If you’ve spent any time working within the Salesforce ecosystem, you’ve likely noticed that Salesforce Lightning Web Component (LWC) development has become one of the most in-demand skills on the platform. Businesses want custom, high-performance interfaces. Developers want to write clean, standards-based JavaScript. LWC sits squarely in the middle of both.
But finding someone who genuinely knows LWC not just someone who has read the documentation is harder than it looks. This guide breaks down who the real experts are, what separates them from the crowd, and how you can identify them when your project depends on it.
Before we get into the people, let’s set the scene. <a href=”https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/lwc/overview” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>According to Salesforce’s official developer documentation</a>, Lightning Web Components is a framework for building modern user interfaces on the web, mobile apps, and digital experiences on the Salesforce Platform. LWC builds on standard browser technologies HTML, modern JavaScript (ES6+), and CSS rather than relying on a proprietary abstraction layer.
This is a significant departure from the older Aura Components model. The original Aura framework launched around 2014, when browser standards were limited. Fast forward to today, and native browser functionality has caught up considerably. LWC takes advantage of that by sitting on top of standard web technology with a thin layer of Salesforce-specific services things like Lightning Data Service, Base Lightning Components, and the User Interface API.
What this means practically is that a skilled LWC developer needs to be a good JavaScript developer first and a Salesforce developer second. That combination is rarer than you’d think.
Not all LWC experts look the same. Here is how they broadly fall into different categories:
The most recognisable marker of LWC knowledge is the Salesforce Certified JavaScript Developer I credential. <a href=”https://crsinfosolutions.com/comprehensive-guide-to-salesforce-certifications-in-2024-categories-exams-and-fees/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>This certification, outlined by CRS InfoSolutions</a>, targets developers with a solid grounding in JavaScript who want to apply those skills on the Salesforce platform, particularly with LWC. It covers JavaScript syntax and programming concepts alongside their application in a Salesforce context.
Beyond that, the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer II goes further. <a href=”https://crsinfosolutions.com/comprehensive-guide-to-salesforce-certifications-in-2024-categories-exams-and-fees/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>It focuses on more complex programming concepts including integration, advanced business logic, and the creation of reusable components</a>, with an emphasis on writing maintainable, well-structured code.
These certifications are not guarantees of excellence, but they do signal that someone has put in the work to understand the platform’s depth.
The Salesforce MVP programme is one of the most respected peer-recognition systems in the enterprise software world. <a href=”https://www.salesforce.com/blog/meet-the-2024-salesforce-mvps/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>MVPs are nominated by the community and selected based on their expertise, leadership, and generosity</a>. These are developers and consultants who don’t just build things — they teach, mentor, and shape how others work on the platform.
<a href=”https://salesforcetrail.com/15-years-of-salesforce-mvp-program/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Since the programme launched in 2010 with just ten members, it has grown to recognise over 500 Salesforce MVPs across more than 30 countries</a>. Those with a focus on the developer track particularly LWC, Apex, and platform architecture are among the most credible voices in the field.
MVPs who contribute to LWC-specific content often run community groups, publish tutorials, answer questions in Trailblazer Community forums, and speak at events like Dreamforce and Salesforce Saturdays. If you’re looking for someone who knows LWC at a deep level, checking the Trailblazer MVP directory and filtering by developer skills is a solid starting point.
Some of the most capable LWC developers work inside specialist Salesforce consulting firms. These are people who spend their working days building custom LWC solutions for enterprise clients not studying for a certification, but shipping real code across multiple orgs.
Firms like Sailwayz are made up of dedicated Salesforce CRM consultants whose work spans end-to-end platform delivery, including custom component development. The practical knowledge that comes from building and deploying LWC across different business contexts is genuinely difficult to replicate through self-study alone.
LWC is open source. <a href=”https://developer.salesforce.com/developer-centers/lightning-web-components” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Salesforce maintains the LWC open-source project on GitHub</a>, and some of the most technically sharp developers in the ecosystem contribute to it directly. Checking a developer’s GitHub history for LWC contributions bug fixes, performance improvements, community samples tells you a great deal about how deeply they understand the framework at a structural level.
Here’s a practical breakdown of what separates a strong LWC developer from an average one:
Trailhead is Salesforce’s official free learning platform, and the LWC-specific trailmixes are genuinely well-built. The “Get Started with Lightning Web Components” trail is the most recommended entry point, covering everything from the basic component structure through to data binding and wire services.
