In order to be successful as a backend engineer in an IT company, you will need a wide range of skills and knowledge. In particular, knowledge of languages is essential for backend engineers, and there are many different types of languages, so you may be wondering which one you should focus on. The languages required for backend engineers change over time, and also depend on what kind of system development you are working on.

In this article, we will explain the languages that backend engineers should focus on, the languages that they should learn in the future, and the future prospects for backend engineers and what they need to do to be successful. If you want to work as a backend engineer in Japan, we recommend “G Talent”, a recruitment agency specializing in global IT companies.

What is a backend engineer working at an IT company?

The term "back-end engineer" refers to an engineer who develops server-side programs for web pages and web applications. Websites and web pages have two types of programs: the front-end, which is the program that users can see on the screen, and the back-end, which is the program that users cannot see.

The back-end program handles processing requests from the front-end and database operations. For example, the role of the backend is to authenticate users by checking their login information against the database, and to output customer data by referring to it. Backend engineers are the ones who develop backend programs like this.

On the other hand, frontend engineers develop the frontend programs that users see on the screen, using HTML, CSS, etc. They are responsible for executing the frontend programs, such as moving animations on the screen and outputting input forms.

Back-end engineers and front-end engineers have different roles and objectives, so the knowledge and skills they need to focus on are also different. In this article, we will take a closer look at back-end engineers, who work on the programs that are not visible to users.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアとは？フロントエンドエンジニアとの違いや求められるスキルについても解説／AKKODiS

Languages that back-end engineers in IT companies should focus on from now on

There are many different types of languages used by engineers, and many people may be wondering which languages they should focus on in order to become active as a backend engineer at an IT company in the future. Languages in high demand for backend engineers should be prioritized for learning, and it is also recommended to learn languages that are expected to develop in the future. In this article, we will introduce four languages that backend engineers should focus on in the future.

Python

Python is a programming language suitable for engineers working with deep learning. Back-end engineers who want to work in fields such as AI and machine learning in the future should learn it. Python is a language that can also be used for developing web apps, games, desktop apps, etc. However, for back-end engineers who do not work on AI or machine learning, it is not a language that should be mastered as a trend.

Even among backend engineers, if Python has already been introduced in the workplace or is included in the requirements for job postings, you should hurry up and learn it. If you need deep learning skills, we recommend that you consider learning it.

Reference: Pythonでできること一覧！AI・データ分析など事例をふまえて解説／Udemyメディア

Go

Go is a relatively new language, and it is increasingly being used for back-end development. Compared to Java and Ruby, the way you code is very different, so the learning curve is steep, but the advantage is that you can do it with less coding, so it's compact and less prone to bugs. Go is a language that is expected to develop in the future, so it is recommended that you learn it if you want to work as a back-end engineer at an IT company in the future.

Reference: Goエンジニアの仕事内容は？将来性や身に付けるべきスキルについて解説！／HiPro Tech

Kotlin

Kotlin is a relatively new language that is Java-based and suitable for Android development. If you are a backend engineer who wants to start developing Android apps, we recommend learning Kotlin. Although the iPhone has a large share of the smartphone market in Japan, Android is dominant worldwide. Demand for Android app development is expected to remain high in the future, so if you are planning to develop apps, you should learn Kotlin.

Reference: Kotlinのこれからを語る

Scala

Scala is a new language that is compatible with Java and has many advantages, such as high-speed processing and high development efficiency. It can be used for server-side development and development related to big data analysis, so it is a language that is set to develop in the future. As the successor to Java, it is highly secure and can be used for large-scale systems. For this reason, it is one of the languages you should learn if you want to work as a backend engineer for an IT company in the future.

Reference: Scalaとは？将来性やメリット・デメリット、Javaとの関係も解説／レバテックキャリア

Languages that back-end engineers in IT companies should know

The four languages introduced above are relatively new languages that back-end engineers should know. From here, we will also introduce the five standard languages that back-end engineers often use.

PHP

PHP is a language that is active as a back-end development language. There are many existing systems that have been developed in PHP, and it is often necessary to use PHP when performing system maintenance or adding functions. However, PHP is not a trendy language, and it is expected that it will gradually give way to new languages that will become major in the future. However, there are many IT jobs that require PHP skills, so it is one of the languages you should learn if you want to work as a backend engineer at an IT company in the future.

Reference: 2000年以降20年間のプログラミング技術の歴史を振り返って、得た知見を書いてみる／Qiita

Java

Java is a basic language that should be learned as a top priority for back-end engineers. It is used all over the world because it is highly secure and can reduce bugs and security risks, and there are many parts that are necessary for working with existing systems. If you learn frameworks such as Spring and Spring Boot together, you will be able to code efficiently.

Although Java is an old language that is rarely upgraded, there are still many job postings that require Java skills. If you are looking to change jobs and increase your annual income, we recommend learning it.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアになるには（身につけるべき重要なスキル）／kinsta

Ruby

Ruby is a language developed in Japan and is the base language for the popular framework Ruby on Rails. Using it in conjunction with this framework makes programming easier and allows for more efficient development. It is a language that is constantly evolving, so it can be said that it will continue to play an active role in the future. It is particularly often used by venture companies, so back-end engineers who are aiming for jobs at venture companies should learn it.

