Excellent Software Engineers Wear Multiple Hats

A few months ago, when I started at my current company, I realized something that completely changed my perspective on software development: being able to build and deploy your own apps isn’t just a skill—it’s a gateway to unlimited opportunities.

Before, I had always been focused on the programming itself. But working in an environment where everyone is full-stack and expected to handle infrastructure as well forced me to level up. Learning to provision infrastructure, set up authentication, and manage deployments didn’t just make me a better engineer—it made me more confident, more capable, and, frankly, more valuable.

Even though I specialize in development more than DevOps, my knowledge of IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and IaC (Infrastructure as Code) has already helped me contribute more to my team. It’s given me the ability to make informed decisions about the best tech stack for a project, rather than just coding inside a predefined system.

More importantly, it has opened the door to something bigger: I now have the skills to take an idea from nothing to a fully scalable web application in a week. IaaS makes it so easy that nearly anyone with the right skills can do it. This realization changed how I view job opportunities, because now, my experience actually matches those outrageous LinkedIn job posts demanding expertise across 20 different stacks and frameworks.

It also made me realize something else—a modern application can be designed for a single developer, if you make the right choices. Why struggle with separate backend and frontend stacks when you can use a full-stack framework like Next.js and deploy instantly with Vercel? Instead of manually provisioning AWS resources, you can let Neon manage your databases and Prisma handle your queries.

The industry is changing. The engineers who wear multiple hats—who can develop, deploy, and scale—are the ones who will stand out.

The Skill Floor is Lower, But the Ceiling is Higher

Self-taught developers need to position themselves above college graduates to compete. But that's entirely possible. College wastes a lot of time to charge more money, but they call it being "well rounded". People complain that hiring standards are rising, but they miss a key point: the skill floor is actually getting lower. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) has made it easier than ever to deploy and manage software that once required entire teams. Services like AWS, Azure, Vercel, and Neon have simplified infrastructure to the point that small teams—or even solo developers—can do what entire departments once did.

The web is evolving too. Full-stack frameworks are now the norm, not the exception. The dream of writing both client-side and server-side code in the same language? That’s almost expected now. And with deployment platforms like AWS Amplify, Vercel, and Netlify, one-click deployments make infrastructure easier than ever.

Take for example the fact that I can now build an entire secure, scalable web app – frontend, backend, databases, and file storage – all from my commandline using one language (TS), one framework (ex. Next.js), and one deployment / infrastructure service (ex. Vercel), without knowing anything about SQL or securing databases. Don't know SQL? Answer: Prisma, or Drizzle. Don't know how to deploy or configure a database? Answer: Neon. Need a coding partner? AI is the trend...

As IaaS, IaC, and other DevOps services get better, the invisible boundaries between DevOps, QA, Security, and Software Development are fading. These roles are merging into one as managed infrastructure lowers the barrier to entry for teams.

Companies Want Developers Who Can Do More

Reddit user Synergisticit10 put it best:

“Companies want to save costs. Full-stack engineer is 3 roles in one. DevOps engineer is multiple roles in one. Data scientist is multiple roles in one.

To be able to effectively compete you need to be able to shuffle multiple roles.

Companies want to automate, and if they have to hire someone, they want a person who can be paid for one salary and do three or four people’s jobs.

This post could not be more correct. However, this is also a wake-up call for job seekers—being ready for these roles can be the difference between being employed and unemployed.”

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Simply put, companies expect engineers to be flexible. And those who can juggle multiple roles don’t just survive—they thrive. Some first-time hires who take on these responsibilities are pulling $120–150K because they can actually do the work, even without much prior experience.

This isn’t just a new trend—it’s how small teams and solo developers have always operated. As u/Ucinorn put it:

“This has always been the case in small teams or solo dev work. You've just lived in a bubble working for large firms.

The industry is moving towards smaller teams: between AI maturing and hosting solutions getting better and better, building software and tooling in-house is getting more and more accessible. Yes, you will be expected to do more with less, but that's how it’s always been.”

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FAANG and other large companies created an illusion of specialization that isn’t the norm outside of big tech. In reality, a single developer can build, deploy, and maintain an entire app. And in most workplaces, that’s expected.

How to Stay Competitive in Software Development

If you want to stay relevant, competitive, and above average, you need to adapt. The best engineers wear multiple hats—not just coding, but infrastructure, DevOps, automation, and AI. Here’s my advice:

• Your competition is mediocre. Most people are comfortable with "good enough." Don't be.
• Learn full-stack frameworks. They’re the standard now. Mastering them will give you flexibility.
• Use modern tools. ORMs, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and IaaS will make you exponentially more efficient. It's also highly valued in the workforce.
• Live between your code and the cloud. Learn how your applications interact with infrastructure—this is key to scalability. For example, Amazon S3 provides a scalable storage solution.
• Don't get lost in the weeds of niche programming. It's endless and rarely leads anywhere.
• Use AI the right way. AI can be a crutch, or it can be a tool to understand and improve your skills. Don’t just use it to write code—use it to improve yourself.

What Happens When You Successfully Wear Multiple Hats?

The idea that "Excellent software engineers wear multiple hats" isn’t limited to software—it applies to every profession. Those who can bridge gaps, connect disciplines, and see the bigger picture often become leaders.

You don’t have to specialize in everything, but having a broad skill set makes you invaluable. If you work in a company that thrives on specialization—distinct frontend, backend, and DevOps teams—your ability to understand how everything connects makes you a rare and valuable asset.

Want to stand out? Start here:

• Terraform & DevOps fundamentals – Infrastructure as code simplifies deployment and scaling and is highly valued.
• Frontend & backend development – Even if you prefer one, knowing both makes you more adaptable.
• Cloud & deployment strategies – Learn how your code runs in production. For example, understanding how Amazon S3 works can be a game changer.

At my company, everyone is full-stack. The culture was shaped by two senior engineers who had to do everything when the company started, and that expectation carried forward. While some of us lean toward cloud and others toward coding, the ability to contribute across the stack is non-negotiable—and in today’s job market, it’s a major advantage.

Wearing multiple hats isn’t just about survival—it’s about opportunity. The engineers who adapt, embrace diverse challenges, and understand the full system will be the ones leading the future of software development.

Adapt, learn, and push yourself. The industry is changing.

Title inspired by u/Razvedka in their comment.