<a href=”https://www.apexhours.com/lightning-web-components/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Apex Hours is a community-led programme where Salesforce experts across the globe share their knowledge to help others in the Ohana</a> — Salesforce’s term for its community. It offers free LWC training sessions, recorded content, and hands-on examples covering topics from custom events through to navigation services and Lightning Datatable.
<a href=”https://www.udemy.com/course/lightning-web-component-development/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>On Udemy, Manish Choudhari — an Amazon Senior Software Engineer with over eight years of Salesforce development experience and 14 Salesforce certifications — teaches the most popular LWC course on the platform</a>. With over 100,000 students, it’s one of the most widely used starting points outside of Trailhead.
<a href=”https://s2-labs.com/salesforce-lwc-training/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Staying aware of the latest developments means regularly reading Salesforce developer blogs, release notes, and community events</a>. Salesforce publishes three major platform releases per year, and each one often includes changes or additions to LWC functionality. Experts stay current. Those who don’t slowly fall behind.
Here’s how to tell the difference when you’re hiring or evaluating someone:
Ask them to explain the Shadow DOM. LWC uses a shadow DOM model for component encapsulation. If someone can’t explain why CSS leaks happen and how to prevent them, they haven’t worked on any serious component architecture.
Ask about their testing approach. A strong LWC developer will mention Jest, talk about mocking wire adapters, and explain how they structure unit tests. A weak one will shrug.
Ask about a time they hit a performance issue. Real LWC work involves running into things like re-rendering loops, unnecessary server calls, and large data tables that grind to a halt. Experts have war stories.
Check their community presence. Do they post on the Trailblazer Community? Have they answered questions, written blog posts, or contributed to open-source projects? That kind of activity is hard to fake and is a reliable signal of genuine engagement with the craft.
Teams at organisations like Sailwayz combine deep platform knowledge with hands-on delivery experience the kind of profile that shows up consistently in serious LWC projects.
LWC was introduced to the public at Dreamforce in 2018 and became generally available in 2019. In the years since, the ecosystem of experts has matured considerably.
Early LWC work was largely about migration moving older Aura components to the new model. Today’s experts are building things that weren’t possible before: performance-sensitive interfaces for field service teams, complex data grids for financial services, and Experience Cloud sites built entirely with custom LWC components.
<a href=”https://www.salesforceben.com/lightning-web-components/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>LWC knowledge has become a defining skill for developers who want to stay current in the Salesforce ecosystem</a>. The people who took LWC seriously in 2020 and 2021 are now the senior architects and lead developers being sought out for the most complex implementations.
Q1: What qualifications should a Salesforce LWC developer have?
Look for the Salesforce Certified JavaScript Developer I and Platform Developer II certifications as baseline credentials. Beyond that, hands-on project experience, community contributions, and familiarity with Salesforce DX tooling all matter. Certifications confirm knowledge; project history confirms ability.
Q2: How is an LWC expert different from a general Salesforce developer?
A general Salesforce developer might work primarily with configuration, flows, or Apex. An LWC expert specialises in building custom user interface components using HTML, JavaScript, and the Salesforce Lightning platform. They need strong front-end skills in addition to platform knowledge.
Q3: Where can I find trusted Salesforce LWC developers for my business?
Check the Salesforce Partner directory, the Trailblazer MVP community, and specialist Salesforce consultancies. Firms like Sailwayz focus specifically on Salesforce CRM consulting and can help businesses identify the right implementation approach for their needs.
Q4: What is the Salesforce MVP programme and why does it matter for LWC?
The Salesforce MVP programme recognises community members who demonstrate expertise, leadership, and generosity within the ecosystem. MVPs focused on developer skills are often among the most technically credible LWC practitioners, and many publish learning content and tools the community relies on.
Q5: How long does it take to become proficient in Salesforce Lightning Web Component development?
With a solid JavaScript foundation and dedicated daily practice, a developer can reach working proficiency in LWC in around three to six months. Reaching a senior level where you can architect component hierarchies, debug complex issues, and mentor others typically takes one to two years of project experience.
Joshua Eze is the Founder & Salesforce Architect at Sailwayz, a certified Salesforce Consulting Partner based in the UK. With over 6 years of experience leading CRM transformations, he is a certified Application & System Architect passionate about using technology to simplify business processes. Joshua helps companies unlock the full potential of Salesforce with strategic, scalable, and secure solutions.
