By: Tonya Mead, PhD, MBA, M.Ed, Corporate Trainer and Behavioral Scientist
Blockchain developer, blockchain architect, and blockchain consultant, these are three job titles bandied around of late. You may have heard about these jobs in the blockchain space, but would you like to learn more about the job responsibilities, duties and tasks of a block chain developer? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the blockchain market is forecasted to reach $104.19 billion within five years. This represents a change in growth by about 55.8%. Perhaps the only job title with similar job responsibilities and duties experiencing such monumental growth is the cyber security job market. In this regard, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects growth in information security and cyber security jobs to expand by 33% up to year 2030. Even so, both market segments are expected to grow considerably faster than the average for all other occupations.
Blockchain Developer Job Responsibilities
Generally, the task assignments and job responsibilities are transferrable if you have experience in the information technology or database technology fields, some of the skills for both are interchangeable. However, unlike the traditional (centralized) network architecture of a database system, the blockchain database, requires that each participant maintains, calculates and updates new entries into the database. While each node carries out these operations in a decentralized fashion, for the decentralized blockchain database to work, each individual operating a separate node must accept a set of pre-agreed upon rules. These pre-established set of rules by which each individual node operates ensures that each node reaches the same conclusion as the other nodes. This is the way that the security of the entire blockchain is maintained.
Job Responsibilities are different from Traditional Database Administrator
The job responsibilities and job functions of a blockchain developer, blockchain architect, or blockchain consultant may differ from those of a database administrator for the following reasons.
The decentralized aspect of the blockchain allows those operating the different nodes to share information with one another without the requirement of a centralized gatekeeper or centralized database administrator. Each and every transaction taking place on the blockchain is processed by the group of individual nodes (network). This real time, simultaneous coordination and collaboration of the processing of transactions act as a consensus mechanism so that all of the nodes operating in the network share the same system of record. In a manner of speaking, each node independently services the network. They then compare their individual results of the work they performed with the other nodes (rest of the network) until there is a consensus that the transaction is complete.
Blockchains allow different parties that do not trust each other to share information without requiring a central database administrator. Blockchain transactions are processed by blockchain developers and/or blockchain architects who together comprise a network of users acting as a consensus mechanism so that everyone is creating the same shared system of record simultaneously. The system in which the blockchain developer and/or blockchain architect processes information is very different from the traditional database network whereby any actor with unauthorized or authorized access into the system can destroy or corrupt the data held within the network. What makes blockchain unique is that the network is less dependent upon central administrators and therefore more secure.
Another key aspect of blockchain technology that makes an attractive alternative to the traditional centralized database network is the creation of realtime histories of transactions. Do you feel as though you have what it takes to become a blockchain developer and/or blockchain architect?
Blockchain developers and blockchain architects are typically hold this set of knowledge, skills and abilities:
- knowledge of the cryptographic principles of Blockchain technologies;
- have development experience with Blockchain,
- hold experience in ledger technologies, including Solidity, Truffle, Infura, Geth, Parity, Quorum, or other blockchain platforms and technologies, and(
- familiarity with the various types of cryptoassets, token creation and ICO processes.
Job Responsibilities of Blockchain Professionals
Blockchain developers and blockchain architects are tasked with these job responsibilities and duties:
- design applications in different blockchain platforms such as Hyperledger, Ethereal, Bitcoin and other distributed computing environments,
- keep skills up-to-date in the emerging space of distributing computing applications,
- communicate with product managers and other technicians to translate requirements into functional code,
- anticipate the methods hackers might gain unauthorized access to the network, and
- identify where and how new blockchain technologies capabilities can be applied.
Dr. Mead, PhD, MBA, MA http://ishareknowledge.com is a consultant and blogger at http://edfraud.net specializing in human behavior, school and social psychology. She can be contacted at: tonya at ishareknowledge dot com