Vocabulary · Work
Tech jobs in English
B1
Tech jobs in English: developers and engineers, data and AI jobs, designers, managers, cybersecurity experts and the everyday words of the tech world. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Development
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| developer(n.)“Often shortened to "dev".” | a person who writes computer programs | /dɪˈveləpə/ |
| software engineer(phrase) | a person who designs and builds computer programs | /ˈsɒftweə ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
| web developer(phrase) | a person who builds websites | /web dɪˈveləpə/ |
| frontend developer(phrase)“Front-end = the visible side (HTML, CSS, JS).” | builds the part of an app you see | /ˈfrʌntend dɪˈveləpə/ |
| backend developer(phrase)“Back-end = the server side.” | builds the server side of an app | /ˈbækend dɪˈveləpə/ |
| full-stack developer(phrase) | works on both the front and the back | /ˌfʊl ˈstæk dɪˈveləpə/ |
| mobile developer(phrase) | a person who builds phone apps | /ˈməʊbaɪl dɪˈveləpə/ |
| programmer(n.) | a person who writes computer code | /ˈprəʊɡræmə/ |
| coder(n.) | an informal word for a programmer | /ˈkəʊdə/ |
Data and AI
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| data scientist(phrase) | an expert who studies large amounts of information | /ˈdeɪtə ˈsaɪəntɪst/ |
| data analyst(phrase) | a person who studies numbers and charts | /ˈdeɪtə ˈænəlɪst/ |
| data engineer(phrase) | builds the systems that store information | /ˈdeɪtə ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
| AI engineer(phrase)“AI = Artificial Intelligence.” | builds systems with artificial intelligence | /ˌeɪ ˈaɪ ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
| machine learning engineer(phrase) | teaches computers to learn from examples | /məˈʃiːn ˈlɜːnɪŋ ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
| database administrator (DBA)(phrase) | manages where a company stores its information | /ˈdeɪtəbeɪs ədˈmɪnɪstreɪtə/ |
Design
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| UX designer(phrase)“UX = user experience.” | makes products easy and pleasant to use | /ˌjuː ˈeks dɪˈzaɪnə/ |
| UI designer(phrase)“UI = user interface.” | designs what the screens look like | /ˌjuː ˈaɪ dɪˈzaɪnə/ |
| graphic designer(phrase) | creates pictures, logos and posters | /ˈɡræfɪk dɪˈzaɪnə/ |
| product designer(phrase) | plans how an app looks and works | /ˈprɒdʌkt dɪˈzaɪnə/ |
Management and coordination
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| product manager (PM)(phrase) | decides what an app should do | /ˈprɒdʌkt ˈmænɪdʒə/ |
| project manager(phrase) | plans the work and keeps it on time | /ˈprɒdʒekt ˈmænɪdʒə/ |
| scrum master(phrase)“Agile methodology.” | helps an agile team work well | /ˈskrʌm ˌmɑːstə/ |
| CTO (Chief Technology Officer)(phrase) | the head of technology in a company | /ˌsiː tiː ˈəʊ/ |
| tech lead(phrase) | the most senior developer in a team | /ˈtek liːd/ |
| engineering manager(phrase) | leads and supports a team of developers | /ˌendʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ ˈmænɪdʒə/ |
Cybersecurity and operations
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cybersecurity engineer(phrase) | protects computers from attacks | /ˌsaɪbəsɪˈkjʊərəti ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
| DevOps engineer(phrase) | helps developers and servers work together | /ˈdevɒps ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
| system administrator (sysadmin)(phrase) | looks after a company's computers and servers | /ˈsɪstəm ədˈmɪnɪstreɪtə/ |
| security analyst(phrase) | watches systems for attacks and dangers | /sɪˈkjʊərəti ˈænəlɪst/ |
| ethical hacker(phrase) | breaks into systems legally to find problems | /ˈeθɪkl ˈhækə/ |
Everyday tech words
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| startup(n.) | a young company with a new idea | /ˈstɑːtʌp/ |
| tech company(phrase) | a business that makes software or devices | /tek ˈkʌmpəni/ |
| remote work(phrase) | working from home or anywhere | /rɪˌməʊt ˈwɜːk/ |
| freelancer(n.) | a person who works for many clients | /ˈfriːlɑːnsə/ |
| intern(n.) | a student working for a short time | /ˈɪntɜːn/ |
| junior / senior(adj.) | with little / a lot of experience | /ˈdʒuːniə/ /ˈsiːniə/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
She is engineer ❌: jobs need a or an
In English, a job after be or work as needs a or an: She is an engineer. He works as a developer. Not She is engineer. Use an before a vowel sound: an engineer, an intern, but a UX designer (because UX starts with the sound /j/).
Frontend = the server side ❌
Frontend = what the user sees (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). Backend = the server side (database, API). Full-stack = both. To remember: the front is the side you see.
Chief Tech Officer ❌: tech short forms to know
CTO = Chief Technology Officer (the head of technology in a company). PM = Product Manager. QA = Quality Assurance (testing). API = Application Programming Interface. SaaS = Software as a Service (software you use online). DBA = Database Administrator.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Tech jobs
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a developer and a software engineer?+
Developer is the most common word. Software engineer is more formal and covers more types of work. Programmer is an older word, and coder is informal. In speech, people often say dev. There are also special types: frontend dev, backend dev, full-stack dev and mobile dev.
What is the difference between frontend, backend and full-stack?+
Frontend is the part the user sees: the pages, the buttons and the design (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). Backend is the server side: the database, the API (the way programs talk to each other) and the rules of the app. Full-stack means both: a full-stack developer works on the frontend and the backend.
What do UX and UI mean?+
UX means user experience: how easy and pleasant a product is to use. UI means user interface: what the screens look like. A UX designer thinks about the whole journey of the user. A UI designer draws the screens.
What is a startup?+
A startup is a young company with a new idea, often in tech, that wants to grow fast. It is not just any small company. Startups often look for investors (people who put money into the company to help it grow). You can also write start-up.
What is the English word for working from home?+
Remote work is the most common term. People also say working from home, or WFH in messages. Teleworking is more formal and less common. Hybrid work means a mix of days at the office and days at home.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/tech-jobs
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.