How To Become an Algorithm Developer: A Simple Guide

Algorithms have become a vital tool for businesses that want to make the most of technology. At their core, algorithms are instructions that tell computer software how to execute tasks. They allow businesses to perform more efficiently and analyze data using the latest software.

Companies use algorithms in every industry. For instance, Google uses algorithms to analyze websites and decide what to rank for the top results. Financial businesses use algorithms to analyze financial data to create forecasts to help with business decisions.

That’s why becoming an algorithm developer is a smart decision for individuals interested in the tech industry. Algorithm developers are the people who design these tools to help software operate efficiently—which means there is a constant need for new algorithm developers to help build and manage the tools of tomorrow.

This guide will help you learn how to become an algorithm developer. You’ll learn what an algorithm developer is, the education you need to become one, and the tools required for the job. You’ll also learn more details about how to land a job in the technology industry for this role and how to advance your career.

Table of contents:

• What is an algorithm developer?
• Educational pathways
• Building a strong foundation
• Specialization in algorithm development
• Gaining experience
• Skill sets and competencies
• Landing the job
• Career growth and development
• Algorithm developer FAQ

What is an algorithm developer?

An algorithm developer is a specialist in the technology industry who creates, optimizes, and implements computer algorithms. These professionals are normally educated in computer science and understand several programming languages—allowing them to pick the right technology to develop and optimize algorithms for performance, reliability, and security.

The overarching goal of an algorithm engineer is to understand a problem and devise a solution for it. They use logic and reason to create solutions to complex computing challenges.

Once developers create an algorithm to solve a problem, they can implement the solution in software.

Educational pathways

An algorithm developer needs to have many technical skills. A professional who wants to get started in this career will need an  education—whether a traditional college degree or a self-learning program—to get into the industry and find a job.

For people who want to get a degree, a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field will help. Look to study computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, and related topics. These courses will give future algorithm developers the foundation to understand algorithm development.

If you want to take a more specialist route, getting a master’s degree is your next step. A master’s degree program will focus on a more specialized area in algorithm development. This qualification will make you a more attractive candidate for companies looking for that type of experience.

But college isn’t the only route. There are many boot camps available to people who want to learn computer programming, data science, and algorithm development. Many boot camps are well-regarded in the industry (such as Actualize, General Assembly, and Brainstation) and can help you get your foot in the door.

There are also many online resources that teach algorithm development. YouTube offers many free videos for learning about algorithms, and websites like Udemy offer paid courses. Many offer certifications showing you learned the material. For instance, Coursera partners with many universities to offer courses in algorithm development and offers certifications for many of those courses.

You may need to show more practical examples of experience if you go this route. Use online code repositories like Github to show example projects from your time learning.

Building a strong foundation

There are several basic skills algorithm developers should know. Here are some things to learn that will help you build a strong foundation:

• Programming languages. Algorithm developers use programming languages to create algorithms. Some common languages used are Python, Java, R, and JavaScript. Learn the types of algorithms developed in each of these languages and focus on the programming languages that will help you reach your career goals.
• Data structures. Data structures are at the heart of algorithms. They are the building blocks that allow developers to store information and access it efficiently. Some common data structures are linked lists, binary trees, stacks, queues, and hash tables.
• Problem-solving skills. Knowledge of programming languages and data structures is necessary, but insufficient, to becoming a great algorithm developer. Efficient developers need to understand the ins and outs of these tools well enough to apply them in the best way to solve problems. Develop your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities when learning.

Specialization in algorithm development

There is more than one way to use algorithms in development. There are many specialist roles available worth considering:

• Machine learning. Machine learning focuses on building algorithms to analyze large amounts of information to surface meaningful insights. To use machine learning algorithms, you’ll need an understanding of statistics, probability, and machine learning models.
• Artificial intelligence (AI). AI algorithms identify patterns and help users make decisions based on the data the AI model received training from. It’s useful for tasks like natural language processing (NLP), generative content creation, automation, computer vision, and other specialized tasks.
• Backend development. Backend developers help build the server side of applications. They build the core logic applications used to run and communicate with a front-end interface to interact with the end user. Backend developers will implement algorithms in practical scenarios.
• Data science. Data scientists use algorithms to analyze large amounts of data. They use a combination of data mining, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling to learn from data and generate insightful reports for business owners and managers.

Gaining experience

Gaining practical experience will be your goal as an algorithm developer once you build the foundational base for doing the work. You can start in a couple of ways:

• Entry-level jobs. These jobs are useful for algorithm engineers fresh out of college, boot camps, and self-learning courses. They allow you to get in on the ground floor at a company and work with other experienced algorithm developers. You can find these opportunities by searching for entry-level software engineering and algorithm developer positions on job posting websites.
• Internships. Internships are another option for individuals wanting to work with industry experts on projects. They offer short-term employment for new developers and allow you to build practical experience—and may lead to full-time job offers.

