Remote Tech Jobs You Never Knew About

As technology develops, we see an increase in coding job opportunities and in the ability to do these jobs from home. All you need for remote coding is a high-functioning computer set-up and the right skills. Plus, there are some serious benefits:

  • No commute
  • Distraction-free zone
  • No “office dress code”
  • The ability to work from anywhere, including your favorite coffee shop, the beach, or some far-off vacation destination
  • Extremely flexible schedule

Keep reading to learn about available computer coding jobs from home and the first steps to securing them.

Web Development

Web developers design, build, and maintain the sites we use every day. Whether it’s a simple webpage like Wikipedia or large-scale, complex websites like Google and Amazon, learning how to become a web developer allows you to obtain responsibility for the visual and functional aspects of a site. 

There are further distinctions within this field that are worth noting, but this is one of the most accessible jobs to consider as you start planning your coding career path.

Front-End Developer

The front end of a website refers to everything that the user directly sees and experiences, including font, layout, multimedia, and more. These developers use code to turn a client’s vision into a fully functioning website by converting each element into a web-compatible format. 

Possible positions: Social media companies like Facebook often look for remote front-end developers and engineers to create new systems and implement specific user features like News Feed or Messenger. 

First steps: A few essential coding languages for front-end web developers are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Additional experience in graphic design or an aptitude for visual aesthetics may also be important on your remote job hunt. 

Back-End Developer

If you think of front-end development as a puppet show, then back-end developers are the puppet masters pulling the strings. 

So what does the puppet master do all day?

A back-end developer may:

  • Design and build the server-side of the software
  • Create a secure network to avoid hacking and security breaches
  • Implement and maintain databases 
  • Develop and write code for retrieving and presenting information to users

Possible positions: Massive companies like Netflix sometimes employ back-end developers for specific engineering teams. For example, developers on their Growth Product Engineering team will design and create large-scale systems that bring new clients to Netflix. 

While front-end development is relatively consistent across each tech job and company, the specific functions of back-end developers can vary greatly. 

First steps: Back-end developers often benefit from a general knowledge of front-end scripts (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) and proficiency in specific server-side languages such as PHP, Ruby, or Python. 

Full-Stack Developer

While front-end and back-end developers specialize in one element of the process, full-stack developers can seamlessly cross over onto both sides. They’re neither puppet nor master—for the sake of this metaphor, they’re more like ventriloquists. 

A full-stack developer doesn’t necessarily create the entire website by themselves, but hypothetically, they could. In some fields, full-stack coders may be highly desirable because of their versatility, adaptability, and a general understanding of the entire process. 

Some companies might hire you for a remote “full-stack” role, then assign you to either front-end or back-end for each specific project. 

Possible positions: Any in-office or remote company that would hire either a front-end or back-end web developer may also be in the market for a full-stack developer.

Some examples include:

  • Accounting organizations like Deloitte
  • Financial service institutions like Citibank
  • Technology companies like Microsoft
  • Social media platforms like Twitter

First steps: Desirable full-stack coders will exhibit a balance between front-end and back-end skills. Most full-stack developers learn the primary front-end programming languages and one or two additional back-end scripts. Many job listings may require a specific back-end language—for example, “Full-Stack Ruby Developer” or “Python Engineer.” 

WordPress Developer

This emerging field is a specific subset of web development that utilizes the popular online program WordPress to design and create websites. Instead of writing the code from scratch, WordPress developers will work within the framework of available templates. 

These positions are typically filled by full-stack coders, though the work is less rigorous than creating a site from the ground up. A WordPress developer will typically take on additional functions within the project such as:

  • Discussing vision and goals with the client 
  • Developing and incorporating WordPress add-ons and plug-ins
  • Conducting ongoing tests to perform necessary site maintenance after its launch

Possible positions: Many small businesses might hire a WordPress developer to create a simple, functional website. This remote position is a great starting point for freelancers because its technological requirements are more basic. 

First steps: In addition to basic coding for beginners, one of the best ways to prepare for this career is to become acquainted with WordPress. Create a personal website, invent a fake company, design a celebrity fan page—just have fun with it! The program is publicly available online, which makes it incredibly accessible to learn and practice. 

User Experience (UX) Designer

This position can sometimes overlap significantly with a front-end web development role, but user experience isn’t limited to webpages and online applications. Any time you interact with technology, there is a user experience to think about.

