An AEM Developer is a professional who specializes in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), a leading content management system that allows organizations to create, manage, and deliver engaging digital experiences across various channels. In this blog post, we will delve into the primary responsibilities of an AEM Developer, as well as the most in-demand hard and soft skills necessary for success in this role.

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Main Responsibilities of an AEM Developer

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of an AEM Developer :

Access

Access to development courses and additional training from our internal Learning & Development team.

Analyze

• Analyze and estimate feasibility, cost, time and scope.

• Analyze a situation and adopt a course of action.

• Analyze, code, and test software components as defined by the PO and team.

• Analyze user stories and develop modifications and fix bugs appropriately.

Apply

• Apply defined application standards, governance and secure coding practices.

• Apply disciplined coding practices to enable agility and delivery of high quality code.

• Apply IT security and application performance concepts.

Assign

Assign tasks and coordinate with offshore resources.

Assist in

• Assist in deploying applications to Dev, QA, Production environments and migrations.

• Assist with story creation and sizing for a projects.

Assume

• Assume additional responsibilities as requested.

• Assume responsibility for design and development of web pages, graphics, multimedia and GUIs.

Attend

Attend advanced training sessions and is certified on multiple domains of expertise.

Automate

Automate builds using Maven, unit testing with JUnit, and continuous integration (CI).

Build

• Build AEM authoring components and templates.

• Build and codes moderately complex software.

• Build brand new AEM components and features.

• Build code to specifications and standards.

• Build reusable components with HTML (Adobe's templating language) , CSS and JavaScript.

• Build, code, test, maintain high quality software in AEM codebase.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including UX designers and backend developers.

• Collaborate with quality assurance teams to conduct testing and ensure application stability.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and translate them into technical solutions.

• Collaborate with system administrators to deploy and manage AEM environments.

Communicate

• Communicate and ensure comprehension of these concepts to developers.

• Communicate project updates and progress to stakeholders and team members.

Complete

• Complete ad management initiative using AEM as the front end and SAP Hybris as the backend.

• Complete applications development by coordinating requirements, schedules, and activities.

• Complete work independently.

Conduct

• Conduct code reviews and ensure adherence to best practices and coding standards.

• Conduct performance tuning and optimization of AEM workflows and processes.

• Conduct testing and debugging of AEM applications to ensure functionality and quality.

• Conduct user testing and reporting on the outcomes.

• Conduct user training and provide ongoing support for AEM applications.

Configure

• Configure AEM Forms for deployment post installation.

• Configure CRX, OSGI services / components, Sling models and APIs.

Contribute to

• Contribute to defining timelines and plans.

• Contribute to team meetings.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes and methodologies.

• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures, as and when required.

Convert

Convert client provided content into AEM content.

Create

• Create and maintain AEM applications, including web and mobile experiences.

• Create and maintain technical documentation and knowledge base articles.

• Create CCAI flows with Dialog Flow for intent analysis and guided experience.

• Create, extend and configure templates and components.

• Create technical documentation as part of client deliverables.

Define

• Define and present effective Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) solutions.

• Define site objectives by analyzing user requirements.

Design

• Design and builds reusable AEM and UI components.

• Design and develop Dynamic-Interactive- Forms.

• Design and implement solutions based on Adobe AEM.

• Design and improve solutions around Adobe AEM solution.

• Design consistent interfaces and experiences across multiple devices.

• Design own control structures.

Develop

• Develop AEM adaptive forms from xdp templates.

• Develop and customize AEM components and templates.

• Develop and document reusable, globalized code, and libraries for AEM Solutions.

• Develop and maintain reference material and documentation, including user guide / help sites.

• Develop and maintain working relationships with co-workers, agencies and organizations.

• Develop mission-critical authoring and user experience.

• Develop mission-critical systems, delivering high-availability and performance.

Document

Document technical specifications, configurations, and troubleshooting steps.

Drive

• Drive standardization and best practices globally throughout web development initiatives.

• Drive test-driven development and Agile development practices.

Employ

Employ strong coding standards for efficiency, readability, and reuse.

Enhance

Enhance organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests.

Ensure

• Ensure compliance with web accessibility standards and guidelines.

• Ensure that quality of code is high for themselves as well as for other team members.

Evaluate

Evaluate and recommend new technologies and tools for AEM development.

Expert

Expert with AEM workflows setup and maintenance as well as User and Group Management.

Follow

• Follow best practices and guidance provided by the Senior developer.

• Follow best practices for secure web programming and deployment.

Help

• Help share knowledge and experience throughout the team and the greater agency.

• Help to grow a brand new new solution offering within aequilibrium.

• Help to grow a brand new solution offering within Aequilibrium.

Identify

Identify potential successful projects and recruit facilities for small business offering.

Implement

• Implement building framework - Deliver solutions within defined time frames and feature sets.

• Implement security measures and ensure data protection within AEM applications.

• Implement SEO best practices to enhance search engine visibility.

• Implement version control and manage source code repositories.

• Implement workflows and manage content authoring and publishing processes.

Include

Include unit tests in the developed code.

Install

Install core code bundles and packages for AEM-related projects.

Integrate

• Integrate AEM with third-party systems and platforms.

• Integrate with REST and Graph QL API's provided by the integration solution such as MuleSoft.

Keep

Keep technical skills current and is well-versed in several areas of technology.

Lead

Lead technology discussions, and perform product training.

Learn

Learn the integration approaches and process flows for the connected systems.

Leverage

Leverage ReactJS as the primary Javascript front end framework.

Limit

Limit and standardize technology choices available during development.

Maintain

Maintain and upgrade AEM instances and environments.

Manage

• Manage CMS platform issues with support teams and stakeholders.

