Advance Your Back-End Developer Career

Whether you're aiming to advance your career, take on leadership roles, or tackle new challenges in back-end development, explore the resources available to help you achieve your professional goals.

[Featured Image] A business intelligence developer sits in a conference room with a laptop and discusses data with a colleague.

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What Is a Business Intelligence Developer? And How to Become One

Understand the role of a business intelligence developer and how you can get into this line of work.

March 19, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] An application developer is at a computer showing his project to a co-worker.

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What Does an Application Developer Do?

An application developer designs, creates, deploys, and updates mobile or web apps. Learn what a career in application development might look like, the average salary, and the skills and education you’ll need to land a job.

March 3, 2025

Article

[Featured Image]: Two back-end developers discuss the best way to learn a new back-end framework for building web applications.

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Which Back-End Framework Should I Learn?

Explore aspects of various tools for building back-end frameworks such as why each one is popular, their advantages and disadvantages, and what you can do to start learning your framework of choice.

June 13, 2025

Article

[Featured Images] A photograph of a resume in the hands of a job applicant.

Cloud Computing Resume: Tips for Cloud Engineers and More

Looking for your next job? Learn what to include on your cloud computing resume with these tips and examples.

September 28, 2023

Article

[Featured Image] A software engineer answers questions about programming languages during a software engineer interview.

10 Software Engineer Interview Questions + Example Answers

Learn some of the most common software engineer questions and how to answer them.

August 17, 2023

Article

[Featured Image]: Two software engineers work on a desktop computer.

Software Engineer Resume: Examples, Tips, and More for 2026

Software engineers are highly sought after in the job market. Learn how to create your software engineer resume and stand out from the crowd.

August 16, 2023

Article

Cloud Computing Resume: Tips for Cloud Engineers and More

Looking for your next job? Learn what to include on your cloud computing resume with these tips and examples.

September 28, 2023

Article

10 Software Engineer Interview Questions + Example Answers

Learn some of the most common software engineer questions and how to answer them.

August 17, 2023

Article

Build advanced development skills and earn credentials from industry leaders

Status: Free Trial

Advanced Programming in Kotlin

Skills you'll gain: Kotlin, Android Development, Android Studio, Unit Testing, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Mobile Development, Test Driven Development (TDD), Software Testing, Functional Design

Status: Free Trial

University of Michigan

C Programming for Everybody

Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Structures, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Computer Programming, Software Design, Application Security, Other Programming Languages, Python Programming, Java Programming, System Programming, Computer Architecture, Performance Tuning, Unix, Computer Science, Debugging

Status: Preview

Coursera

Advanced Techniques in Embedded Software Testing

Skills you'll gain: Code Coverage, Embedded Software, Real-Time Operating Systems, Performance Testing, System Testing, Software Testing, Verification And Validation, Embedded Systems, Test Case, Test Planning, Integration Testing, Simulations, Real Time Data, Safety and Security

[Feature Image] Two entry-level computer professionals research DevOps engineer salary details as they plan their career paths.

DevOps Engineer Salary 2026: How Much Can You Make?

Explore average salaries for DevOps engineers by level of experience and location. Read on to learn about occupational requirements and projected job growth.

July 22, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] An AI engineer with long dark hair in a gray striped shirt works in front of their computer screen in a shared office with lots of windows.

What Is an AI Engineer? (And How to Become One)

Learn what an artificial intelligence engineer does and how you can get into this exciting career field.

May 18, 2022

Article

[Feature Image] Two solidity developers create smart contracts on computers while working for a blockchain company.

Solidity Developer: Careers in Blockchain Technology

Working with blockchain technology can be an exciting opportunity. Explore the career of a Solidity developer with the guide below.

May 17, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A programmer working on a project

Ruby vs. Python: Which Should You Choose?

Ruby and Python are open-source, high-level languages used in back-end web development. This guide compares their features, uses, benefits, and offers learning paths to help aspiring developers choose the right language for their goals.

April 5, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] Two machine learning engineers discuss the best algorithm to use for their statistical model.

What Is a Machine Learning Engineer? (+ How to Get Started)

Machine learning (ML) engineers work with algorithms, data, and artificial intelligence (AI). Learn about salary potential, job outlook, and steps to becoming a machine learning engineer.

February 22, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A parent sits at a desk holding a baby while working.

Preparing for a Career Change: a Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

Start moving toward your dream career with clarity by defining your goals and building your action plan.

February 2, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A DevOps engineer types on their computer and looks at their dual monitors as they update software coding.