That includes:

  • Websites and apps
  • Operating systems on computers and smartphones
  • In-car dashboard consoles
  • Smart fridges, coffee machines, and microwaves

UX designers have one simple goal: to make the experience simple and accessible for everyone. There are two main steps to the research they conduct:

  1. User personas – UX designers will develop imaginary users based on the product’s target audience and user data. 40-year-old nature lovers? Recent college graduates? Elderly folks who just want a simple way to play bingo online? The designer’s decisions will cater to these user personas. This includes anticipating and accommodating for potential limitations in the users’ abilities. 
  1. User testing – Once the developer has a sense of the website’s audience, they create prototypes to test on users that match targeted personas. Based on feedback from interviews and focus groups, they’ll adjust the product accordingly. 

Possible positions: There’s no real limitation on which companies may want to enhance their users’ experience. Some examples may include financial institutions seeking to streamline mobile banking and in-person ATMs, or tech companies such as Apple and Android.

First steps: Learning programming languages like HTML/CSS, jQuery, and JavaScript can give you a fundamental understanding of the overlap between the visual and functional. Other important skills are designing for interactivity, interpreting analytics, and visual communication. 

Software Engineering

Software refers to any system or program used to operate computers or mobile devices. This incredibly broad definition accounts for the variation in what a software engineer does on a project-to-project basis. 

There are two broad categories within software engineering.

Applications Software Developers

This subsection of software engineering includes any applications or programs that operate on computers, tablets, and smartphones.

That includes:

  • Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Internet browsers, such as Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome
  • iOS or Android games
  • Music streaming services including Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify
  • Countless other computer applications from Slack to Adobe Photoshop to iMovie

Many programmers focus on either desktop or mobile applications. There is even further specialization between iOS and Android for mobile software developers, as they run on distinctly different systems.

Possible positions: The software companies listed above are continually putting out upgrades to their existing programs. Application software developers for Microsoft, Google, Apple, Adobe, and countless others develop updated versions of their programs for new operating systems.

You could also do remote work for a start-up company creating a brand new product.

First steps: JavaScript is a general-purpose language for programming hybrid apps, which function across multiple platforms. This type of software engineering can include front-end development, so HTML/CSS will be useful as well. Apple’s native programming languages like Swift or Objective-C are great for iOS apps but may limit your job prospects. 

Systems Software Developers

The systems that applications run on is another important component of software engineering. This includes publicly available operating systems that power your computer and cellphone like the latest iOS or Android updates, and private systems created for use in specific organizations. 

Systems software developers create these systems as well as the user interface. 

Possible positions: Apple is one of the primary employers of systems engineers because they develop software for both mobile devices and computers. 

First steps: JavaScript and Python are two valuable programming languages to learn for system development. It’s also important to operate under a big-picture, user experience-based mentality—you have to see how all the pieces come together to function on the platform you’re creating.

Prepare For These Remote Jobs With Disney Codeillusion

Despite their differences, these remote positions all share one common requirement—the ability to code. When hiring remote coders, many tech companies want to find adaptable, self-motivated, and independent candidates to fill important positions. Some may even offer opportunities as an independent contractor. Set yourself up for a great career and learn coding in a fun and interactive way with various Disney characters and anime coding characters teaching you throughout the way.

What better way to exhibit that than by teaching yourself to code?

Here’s what you’ll have access to as part of your free trial with Disney Codeillusion:

  • Instruction in four core languages – Disney Codeillusion includes 125 lessons covering four key programming languages—HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Processing. These highly applicable languages can also open the door to more specialized scripts.
  • Motivation development – A remote career in coding requires more than just hard skills. Disney Codeillusion was created with longevity and integrated learning in mind. You can form and maintain motivation with mini-goals and checkpoints in line with your ultimate goals. 
  • Unique approach to learning – Disney Codeillusion’s program blends the fun and magic of some of your favorite Disney characters with hands-on, extensive education. These beginner-friendly lessons provide step-by-step guidance to ensure every participant gets the most out of their experience (most likely thanks to Disney’s very own UX designers!).

    • With so many available coding jobs from home, it’s no surprise at how easy it can be to learn to code from home, too. Disney Codeillusion is here to help you take that first step.



    Sources: 

    Rasmussen College. 9 Programming Careers for Coding Connoisseurs. https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/programming-careers-for-coding-connoisseurs/


    Bureau of Labor Statistics. Software Developers. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/mobile/software-developers.htm