• Manage project timelines and deliverables, ensuring timely completion of tasks.

Meet

Meet deadlines & stay on target.

Mentor

Mentor and provide expertise in Adobe Experience Manager and related Adobe products.

Monitor

Monitor and optimize website performance, including page load times and responsiveness.

Obtain

Obtain cooperation and compliance from members of the public by working tactfully and effectively.

Operate

Operate effectively for quick turnaround of enhancements, fixes and solutions.

Optimize

Optimize performance and scalability of AEM applications.

Participate in

• Participate in Agile development methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban.

• Participate in client-facing dealings.

• Participate in the analysis, design, and development of new Digital Services.

• Participate in the upkeep, maintenance and improvement of existing Systems.

Perform

• Perform code reviews and ensures that the team adheres to common coding standards.

• Perform other tasks as assigned.

• Perform troubleshooting and optimization effort for production Digital systems.

• Perform unit testing and automation testing of the features developed.

Plan

Plan, coordinate, and track assigned projects.

Prepare

• Prepare and produce releases of software components.

• Prepare clear and concise reports.

Promote

Promote agile principles and methodology.

Prototype

Prototype interactive interfaces with multiple states and roles.

Provide

• Provide accurate estimates based on business requirements.

• Provide an outstanding customer experience that UBT has become synonymous with.

• Provide coaching and mentoring to colleagues, as required.

• Provide development, testing debugging and documentation services.

• Provide technical guidance and support to less experienced developers.

Read

Read, understand, and explain applicable State and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

Receive

Receive general guidance on new projects.

Recognize

Recognize the potential reuse of existing systems in the broader system environment.

Represent

Represent technical team in client-facing dealings.

Resolve

Resolve functional and technical issues relating to AEM.

Review

Review and understand requirements and scope of solutions.

Stay updated with

Stay updated with the latest AEM features and industry trends.

Subdivide

Subdivide a complex application, during the design phase, into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Support

• Support continuous improvement by investigating alternatives and technologies.

• Support continuous improvement by staying up-to-date with the rapidly evolving frontend world.

• Support continuous improvement of coding standards and best practices for the team.

• Support rapid iteration and development.

• Support the sales team with proposal strategy, estimations, and pitches as required.

• Support users by developing documentation and assistance tools.

Test

Test applications and troubleshoot AEM projects.

Translate

• Translate business requirements into technical details relevant to AEM.

• Translate complexity and bigger pictures into thoughtful solutions.

• Translate user requirements into software requirements.

Travel

Travel may be required as per the job requirements.

Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to AEM implementation.

Understand

• Understand and address web related issues.

• Understand and apply Scrum rules and principles in every tasks.

• Understand and experience implementing best practices relating to TDD and Continuous Integration.

• Understand the corporate climate & culture.

Update

Update your job knowledge by researching new internet / intranet technologies and software products.

Use

• Use and combine knowledge of the discipline and the market to formulate the right approach.

• Use a shared standards library to be used by all web teams.

• Use best practice version control methodologies and tools such as Git or SVN.

Utilize

Utilize AEM to layout pages, troubleshoot issues, and train authors of the system.

Work with

• Work directly within the AEM development team on a day to day basis on real world deliverables.

• Work in the SAFe agile development Methodology.

• Work on complex projects that are large in scope.

• Work with designers to ensure the technical feasibility of UI / UX designs.

• Work with development teams to implement integrated technical solutions.

• Work with Jira and Confluence to manage user stories, requirements, and support documentation.

• Work with team leads to shape practical approaches and estimates.

• Work with the development and infrastructure team to find innovative solutions and deliver value.

Write

• Write clear and concise documentation.

• Write clear, readable and maintainable code, takes ownership of the quality and usability of code.

• Write well designed, efficient code that works across devices.

• Write well designed, testable, efficient code.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of an AEM Developer :

1. Proficiency in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and associated technologies.

2. Strong knowledge of Java programming language.

3. Familiarity with web technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery.

4. Experience with AEM components and templates development.

5. Understanding of AEM workflows and content authoring processes.

6. Knowledge of AEM integration with external systems and APIs.

7. Expertise in AEM Sightly/HTL (HTML Template Language).

8. Experience with RESTful web services and API development.

9. Knowledge of database systems such as MySQL or MongoDB.

10. Proficiency in version control systems like Git or SVN.

11. Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.

12. Understanding of web performance optimization techniques.

13. Knowledge of responsive design and mobile application development.

14. Experience with AEM Forms and adaptive forms development.

15. Proficiency in XML, JSON, and related data formats.

16. Understanding of front-end frameworks such as Angular or React.

17. Knowledge of server-side technologies like Apache Sling and OSGi.

18. Familiarity with cloud platforms and services like AWS or Azure.

19. Experience with continuous integration and deployment tools like Jenkins or Bamboo.

20. Proficiency in troubleshooting and debugging AEM applications.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of an AEM Developer :

1. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

3. Attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.

4. Ability to work effectively in a team and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

5. Adaptability and flexibility to handle changing project requirements.

6. Time management and organizational skills to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.

7. Strong commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.

8. Ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

9. Proactive mindset and a willingness to take ownership of tasks and projects.

10. Strong customer service orientation and a focus on delivering value to end-users.

Conclusion

By understanding the primary responsibilities and acquiring the necessary hard and soft skills mentioned above, individuals aspiring to become AEM Developers can position themselves for success in this dynamic and evolving field. The demand for AEM expertise continues to grow as businesses recognize the importance of delivering seamless digital experiences to their customers. With the right skill set and a passion for technology, AEM Developers can make a significant impact by creating engaging and personalized digital experiences using Adobe Experience Manager.