Reference: プログラミング言語のRubyとは？特徴やできることを解説／発注ラウンジ

C, C++

The C language, which has been used for a long time, is a general-purpose language that can be used for developing operating systems, core systems, software, embedded systems, etc. C++ is an object-oriented language that extends the C language, and can be used for a wide range of applications, including web apps, embedded systems, AI development, and game development. There are many systems that run on these languages, and there are still many system maintenance and function addition projects. For this reason, you should make sure you have a good grasp of these languages as a backend engineer.

Reference: C言語は今でも価値のある言語か？／InfoQ

C#

C# is a language that is very similar to Java, and it can be used for web apps, smartphone apps, game development, etc. As it was developed by Microsoft, it has a high affinity with Microsoft products. There are many existing systems that are running on C#, so it is one of the languages that you should know as a backend engineer.

Reference: C#の将来性はある？需要が高まっている理由や成功するための方法を紹介／HiPro Tech

What is the future for IT companies as a backend engineer?

There are many different types of engineers in IT companies, and I'm sure many people are wondering what the future holds for backend engineers. Backend engineers' jobs, such as maintaining and operating existing systems, will never disappear, so it can be said that this is a job that will continue to be in demand. In fact, there are many job openings for adding functions to existing systems, fixing bugs, and maintenance, and it is predicted that the high demand for backend engineers will continue in the future.

Furthermore, the market for IT systems and smartphone apps is expected to continue growing, so the demand for backend engineers is extremely high. However, the skills required of backend engineers are constantly evolving, so you need to constantly acquire new skills and knowledge.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアの今後は？予想される5つと必要とされ続けるためのスキルを解説／DMM WEBCAMP

It is a chance for foreign IT workers to work as back-end engineers in Japan!

In recent years, the shortage of IT workers in Japan has continued, and the number of foreign IT engineers has been increasing in order to make up for the lack of human resources. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's “Summary of Reports on Employment Status of Foreigners” (as of October 31, 2021), the number of foreign workers has continued to increase as shown in the following graph.
 

In particular, in Japan's IT industry, where the shortage of human resources is progressing, there is a high possibility that demand for foreign IT engineers will continue to grow. For foreigners who want to play an active role in Japan from now on, it can be said that backend engineering is one of the recommended occupations.

What is necessary to play an active role as a backend engineer at an IT company?

In order to play an active role as a backend engineer at an IT company from now on, you will need various knowledge and skills in addition to programming languages. In particular, the following five things are things that you will not lose by remembering as a backend engineer.

• Improve management skills
• Improve framework skills
• Acquire cloud skills
• Acquire knowledge of security
• Acquire front-end skills

Improve management skills

When working for a Japanese IT company, team work is required in almost all workplaces. In particular, if you want to become a leader or manager rather than just a worker as a team member, you will need management skills to ensure that work is carried out smoothly within the team. As you will need to communicate with team members, manage progress, manage problems, and train junior staff, you will need to develop high-level management skills. If you want to become a successful backend engineer, you should work on improving your management skills.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアの将来性とキャリアパスとは／エンジニアスタイル

Improve  framework skills

In order to carry out efficient development, you will need framework skills. A framework is a pre-defined structure for efficient development. The frameworks you can use will differ depending on the language you use, such as Ruby on Rails for Ruby or Spring Boot for Java, so make sure you learn the right framework and use it well. By making use of frameworks, you can become an excellent backend engineer who can efficiently generate high-quality code.

Reference: フレームワークとは？概要やプログラミング言語別の機能を分かりやすく解説／レバテックルーキー

Acquire cloud skills

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of projects that prioritize cost performance by utilizing cloud environments rather than setting up their own servers. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for backend engineers to have cloud service skills such as AWS, Azure, and GCP. By acquiring these skills, you can become an effective backend engineer.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアの役割とは？ 仕事内容や必要なスキルをご紹介／HiPro Tech

Acquire knowledge of security

Security is an important requirement for any system development, not just for backend engineers. In particular, backend engineers often handle users' confidential information, etc., so it is essential to maintain security. If you want to work as a backend engineer in the future, you must acquire knowledge about security, as there is a possibility that you will not be able to engage in practical work if you do not have knowledge about security.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアの仕事とは？ スキルや案件例、向いている人の特徴も紹介／FLEXY

Acquiring front-end skills

Backend engineers can carry out overall development smoothly by also acquiring front-end development skills. If you have skills in both areas, you will be able to expand your opportunities as an engineer. Front-end skills are not essential, but they are one skill you should acquire if you have the time.

Work for a Japanese company as a backend engineer at an IT company

In this article, we have explained the languages that backend engineers should focus on, the basic languages that they should master, the future prospects for backend engineers, and what they need to do in order to be successful. If you want to become a successful backend engineer, please refer to the content we have introduced here. In addition to basic and up-to-date languages, you can become a backend engineer who can quickly make a difference by acquiring other skills and knowledge.

For foreign IT personnel who want to work as backend engineers in Japan, we recommend using the job-change agency for foreign IT engineers, “G Talent”. With over 200 companies providing recruitment support and a track record of over 70 nationalities of engineers changing jobs, you can find IT jobs at companies where you can work in a fair environment regardless of your nationality.