Web Developer Job Description
Use this template to create a clear, role-specific Web Developer job advert. It highlights the technical skills, responsibilities and candidate information that matter when hiring UK-based developers.
What does a Web Developer professional do?
A Web Developer builds and maintains websites and web applications, working across front-end and back-end technologies to deliver performant, secure and maintainable web solutions.
Web Developer job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Web Developer
About the role
[Company name] is looking for a Web Developer to join our [in‑office / hybrid / remote] team in [Location]. You will design, build and maintain web applications using modern HTML, CSS and JavaScript frameworks, collaborate with product and backend teams to implement APIs, and help improve deployment, performance and security. This is a [permanent / fixed-term / contract] role; salary: [insert range or 'competitive']; to apply please send your CV and portfolio/GitHub link to [contact email].
Key responsibilities
- Develop responsive user interfaces using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript (vanilla JS or frameworks such as React, Vue or Angular).
- Implement and consume RESTful APIs and, where relevant, GraphQL endpoints in collaboration with backend engineers.
- Write clean, testable code and add automated tests (unit/integration) for new features.
- Fix bugs and investigate production issues, using logging, monitoring and profiling tools.
- Participate in code reviews and maintain version control workflows (Git).
- Optimise website performance and accessibility (loading speed, mobile performance, semantic HTML).
- Support build, CI/CD and deployment pipelines and help maintain development environments.
- Document components, patterns and deployment/run procedures and contribute to technical decisions.
Essential skills and experience
- Practical experience building web applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
- Familiarity with one or more modern front-end frameworks or libraries (for example React, Vue or Angular).
- Experience using Git for source control and collaborating via pull requests.
- Understanding of HTTP, REST APIs and basic web security concerns (e.g. XSS, CSRF).
- Ability to debug client-side and server-side issues and use browser dev tools.
- Good written and verbal communication skills for working with cross-functional teams.
Desirable
- Experience with server-side languages or frameworks (Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, .NET or similar).
- Knowledge of TypeScript, build tools (Webpack, Vite), and package managers (npm, yarn).
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and containerisation (Docker).
- Experience with automated testing frameworks and CI/CD pipelines.
- Understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and SEO best practice.
- Open-source contributions, an active GitHub portfolio or live project links.
What we offer
- [Competitive salary — insert range or 'competitive']
- [Pension contribution (details to be provided)]
- [Flexible or hybrid working options]
- [Training and development budget or study leave]
- [Generous annual leave allowance — insert entitlement]
- [Equipment allowance or home‑office support]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Web Developer role?
Web Developers design, build and maintain websites and web applications. They translate UI/UX designs into working interfaces, integrate with backend services, and ensure applications are performant, accessible and secure. Their work spans front-end code, interaction with APIs and involvement in deployment and monitoring to keep services running reliably.
Core focus
Frontend development using HTML/CSS/JavaScript and integration with backend APIs.
Day-to-day
Feature development, bug fixes, code reviews, testing and collaborating with product teams.
Skills growth
Opportunities to learn full‑stack development, cloud deployment and testing/automation practices.
Who hires them
Startups, digital agencies, product teams, public sector and organisations running customer-facing sites.
Typical Web Developer responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Develop responsive user interfaces using HTML5
Develop responsive user interfaces using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript (vanilla JS or frameworks such as React, Vue or Angular).
Implement
Implement and consume RESTful APIs and, where relevant, GraphQL endpoints in collaboration with backend engineers.
Write clean
Write clean, testable code and add automated tests (unit/integration) for new features.
Fix bugs
Fix bugs and investigate production issues, using logging, monitoring and profiling tools.
Participate in code reviews
Participate in code reviews and maintain version control workflows (Git).
Optimise website performance
Optimise website performance and accessibility (loading speed, mobile performance, semantic HTML).
Support build
Support build, CI/CD and deployment pipelines and help maintain development environments.
Document components
Document components, patterns and deployment/run procedures and contribute to technical decisions.
