When organizations decide to automate their business processes using robotic process automation (RPA), they often face a critical hiring decision: should they hire a technical UiPath developer or a functional UiPath developer? Knowing the difference between these two roles can significantly impact the success of your RPA initiative. If you are planning to hire UiPath developers, understanding their skill sets and roles will help you choose the right candidate for your needs.
Understanding the Role of UiPath Developers
UiPath developers play a crucial role in the automation journey of an organization. They use UiPath, a leading RPA platform, to design, build, and implement automated workflows. However, not all UiPath developers have the same skillset. Broadly, they can be categorized into two types: technical and functional.
Each of these roles contributes to the RPA lifecycle differently, and choosing between them depends on your project requirements, existing team structure, and long-term automation goals.
What is a Technical UiPath Developer?
A technical UiPath developer is typically someone with a strong background in programming, system architecture, and software engineering. They are responsible for the backend development and integration aspects of the RPA project.
Key Responsibilities
- Designing complex automation solutions using custom scripts and activities
- Integrating UiPath workflows with external systems, APIs, and databases
- Managing orchestration and deployment through UiPath Orchestrator
- Ensuring scalability and performance of automation bots
- Troubleshooting and debugging technical issues in automation processes
Skillset and Tools
- Proficient in programming languages such as VB.NET, C#, or Python
- Experience with databases like SQL Server or MySQL
- Knowledge of API integration and web services (REST/SOAP)
- Familiarity with version control systems like Git
- Advanced knowledge of UiPath Studio and Orchestrator
Technical UiPath developers are best suited for complex automation scenarios where deep technical integration, data handling, or scalability is involved. They are ideal when automation must connect to legacy systems or perform data-intensive tasks.
What is a Functional UiPath Developer?
A functional UiPath developer focuses more on understanding the business processes and translating them into automated workflows. They may not possess deep programming expertise but are skilled in using UiPath Studio to design automation processes that align with business needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborating with business stakeholders to gather process requirements
- Mapping business workflows into UiPath-compatible formats
- Building and testing automation workflows using drag-and-drop activities
- Performing UAT (User Acceptance Testing) with stakeholders
- Documenting the automation process and providing user support
Skillset and Tools
- Strong understanding of business process management
- Experience in using UiPath Studio for low-code development
- Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Knowledge of RPA best practices and governance
- Familiarity with process documentation tools like BPMN
Functional developers are best suited for business-facing automation tasks. They excel at identifying automation opportunities, documenting processes, and building bots with minimal technical complexity.
Who Should You Hire?
The decision to hire UiPath developer talent should be guided by the scope, complexity, and objectives of your automation project. Both technical and functional UiPath developers bring unique strengths to the table.
When to Hire a Technical UiPath Developer
- Your project requires custom development or integration with third-party systems
- You need to handle complex logic, data processing, or backend infrastructure
- Performance optimization and scalability are top priorities
- You already have functional analysts or business users managing process identification
A technical developer is the right choice for enterprise-grade projects where automation must work seamlessly with multiple systems and handle large volumes of data.
When to Hire a Functional UiPath Developer
- Your focus is on quickly automating repetitive tasks within business units
- The automation process involves minimal technical complexity
- You need someone to work closely with business teams to identify and document use cases
- Your project scope is more exploratory or proof-of-concept based
A functional developer is ideal for organizations starting their RPA journey or aiming to automate standard office processes such as invoice handling, employee onboarding, or report generation.
The Hybrid Option: Best of Both Worlds
In some scenarios, the best option is to hire a hybrid UiPath developer—someone who possesses both technical know-how and functional understanding. Hybrid developers can bridge the gap between business requirements and technical execution. They can work independently, handle both process mapping and integration tasks, and reduce the need for multiple roles.
However, hybrid developers are rare and often command a premium in the job market.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between a technical and functional UiPath developer is not just about skillset—it’s about alignment with your business goals. Clearly define your automation roadmap, evaluate the technical depth of your processes, and then decide whom to bring on board.
Whether you need integration-heavy bots or user-centric workflows, making the right hiring decision will shape the success of your automation efforts. So, if you are ready to move forward, take a strategic approach. Assess your needs carefully, and choose the developer type that aligns best with your project objectives and long-term RPA vision.
