Software Development Team Structure Guide (+ Roles of Frontend, Backend, and Full-Stack Specialists Explained)

Hiring a software development team can be tricky. How do you know which engineers to hire — full-stack, frontend, or backend? And how do you build a team that gets the job done without wasting time or money?

I’m Katherine Lazarevich, senior tech expert and co-founder of Digiteum. For 15+ years, I’ve been helping companies build high-performing teams the smart way. Let me show you how to make the right call when it comes to your project’s needs and how to tackle the frontend vs. backend vs. full-stack question.

Let’s quickly run through the key experts you’ll find in a software development team. Usually, these include:

• Product Owner (PO)/Project Manager (PM). They’re the ones making sure the project stays on track, meets business goals, and delivers value. The PO (often on the client’s side) sets the vision and priorities, while the PM (on the tech vendor’s side) handles execution, deadlines, and quality.
• Business Analyst (BA). This expert figures out what users really need and finds the right tech solutions for them. They focus on customer-centric tasks like gathering feedback and mapping workflows. They also analyze the market and define key requirements.
• Backend/frontend/full-stack developers. These are the core of your team handling the main technical work. I’ll talk more about them in the next section.
• QA engineers. Not just for the final stage! Great projects bring QA in early to test every iteration — weekly, bi-weekly, or whatever your cycle is — so you catch issues while they’re cheaper to fix. The later you find critical bugs, the pricier they get.
• DevOps engineers. They manage deployment, scalability, and infrastructure. For some projects (like gaming or high-traffic SaaS), they’re a must. For others, like smaller-scale apps and internal tools with little traffic and minimal infrastructure needs, they’re not always essential.
• Data engineers. These developers help build solutions that allow you to store, process, and analyze your data. They’re especially valuable when you deal with large datasets, real-time data streaming, and complex data pipelines.

Now, we’ll talk about the most expensive (and impactful) part of your team — developers. Should you go full stack or mix frontend and backend specialists? Let’s see.

There’s one thing I keep saying over and over again: in software development, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. This applies to the debate of full-stack vs. frontend vs. backend engineers too — you can’t get a perfect formula that works for every project.

But what you can get is a set of guidelines to help you decide. In this section, I’ll break down five cases where hiring full-stack developers makes sense and five where a frontend plus backend team works better.

• You have complex development in several areas
  Some projects need deep expertise in multiple areas. For example, you might be building a product with a custom frontend, complex backend logic, and a scalable cloud to handle high traffic. In this case, it’s best to hire specialists for each part to bring the expertise needed.
• You have a lot of custom layout work
  If you need pages built from scratch, it’s better to go with dedicated specialists. Full-stack developers can tweak or copy existing pages, but they usually don’t create new custom layouts.
• You start a new project
  With a big project ahead, there’s always a lot to handle — from design to choosing among types of web application architecture to all the backend and frontend tasks. Most of these tasks can happen in parallel at the start, so it makes sense to bring in both frontend and backend developers.
• You have a big team and plenty of work
  In larger projects, hiring separate backend and frontend teams for web app development services makes sense. They can work independently, each with plenty to do, without delays.
• Quick hiring is important
  If you’re up against tight deadlines and need to move fast, waiting for a full-stack engineer with the perfect skill set might not be an option. Sometimes, hiring separate developers with the expertise you need is quicker and easier.

• Your project doesn’t need deep expertise in every area
  Full-stack engineers are versatile but still have a core expertise, often in backend. They can handle frontend or DevOps, but not at the same depth. This makes them a great fit when your project requires deep expertise in one area and strong, well-rounded skills in others.
• You have a platform-based project (Salesforce, CMS, etc.)
  If your project runs on an existing backend and uses ready-made templates with little customization, you probably don’t need top frontend and backend experts. A good full-stack engineer can handle both backend and frontend, keeping things simple and budget-friendly.
• You are at the support, maintenance, or scalability stage
  At this stage, your focus is on keeping the system stable, fixing issues, and scaling when needed — not heavy development. A full-stack developer can handle updates, optimizations, and minor tweaks without the need for a larger, specialized team.
• You have a small team and need to balance the workload
  If you’re building a small team of 2-3 developers, full-stack engineers are usually a good choice. They can handle both frontend and backend tasks, so work moves faster without delays or unnecessary back-and-forth.
• You’ve got time to find the right fit
  Before searching for a full-stack engineer, keep in mind they’re rarer and more expensive than specialized frontend or backend engineers. Make sure you have enough time for the search.