Once you get an entry-level position or internship, you can focus on honing your skills. Learn from the senior engineers on the job to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Once you have years of experience, you can start moving to more senior roles.

Eventually, you may determine a type of algorithm development you would particularly like to specialize in.

Skill sets and competencies

An algorithm developer needs many soft skills and technical skills to do the job well. Here are some of the primary skills you should learn.

‍Technical skills:

• Version control. Version control software like Git lets developers create a history of changes for their software—allowing them to quickly revert to a previous file version if something goes wrong.
• SQL. Experience with SQL allows algorithm developers to query information from databases. Developers with more advanced skills using SQL can help businesses better organize information and pull data from different sources.
• Frameworks. There are many frameworks built on top of regular programming languages. Learning these will help streamline algorithm development, save time, and avoid errors.
• Optimization skills. Algorithm developers need to build algorithms that perform well in business environments. Learn how to optimize programming code and runtime environments to optimize algorithm performance.

Soft skills:

• Project management. Some algorithm developers work on multiple projects and tasks at once. They need good project management skills to balance workloads and accomplish their work.
• Communication. Since algorithm developers create algorithms to solve problems, they must have a proper understanding of their goal. Developers should communicate well to understand their goals and the problems they plan to solve.
• Teamwork. Most algorithm developers work on larger teams. They must work together with team members to ensure they do their part to accomplish the bigger goals.

Landing the job

You’ll need a solid plan to get a job as an algorithm developer. Luckily, there are a few things you can optimize for to increase your chances.

The first is to create a great resume. You don’t want a generic resume designed for general jobs. You want to tailor your resume to an algorithm developer job. That means including your experience in algorithm development, relevant coursework, personal projects, and references from people you’ve worked with. Be sure to highlight any educational accomplishments and certifications you’ve acquired.

You’ll also want to highlight personal projects online. Set up code repositories on Github or similar websites to show your project code to potential employers.

Once you have a great resume, search for algorithm developer job postings. A platform like Upwork is a great place to find algorithm development jobs.

Once you line up a job interview, prepare well for the experience. Research common interview questions asked for this type of role. Some interviews require candidates to write example code—so familiarize yourself with common coding requests.

Career growth and development

Depending on their goals and preferences, algorithm developers have many potential career paths. For instance, developers wanting to delve deeper into algorithm development may pursue an algorithm engineer role. However, other developers may become machine learning engineers to learn how to use algorithms to assist machine learning and data analysis.

There is also the opportunity to gain employment at large tech companies as algorithm developers. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google need experienced developers to enhance their products and optimize existing features.

You aren’t limited by your location, either. With the rise of remote work, computer science roles have started to shift to remote-only jobs for many full-time and independent talent positions. You may be able to get your dream job without relocating!

Algorithm developer FAQ

There are many other considerations to make when becoming an algorithm engineer. Read the answers to some common questions below to learn more.

How much do algorithm developers make?

The salary of an algorithm developer can vary greatly based on many factors—including their location, years of experience, industry, and the type of algorithm development job.

According to ZipRecruiter, the national average for algorithm developer roles is $144,291 per year. For newer developers in low-cost-of-living areas, expect salaries of around $70,000 per year. Experienced developers in higher-cost-of-living areas can expect salaries to reach $194,000 per year.‍

What is the difference between an algorithm developer and an algorithm engineer?  

There is a lot of overlap between the jobs of algorithm developers and algorithm engineers. However, there are some key differences.

The primary focus of an algorithm developer is the design and creation of algorithms. They focus on writing programming code, performance testing, and other technical tasks. They handle much of the heavy lifting of algorithm development and may concern themselves with less of the management aspect of the process.

On the other hand, an algorithm engineer may take a bigger-picture approach. Their concern is the practical implementation of algorithms—which means they may work more with stakeholders to gather requirements and work on implementation into hardware and software systems.

Do I need a master’s degree to become an algorithm developer?

A master’s degree can be very beneficial for individuals pursuing an algorithm developer career. It gives you more specialized experience in the field and allows you to network with other individuals and professors at a higher level.

However, a master’s degree isn’t a requirement to be an algorithm developer. Many new developers get started with a bachelor’s degree. Others attend boot camps and learn algorithm development at their own pace from the internet.

Whether or not you get a master’s degree depends on your career goals and requirements from your chosen industry.

Find your next algorithm development project on Upwork

Algorithm developers will be one of the key roles for companies investing in technology in the future. They help build the tools that analyze data and run the software that helps businesses function.

People who want to become algorithm developers must get the proper education (traditional college, boot camps, self-learning), learn the right technical skills, and find their first job in the industry. Once a developer has their job, they can advance their skills by continuing to learn about algorithms. They can also focus on soft skills that will help them become integral members of their team and organization.

If you’re an independent algorithm developer looking to help businesses, look on Upwork’s algorithm developer job board to find your next client.