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Computer Scientist-Flex Engineering – 09585

Position Summary

The Adobe Flex framework helps people build visually engaging applications that go well beyond what is possible with traditional application development technologies. Every day, Adobe customers worldwide use Flex to build high quality, design oriented, and information rich applications that span smart phones, tablets, web browsers, and desktop environments. Adobe continues to push the envelope in providing solutions for developing and delivering rich multi-screen and multi-platform applications. In this role, you will be part of a focused, energized team that works closely with customers and product teams in the Flex mobile ecosystem to identify and implement functionality that brings the power of Flex to a broad spectrum of mobile devices and platforms.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of research, design, implementation, and delivery of new features in the Flex framework on mobile devices.
• Work with customers, both internal and external, to understand customer needs.
• Work with the QA group to ensure high quality and rapid turnaround for changes that surface during quality testing.
• Develop adequate documentation at all levels.
• Write unit tests to ensure ongoing correctness of the code.
• Deliver robust, efficient code quickly

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of professional software product development experience.
• BS, or equivalent, in Computer Science.
• Experience coding in Java, C++, or ActionScript.
• Excellent object-oriented design skills.
• Proven ability to develop robust, efficient, high-quality code.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in full product development life cycle, from initial planning to first customer release.
• Passion for developing design-oriented applications across multiple screens and device types.

Adobe’s dynamic working environment is well known – including 11 years on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For”, and other, similar accolades. By hiring the very best and brightest, we continue to be a simply better place to work.

Location: Americas – USW-San Jose (Headquarters)

Schedule: Full-time

There are many things to take into consideration regarding the data gathered by the polls and a lot of things not taken into account, so please keep that in mind. This data is somewhat accurate and I think it provides some loose guidelines to consider for determining your rate and salary expectations.

Two of the polls provide location data however one doesn’t. That’s also something to consider. Larger cities are generally going to compensate developers a bit more due to the cost of living. For instance, NYC costs a lot more to live in than say, Colorado Springs, CO. Another thing to take into consideration is US vs. non US rates/salary. Additionally the salary poll doesn’t factor in health insurance, 401k, stock options, etc. (Are companies even doing that stuff anymore in this economy?)

With all of that in mind, here’s the high level breakdown of the polls; one for rate, one for salary and one for years of experience doing Flex development.

Out of 106 votes across all three polls:

• the average yearly rate is roughly $90,000
• the average hourly rate is $100 an hour
• the average amount of experience is 4 years

There is other data on the interwebs with regard to Flex development rate, salary, etc. however I think the data from these polls is a little more reliable because it’s coming from real developers in the trenches. There weren’t a ton of votes but I don’t see that as a terrible thing because I’m pretty sure every single person who voted was a real world Flex dev and there isn’t any fluff data included.

Here are the links to the polls so you can check them out for yourself, and also see the location data. Please note that the Flex development salary poll is still open so please feel free to vote!

How many years have you been developing with Flex?
http://bit.ly/hQPmzP

What is your hourly rate for Flex development?
http://twtpoll.com/r/15g1tx

What is your yearly salary as a Flex developer?
http://bit.ly/gRpyRQ

Personally I think this information is pretty important, being a freelancer and all. For one it’s not often talked about and people generally get uncomfortable when talking about money. This was a good anonymous way to collect the data and share it with the community. I also think it helps to set a standard and help developers know what type of range they should be expecting. This information also should help anyone taking the leap into the world of freelancing, so they know what to ask for and expect as an hourly rate. With the average being around $100 an hour imo you shouldn’t be taking these $20 an hour projects. Obviously you don’t have to.

Flex is a valuable skill and not widely known. People need to pay Flex developers what they’re worth and developers should be aware of the relevant baseline rate. Granted, take the information in the polls, apply your experience, the project itself, your location, etc. when determining your rate and asking for a salary.

I’d like to thank Rich Tretola for the heads up on twittapolls.com. It’s a pretty slick polling site that he put together and I’d recommend it if you’re interested in putting together some polls of  your own.

Hopefully this post hasn’t offended anyone. I think this information needs to be shared and hope it helps Flex devs determine and justify their skills and worth.

Here is a bit more information from Erin about these exciting opportunities:

“Adobe is looking for Flex and Actionscript developers; especially folks who are experts at building on top of platforms like the Flash Player, Flex, Flash Media Server, etc. Specific jobs can be found at:”

Here is the link that Erin sent along, you’ll need to search for the jobs mentioned in this blog post. (The Adobe job site is a great place to keep an eye on too, if you weren’t already.)

http://cooljobs.adobe.com/frameset.html

Here are the open positions and the technologies that you will be working on for each position.

Flash Authoring/ Flex Dev w/ a strong background in CS to work on the Media Platform.
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/mediaplayer/

Flex UI Dev focus on real time communications:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/brio/

Flex UI Dev working on a v1.0 product, Share.com:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/share/

Full job descriptions are available in the following PDF downloads:

Flex Application Developer
Flex App Developer.pdf (47kb)

Senior Software Engineer, Connect
Sr. SWE Connect Brio.pdf (39kb)

Computer Scientist, Flash
Computer Scientist, Flash.pdf (40kb)

I’ve also been having some discussions on twitter regarding fixed bid vs. hourly billing. Any thoughts on that?

Source: HotGigs.com