To sum up, here’s what to consider when deciding between backend vs. frontend vs. full-stack engineers and how your choice impacts costs.

If the work’s not split evenly between backend and frontend developers, one of them might be waiting around, costing you $100-$150+ per hour in idle time. When there’s not enough work for specialized engineers, a full-stack developer can be a more cost-effective solution.

Always consider your team size when choosing between full-stack or separate frontend and backend developers.

In larger teams, tasks can be split and worked on in parallel. This helps get things done faster and makes better use of what you’re paying for.

In a smaller team, a full-stack developer can handle both sides of the project and reduce costs.

If you’re dealing with complex backend software development issues or frontend, hiring specialists for each area is usually more cost-effective. A full-stack dev might seem like a cheaper option, but if they’re slow or make mistakes, it can end up costing you more in the long run.

On the flip side, for simpler projects with ready-made templates, hiring separate frontend and backend developers might be overkill. A skilled full-stack dev can handle the work and save you money.

As your project grows, so do your development needs, and you should adjust your team accordingly. Maintenance, for example, requires a different scope of work than the start of a project. If you don’t align your team as the project progresses, you might end up paying for more staff than you actually need.

There’s no universal definition of what a “full-stack” engineer is. Some companies need strong skills in both frontend and backend, while others might want someone more focused on backend with a bit of DevOps. And the list goes on. Every project has its own set of needs, making it harder to find the perfect fit. This leads to longer hiring times and higher costs.

If you’re on a tight timeline, hiring separate frontend and backend developers might be more cost-effective — they’re easier to find and hire, with their expertise clearly defined.

Before we wrap up, let me share with you a few simple, but often overlooked, pieces of advice on software engineering team structure. I’m sure they will make your life a lot easier when you’re picking a tech partner and working with them.

When hiring a tech vendor, you’re not just hiring them for their coding skills. You’re also counting on their advice, especially when it comes to choosing the right team setup.

But sometimes, vendors may push solutions that aren’t ideal for your project. For example, a full-stack developer would be a more cost-effective choice. But the vendor might suggest separate frontend and backend teams simply because they have those resources available.

So here’s a little tip: always ask your partner why they’re suggesting a particular team setup. Get them to explain the why behind their choices. This will not only help you understand their reasoning but also set the stage for a productive chat. You’ll walk away feeling way more confident about the decision.

In some teams, decision-making is quick and easy; in others, it’s slower, with multiple rounds of discussions. This is important to consider when hiring engineers.

If you bring in a bigger team but the decision-making process takes longer, those engineers might end up waiting for feedback after each sprint. This can cause delays, as the team might not be fully busy while waiting to move forward.

If you’re just starting a project and still figuring things out, hiring a big team right away probably isn’t the best move. You might not have enough work for everyone.

It’s smarter to start small and adjust as you go. Your team and its web development team structure will change as the project moves forward, so stay flexible and don’t commit to a huge setup too early.

If you want a tech partner who’s skilled, reliable, and transparent, Digiteum is the one. We stick to the principles I’ve mentioned because they’re pretty much our DNA:

• We always put our client’s needs first. Digiteum always starts by figuring out what you need, and then we adapt to make it happen. We recruit the right experts and make sure the team setup addresses your specific business challenges.
• We’re flexible and adjust to your needs. As your project evolves, so does our team. We scale up, scale down, and bring in new experts exactly when you need them. We’re not just here for the short haul — many of our clients have been with us for years, even decades. So, you can count on us for the long run.
• Our approach is all about customization. We don’t just copy what worked for others — we focus on your unique needs, apply our experience, and create a custom solution just for you. Every project is different, and so is the solution we deliver.