Courses
Cloudwards Video Courses New

Cloudwards.net may earn a small commission from some purchases made through our site. However, any earnings do not affect how we review services. Learn more about our editorial integrity and research process.

What Is a Scrum Developer in Agile Teams? Get Certified in 2025

Scrum developers play a critical role in the scrum framework. Without knowledgeable developers, the bulk of the work for a project won’t get done. However, what is a scrum developer, and which responsibilities do they have? Find out by reading this guide.

Brett DayAleksander HougenJasna Mishevska

Written by Brett Day (Writer, Editor)

Reviewed by Aleksander Hougen (Co-Chief Editor)

Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)

Last Updated:

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

What Is a Scrum Developer
Key Takeaways: What Is a Scrum Developer?
  • A scrum developer is an individual with the technical skills and knowledge to produce software while working within the scrum framework.
  • Developers work closely with product owners and scrum masters to ensure that project visions are aligned and that the project progresses smoothly.
  • There are several scrum developer certifications one can obtain to prove they have the chops for agile software development. The Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) certification from the Scrum Alliance is one of the most well-recognized ones.

Facts & Expert Analysis:

  1. Scrum developers are responsible for turning user stories into functional components in software programs during timed workboxes, called sprints.
  2. To be successful in the role of a scrum developer, individuals must possess hard skills such as software coding, development and team skills, and soft skills such as communication, time management and problem-solving.
  3. Becoming a certified scrum developer will show potential employers that you have the required skills to work as part of an agile software development team. The certification will also increase your job opportunities and enhance your earning potential.

Scrum masters, who use the best project management software to manage projects, and product owners, who manage product backlogs, tend to receive all the attention in scrum. However, the developers are the ones doing the heavy lifting. If you’re ready to learn about the importance of scrum developers, this “what is a scrum developer” guide is for you.

In this article, you’ll learn what a scrum developer is, their role within the agile framework, and the characteristics and skills they need to succeed. We’ll also clue you in on how developers interact with product owners and scrum masters, and show you some of the best scrum developer certifications you can get your hands on.

  • 05/21/2024

    Updated to add custom images.

What Is a Scrum Developer?

A scrum developer (feature team or development team member) is a member of a product development group in the scrum framework. They have the technical knowledge to work on sprint backlog items (user stories) that ask for specific software or product features to be developed, tested and delivered to clients.

Scrum Developer: Key Responsibilities in the Scrum Framework

Like scrum masters and product owners, a scrum developer (software developer) must fulfill certain responsibilities in order for the scrum project they’re working on to be successful. Below, we’ll look at a scrum developer’s key responsibilities.

Avoid Costly Project Management Mistakes – Get Free Tips Today!

  • Discover 10 fundamentals of project management
  • Understand step-by-step plans for PM execution
  • Learn tips to avoid 5 common mistakes by beginners
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

scrum responsibilities
Developers are responsible for more than just software development in the scrum framework.

Essential Skills for a Scrum Developer

It takes many skills to be an efficient, highly productive scrum developer. Scrum teams rely not only on a developer’s deep knowledge of software production but also on their soft skills. Below are lists of specific skills (both hard and soft) that scrum developers should have.

Technical Expertise (Hard Skills):

Soft Skills for Effective Teamwork:

scrum skillsets
You need a variety of hard and soft skills to be a successful scrum developer.

The Scrum Developer’s Role Within the Scrum Team

Now that we know what a scrum developer is and the skills they should possess, it is time to examine the developer’s role on a scrum team.

Sprint Planning and Execution

As mentioned, developers play a critical role during sprint planning and execution. Developers are heavily involved in the following:

jira backlog management
Developers play an important role in managing the product backlog.

Daily Scrum Participation

All software developers on a scrum team must participate in daily scrum meetings (daily stand-ups) so they can quickly recap the work they are doing and how it’s going and discuss any issues.

Working With the Product Owner and Scrum Master

Scrum teams are small, so all members must work closely together. For a team to be successful, the team’s developers must interact with the scrum master and the product owner to ensure the goals and project requirements are met. Below, we’ll discuss how developers can help support other team members.

Aligning with the Product Vision

The product owner is responsible for the deliverables and product backlog and ensuring that there is a clear understanding of the project. However, scrum developers play a critical role in helping the product owner organize work, define user stories, complete the work and ensure the product aligns with the client’s or stakeholders’ original product vision. 

Supporting the Scrum Master

The scrum master helps bring their team together with meetings and leads the team through projects via agile management. The scrum master role isn’t easy, but scrum developers can help ease the burden by participating in daily stand-up meetings, communicating transparently, finishing their work on time and participating in the sprint retrospective.

How to Become a Certified Scrum Developer

There are many ways to become a certified scrum developer. In this section, we’ll share some of the best certifications developers can obtain if they want to become a scrum team member.

certified scrum developer
The Certified Scrum Developer certification is one of the best.

Final Thoughts

Developers play a vital role in scrum. Not only do they communicate with product owners and scrum masters, but they also do the majority of the work on the product. If you’re a developer who’s ready to work in a flexible environment, the role of a scrum developer might be for you. We hope our scrum developer guide has helped you decide whether the role is right for you. 

After reading our guide, do you want to become a scrum developer? Do you like the sound of the responsibilities developers have? Which of the scrum developer certifications pique your interest? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

FAQ: Scrum Developer

↑ Top