What Does a DevOps Engineer Do? A Career Guide

A DevOps engineer is responsible for optimizing an organization's software, including software maintenance and server administration. Learn how to get the skills you need to be a DevOps engineer.

December 15, 2021

Article

[Featured image] A full-stack developer wearing a blue and red-striped sweater sits at a wooden desk in a home office working on a desktop computer.

What Is a Full-Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front-end and the back-end of a website. Learn about full-stack developer skills, salary, and how you can become one.

December 8, 2021

Article

[Featured image] A security engineer stands in front of a desk with a light, laptop, and desktop computer in an open office with lots of windows.

What Is a Security Engineer? 2026 Career Guide

Learn about the role of a security engineer and how you can transition into this career.

July 20, 2021

Article

Software Engineer Resume: Examples, Tips, and More for 2026

Software engineers are highly sought after in the job market. Learn how to create your software engineer resume and stand out from the crowd.

August 16, 2023

Article

DevOps Engineer Salary 2026: How Much Can You Make?

Explore average salaries for DevOps engineers by level of experience and location. Read on to learn about occupational requirements and projected job growth.

July 22, 2022

Article

What Is an AI Engineer? (And How to Become One)

Learn what an artificial intelligence engineer does and how you can get into this exciting career field.

May 18, 2022

Article

Solidity Developer: Careers in Blockchain Technology

Working with blockchain technology can be an exciting opportunity. Explore the career of a Solidity developer with the guide below.

May 17, 2022

Article

Ruby vs. Python: Which Should You Choose?

April 5, 2022

Article

What Is a Machine Learning Engineer? (+ How to Get Started)

Machine learning (ML) engineers work with algorithms, data, and artificial intelligence (AI). Learn about salary potential, job outlook, and steps to becoming a machine learning engineer.

February 22, 2022

Article

Preparing for a Career Change: a Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

Start moving toward your dream career with clarity by defining your goals and building your action plan.

February 2, 2022

Article

What Does a DevOps Engineer Do? A Career Guide

A DevOps engineer is responsible for optimizing an organization's software, including software maintenance and server administration. Learn how to get the skills you need to be a DevOps engineer.

December 15, 2021

Article

What Is a Full-Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front-end and the back-end of a website. Learn about full-stack developer skills, salary, and how you can become one.

December 8, 2021

Article

What Is a Security Engineer? 2026 Career Guide

Learn about the role of a security engineer and how you can transition into this career.

July 20, 2021

Article

Ready to take the next step in your back-end development career? As a mid-level or advanced back-end developer, you may be ready to apply for leadership positions such as a lead software engineer, director of engineering, or senior product manager. You could also focus on an industry niche, such as blockchain development, or obtain the front-end development skill set to become a well-rounded full-stack developer. Browse our free resources as you advance your back-end developer career:

Hear from an expert: Bots & Blueprints: 6 Questions with a Software Architect and AI Developer

Find your path: Web Development Career Paths: Explore Roles & Specialization

Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight: Web Developer

Ready to start learning? Explore our catalog of back-end development courses or accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

There are several job opportunities that can be pursued with server-side skills. Eight common job roles include:

Web developer. Web developers utilize server-side skills to create and manage the back-end infrastructure of websites.
Software engineer. Server-side skills are highly valued in software engineering roles. They develop server-side applications and systems, optimize performance, and handle data storage and retrieval.
Database administrator. Database administrators specialize in managing databases, ensuring efficient data storage, retrieval, and security. They also handle database performance optimization and troubleshooting.
Full-stack developer. Full-stack developers leverage server-side skills along with front-end expertise to work on both the client-side and server-side of applications, providing end-to-end development solutions.
Systems administrator. Systems administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining server infrastructure, ensuring smooth operation, and addressing any technical issues.
Network administrator. Server-side skills are valuable in network administration roles. They configure, monitor, and maintain servers, ensuring networks are secure and efficient.
DevOps engineer. DevOps engineers utilize server-side skills to automate and streamline the software development process. They focus on improving collaboration between development and operations teams, deploying and managing applications on servers.
Cloud Engineer. Server-side skills are crucial for cloud engineers who manage cloud-based platforms, applications, and infrastructure. They work with technologies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform to build and deploy scalable solutions.‎

Some of the skills and experience you may need to have to learn full-stack web development include a general understanding of the front-end development and back-end development that goes into building a website. Important skills include coding and Linux. It will also be helpful if you have some prior working knowledge of technologies such as HTML, CSS, and the scripting language of JavaScript, as well as frameworks like Angular, React, and Node.js.‎

Whether you're just starting in software development or looking to advance within the field, you'll find plenty of resources to fuel your learning. Here are seven ways to build your software development skills: