An Appian Developer is a professional who specializes in designing, developing, and implementing software applications using the Appian platform. Appian is a low-code development platform that allows businesses to create enterprise-grade applications rapidly. Appian Developers possess the technical expertise to build robust and scalable solutions that streamline business processes and enhance efficiency. In this blog post, we will describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Appian Developers.

Get market insights and compare skills for other jobs here.

Main Responsibilities of an Appian Developer

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

Achieve

Achieve advanced level certification following the programmes of our key technology partners.

Architect

Architect & Design End to End Solutions using BPM Platforms such as Appian.

Assist in

Assist in pre-sales activities to highlight convedo's product and services offerings.

Build

• Build and maintain high performance software systems and digital assets.

• Build Appian embedded interfaces.

• Build technical, test case, transition and operational documents.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate with business analysts to understand business processes and translate them into functional workflows.

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

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of Appian solutions with existing systems.

• Collaborate with product analysts and designers on UX and overall solution.

• Collaborate with quality assurance teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality software.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify opportunities for automation and process improvement.

Communicate

Communicate systems issues at the appropriate technical level for each audience.

Comprehend

Comprehend and translate business requirements into technical specifications.

Conduct

• Conduct peer reviews, unit testing, and code reviews.

• Conduct performance tuning and optimization to enhance application speed and efficiency.

• Conduct system testing and validation to ensure application reliability and accuracy.

• Conduct technical feasibility studies and impact analyses for new application features.

• Conduct unit testing and troubleshooting to ensure application functionality and performance.

Configure

Configure and customize Appian applications to meet specific business needs.

Construct

Construct conceptual application architecture including records, reports, and news feeds.

Contribute to

• Contribute to the Appian practice at Bits In Glass by sharing methods and best practices.

• Contribute to the technical direction and system architecture for individual initiatives.

Create

• Create Agile work product demonstrations to clients throughout the entire project life cycle.

• Create and maintain technical design documents and solution architecture.

• Create and modify objects, forms and processes that apply to business flow.

• Create solutions that integrate with other Custom or COTS solutions.

• Create technical documentation for reference and reporting.

• Create the products that are changing an industry.

Define

Define application user roles and responsibilities.

Design

• Design and develop high-quality, scalable, and secure applications using the Appian platform.

• Design and implement project solutions using Appian.

• Design and implement project solutions using low-code software.

• Design conceptual workflows and related actions.

• Design conceptual workflows, related actions, and various dependency modules.

Develop

• Develop and support Appian BPM processes.

• Develop APIs to integrate with multiple systems (built in-house as well as 3rd party).

• Develop complex workflows, forms, and reports within the Appian environment.

• Develop, improve and deploy software using technologies.

Document

Document technical specifications, user guides, and knowledge base articles.

Elevate

Elevate code into the development, test, and Production environments on schedule.

Empower

Empower junior team members through coaching and mentoring.

Enable

• Enable automation of functions using BPM and RPA tools.

• Enable automation of functions using RPA tools and AI / ML.

• Enable deployment, monitoring and automation testing tools.

Ensure

• Ensure application security by implementing authentication, authorization, and data protection measures.

• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and industry regulations.

Establish

Establish and implement metrics to track team velocity, quality and performance.

Execute

• Execute full software development life cycle (SDLC).

• Execute unit, system, and integration testing.

Explain

Explain technical considerations at related meetings, including those with internal clients.

Gather

• Gather functional and technical system requirements.

• Gather requirements, designing and mapping the same to the Business processes.

• Gather user feedback and requirements for continuous application improvement.

Help

Help our customers to use the solutions we have delivered.

Implement

• Implement BPM based solutions using Appian BPM software.

• Implement integrations with external systems and databases.

• Implement version control and source code management practices.

Integrate

Integrate software components and third-party programs.

Interact with

Interact with Appian consultants for technical design discussions and issues resolution.

Lead

• Lead and coach more junior team members to achieve better overall results for the company.

• Lead automation of functional and performance testing.

• Lead small scrum teams in developing simple to use solutions to solve complex business problems.

Maintain

Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industry trends to drive innovation in Appian development.

Manage

Manage and prioritize multiple development tasks and projects simultaneously.

Mentor

Mentor junior team members as required.

Monitor

Monitor and support deployed applications, including bug fixes and enhancements.

Optimize

Optimize application performance by analyzing and improving system responsiveness and efficiency.

Organise

Organise and Document solutions appropriately.

Participate

• Participate in analysis, design, and new development of Appian based applications.

• Participate in project planning, estimation, and resource allocation activities.

• Participate in the day-to-day activities of the development team.

• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, design, development, testing, and deployment.

Perform

Perform code reviews and ensure adherence to coding standards and best practices.

Provide

• Provide Appian custom software / system development consulting services.

• Provide demonstrations to clients throughout the entire project life cycle.

• Provide demos and be comfortable presenting to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Provide follow up Production support.

• Provide implementation and operational support for component customers.

• Provide leadership for Appian projects as a technical specialist.

• Provide ongoing support and maintenance for deployed applications.

• Provide technical expertise and guidance to junior developers and project teams.

Recommend

Recommend and execute improvements.

Resolve

Resolve issues elevated from staff with less experience.

Stay updated on

Stay updated on the latest Appian platform features and capabilities.

Submit

Submit change control requests and documents.

Support

• Support Agile work product demonstrations to clients throughout the entire project life cycle.

• Support the customer through user testing and business readiness activities.

• Support user story development.

Train

Train and mentors staff with less experience.

Troubleshoot

• Troubleshoot and resolve application defects and issues reported by end-users.

• Troubleshoot, debug and upgrade existing software.

Verify

Verify and deploy programs and systems.

Work with

• Work closely with testers / QA teams.

• Work closely with UI / UX team.

• Work in planning sessions and dedicate to sprints.

• Work on internal projects to develop new products and enhance our marketing offerings.

• Work with customers to implement Appian solutions and solve mission-critical business challenges.

• Work with key client stakeholders to define business processes.

Write

• Write programs, appropriate test artifacts, ad hoc queries, and reports.

• Write the system / technical portion of assigned deliverables.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

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

1. Proficiency in the Appian platform, including Appian Designer, Appian SAIL, and Appian Process Modeler.

2. Strong understanding of low-code development principles and best practices.

3. Knowledge of BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) and workflow management concepts.

4. Experience in building user interfaces using Appian forms and UI components.

5. Expertise in designing and developing complex business rules and expressions.

6. Familiarity with Appian integrations, including REST and SOAP web services.

7. Understanding of relational databases and SQL for data modeling and querying.

8. Knowledge of JavaScript and CSS for customizing Appian applications.

9. Competence in using Appian's application programming interfaces (APIs) for advanced customizations and integrations.

10. Proficiency in Appian's security framework and implementing access controls.

11. Experience in configuring and utilizing Appian's reporting and analytics capabilities.

12. Knowledge of Appian's mobile development features for creating responsive and mobile-friendly applications.

13. Understanding of performance tuning techniques and optimization strategies in Appian.

14. Familiarity with version control systems such as Git for managing source code.

15. Expertise in troubleshooting and debugging Appian applications and resolving technical issues.

16. Competence in working with Appian's data modeling tools and database design concepts.

17. Knowledge of Appian's collaboration and social features for fostering team collaboration and communication.

18. Understanding of Appian's deployment and release management processes.

19. Proficiency in Appian administration tasks such as environment setup, user management, and system configuration.

20. Familiarity with software development methodologies such as Agile or Scrum for effective project delivery.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

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

1. Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking to address complex business challenges and design efficient solutions.

2. Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with stakeholders, gather requirements, and explain technical concepts.

3. Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

4. Detail-oriented approach to ensure accuracy and quality in application development and testing.

5. Adaptability and flexibility to handle changing project requirements and priorities.

6. Time management and organizational skills to meet project deadlines and manage multiple tasks.

7. Self-motivation and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

8. Strong documentation and presentation skills to effectively communicate technical designs and solutions.

9. Customer-oriented mindset to understand end-user needs and deliver user-friendly applications.

10. Continuous learning mindset to stay updated with Appian platform updates, industry trends, and emerging technologies.

Conclusion

Appian Developers play a vital role in creating customized software applications using the Appian low-code platform. Their responsibilities encompass various stages of the software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering and design to development, testing, and maintenance. Possessing a combination of technical skills, including proficiency in Appian development tools, integration capabilities, database management, and software engineering principles, is essential for success as an Appian Developer. Additionally, soft skills such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, adaptability, and a strong attention to detail contribute to delivering high-quality solutions and collaborating effectively with stakeholders. By excelling in the required hard and soft skills, Appian Developers contribute to the successful implementation of applications that streamline business processes and drive organizational efficiency.