Web Developer skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Practical experience building web applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
- Familiarity with one or more modern front-end frameworks or libraries (for example React, Vue or Angular).
- Experience using Git for source control and collaborating via pull requests.
- Understanding of HTTP, REST APIs and basic web security concerns (e.g. XSS, CSRF).
- Ability to debug client-side and server-side issues and use browser dev tools.
- Good written and verbal communication skills for working with cross-functional teams.
Useful where relevant
- Experience with server-side languages or frameworks (Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, .NET or similar).
- Knowledge of TypeScript, build tools (Webpack, Vite), and package managers (npm, yarn).
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and containerisation (Docker).
- Experience with automated testing frameworks and CI/CD pipelines.
- Understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and SEO best practice.
- Open-source contributions, an active GitHub portfolio or live project links.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Web Developer job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
List the tech stack clearly
Specify which frameworks, languages and tools are essential versus desirable. Candidates screen for specific stacks (e.g. React + Node).
Include portfolio requirements
Ask for GitHub links, a portfolio or live examples of previous work to verify practical experience.
Be explicit about working pattern
State whether the role is remote, hybrid or office-based and any core hours or on-call expectations.
Clarify the recruitment steps
Outline interview stages (technical interview, take-home test, paired programming) so candidates know what to expect.
Differentiate required and nice-to-have skills
Make essential requirements realistic and move less critical skills to the desirable section to widen the candidate pool.
Web Developer salary considerations
Web Developer pay varies widely by experience, tech stack and role scope. Rather than a single market figure, consider the main factors that influence salary and total compensation.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Web Developer candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What is the current tech stack and architecture?
Developers need to know front-end frameworks, back-end language, database and hosting to assess fit.
How big is the development team and who will I report to?
Team size and reporting lines affect mentorship, ownership and collaboration expectations.
Will I be expected to write tests and participate in CI/CD?
Candidates want to know testing standards, deployment frequency and the tooling used for builds/releases.
What are the working hours, on-call and overtime expectations?
Clarity on core hours, flexibility and any out-of-hours support is important for work-life balance.
How are security and data protection handled?
Developers need to know about secure coding practices, GDPR responsibilities and any compliance requirements.
Is there a code test or technical task in the hiring process?
Candidates appreciate knowing whether a take-home exercise, timed pair-programming or live coding will be part of the interview.
Where to post a Web Developer job
For Web Developer roles, use a mix of broad UK job boards and specialist tech channels. Specialist developer job sites, community forums, and professional networks such as LinkedIn tend to reach active candidates, while targeted advertising on tech-specific boards or local university networks can attract emerging talent. Consider promoting senior or niche roles to developer communities and meetups, and use hybrid listings if you are open to remote applicants to widen the pool.
Related technology / software development job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Web Developer job description FAQs
Should I require a computer science degree?
No. A degree can be useful but many web developers are self‑taught or come from coding bootcamps. Focus on demonstrable skills, practical experience and portfolio work rather than formal qualifications alone.
When should I include a coding test?
Use a coding test when you need to assess problem‑solving or code quality. Keep tests relevant, time‑bounded and provide clear instructions. For senior roles consider paired programming or reviewing previous work instead.
How can I attract passive candidates?
Highlight interesting projects, the tech stack, learning or career development opportunities and flexible working options. Reach passive candidates via LinkedIn and relevant developer communities.
Do I need to list every technology used?
List core technologies that are essential for day-to-day work and group less critical tools under 'desirable' to avoid deterring strong candidates who can learn adjacent tools.
What interview stages work well for web developers?
A short technical phone screen, a practical coding exercise (take‑home or pair session), and a final interview with engineering and product stakeholders are common and effective stages.
Ready to hire a Web Developer?
Use this template to publish a clear vacancy and collect stronger applications. If you need help posting across multiple sites or want a tailored version of this advert, consider using targeted distribution or specialist tech recruitment channels.
