. Failure to do so, he adds, could result in customers abandoning their carts and leaving the site.

“It's also really important to create a sense of urgency when it comes to an ecommerce website, making customers want to purchase the products that are on sale,” Mooney says. “This element is not typically required for a standard website or brochure website.”

So, think of it this way: an e-commerce developer must demonstrate many of the same skills as a web developer who works outside of e-commerce—but on the e-commerce side, there are additional responsibilities.

How do you become an ecommerce developer?

Given the complex nature of the work an ecommerce developer does, you need more than a few online tutorials and your good intentions to get going in this career.

An ecommerce developer applies extensive knowledge and highly technical skills to every project. Everything from optimizing website speed to adding custom functionality to user interfaces falls on these professionals’ shoulders. Formal education in website and software development can provide a great start. And hands-on experience working on websites will help to propel you even further.

“Website development is the foundation for any type of development,” says Dmytro Melnychuk, an e-commerce website developer at Plumrocket. “Experience in HTML, CSS, JavaScript^®, back-end development, and UI/UX design will give you a solid background for future e-commerce projects,” he adds.

Once you’ve learned the basics of web development, HTML and other relevant programming languages, then you can more easily transition to the e-commerce world.

And remember, you won’t need to be an expert on every ecommerce platform out there right away. As you embark on your ecommerce developer career, you’ll strengthen your skillset and pick up new knowledge with every project you complete.

“Starting with small e-commerce projects or contributing to open-source e-commerce initiatives can serve as excellent practice grounds to hone these specialized skills,” says Pogson.

The matchup of sales instincts and technical-savvy

An ecommerce developer must have a knack for problem-solving. Creating innovative solutions to suit complex business needs—while helping customers at the same time—is all in a day’s work for these professionals.

In addition, they must keep up with emerging technologies and consumer trends. If you’re up for the challenge, then a career as an ecommerce developer may be the perfect option for you.

Make sure you check out our article, “Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Web Developer,” for the first step you can take toward this career.

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