Writing good code isn’t enough. Why are we looking for a developer with a broader perspective?

Development today is no longer just about writing code. It’s about understanding the business, designing effective solutions, and communicating clearly—both within the team and with clients.
At Dactyl Group, we’re looking for skilled developers who bring more to the table: strong technical expertise combined with product thinking, mentoring, and leadership.

In this article, we’ll show why programming alone isn’t enough—and what working on complex projects looks like today, from initial concept to full launch.

Development is the foundation. The added perspective is what makes the difference.

At Dactyl Group, we build digital products that help our clients grow. Whether it's mobile apps, web portals or internal information systems, we always make sure the development makes sense - in terms of functionality, efficiency, and business value.

But the more projects we run simultaneously - and the more responsibility our clients entrust us with - the more we realize that well-written code alone is not enough.

Our development has always been built on strong technical foundations. But as the scope of our projects and the trust of our clients grow, broader thinking becomes increasingly important—not just technical, but also product- and business-oriented. And that’s exactly why we’re now looking for developers with a broader perspective.

Our Expectations — Where “just writing code” isn’t enough

One of our current projects is a platform for aggregating statistics from Facebook. At first glance, it’s “just” about retrieving data via API—but in reality, the development involves much more than just programming.

To ensure reliable data retrieval on a regular basis, we need to:

1. Verify what the API actually allows and how its capabilities evolve,
2. propose how new features will fit into the overall architecture of the platform,
3. think through how different types of users will interact with them—from clients to our internal team,
4. and at the same time, align with the client on when and why it makes sense to develop specific features within the context of their plans and long-term strategy.

It’s already clear that this role isn’t for someone who waits to be told what to do. At Dactyl, we value people who can think like a developer -but also like a product strategist and a true team player.

Development isn’t the first step

Right now, we’re working on a new system for a client in the logistics sector. The initial brief sounded clear: “build a customer portal.” But it quickly became clear that this project wasn’t just about development.

It requires:

• Discuss which data will bring the most value to the clients,
• Design the MVP in a way that delivers value from the very first phase,
• come up with a scalable architecture that can handle growth,
• and clearly explain the proposal to non-technical stakeholders who make decisions about budget and priorities.

This isn’t a job for “just” a good developer. We need someone who can lead, understands both the product and the team - and knows how to connect all parts of the development process into a meaningful whole.

Three roles in one: mentor, developer, strategist

When we talk about a “broader perspective,” we don’t mean we’re looking for a superhero who can do everything alone. We’re looking for someone who can naturally navigate across three key areas: development, product and team.

It’s not enough for it to work. It has to make sense.

For most projects, development doesn’t end with coding the brief. On the contrary—it often requires refining, shaping, and finding a path together with the client that’s both technically efficient and makes business sense.

That means:

• Thinking about the product design before opening the IDE.
• Considering how different designs will affect future development.
• And being able to say: “Not this way - let’s take a different path, it will have a greater impact.”

It used to be simpler - now we’ve come a long way.

When the team was smaller and there were only a few projects, a lot could be solved in a single morning—at one table or over Slack. It made sense. At that stage, it worked perfectly.

Today, we’ve moved forward. Projects are more complex, teams are larger, and responsibilities are shared across more people. To maintain quality and continue growing, we need roles in the company that combine tech, product, and leadership.

Who are we looking for?

We’re currently looking for a Tech & Product Leader (PHP/Laravel) - someone who can combine development, mentoring and product thinking. You’ll be part of teams that build real products - from the initial idea all the way to live deployment.

If you're not quite ready for such a complex role yet, but want to grow in PHP and learn from more experienced colleagues, consider applying for the PHP Developer – Medior position.