Toptal is a marketplace for top software developers, engineers, programmers, coders, architects, and consultants. Top companies and startups can hire Toptal dedicated (full-time), hourly, or part-time software freelancers for their mission-critical software projects.
United StatesFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since November 8, 2019
Matthew has over 15 years of experience in database management and software development, with a strong focus on full-stack web applications. He specializes in Django and Vue.js with expertise deploying to both server and serverless environments on AWS. He also works with relational databases and large datasets.
United StatesFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since June 20, 2012
Marcela is an experienced web and mobile developer from Brazil currently living in Silicon Valley. She has a very strong understanding of software architecture and also a very strong mathematical background. She was selected by ZDNet as one of ten most influential female tech innovators in Brazil, as well as mentioned on Mashable, Forbes, and others several times.
United StatesFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since September 13, 2022
Nate is a highly skilled software developer who started his professional career in business intelligence in 2010 after years of programming as a hobby. After graduating in computer science in 2013, he worked primarily in web application development, ERP (NetSuite) customization, and system integrations. Proficient in several languages, frameworks, and tools, Nate also spearheaded, architected, and developed countless projects as a lead developer.
United StatesFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since June 18, 2020
For the past two decades, Marianna has worked as a database developer and a full-stack .NET developer, primarily focusing on databases. Database development is her strongest suit, including tuning, programming, ETL processes, and more. Marianna has worked with well-known corporations such as CBS, Lifetime Television, Elsevier, and Universal Studios. She is looking for projects that deal with new reporting tools and different databases.
GermanyFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since October 14, 2022
Anees is a confident DevOps software engineer and certified AWS developer associate with over seven years of experience in software development. He is proficient in Google Cloud Platform (GCP), AWS, and Azure. He has deployed applications from various domains, such as data engineering, machine learning (ML), and recommendation engines. Anees has a proven ability to develop ETL applications on AWS and build CI/CD pipelines for ML platforms (including observability and scalability of systems).
United KingdomFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since September 12, 2022
Simon is a software engineer and technical architect with over 20 years of commercial experience working with an enviable list of companies, from Electronic Arts and Sony PlayStation to BBC, Cable, and Wireless. A champion of behavior-driven and test-driven software development processes in an Agile environment, he has led teams and overseen various projects throughout his career. Simon can manage multiple clients as he is adaptable and can quickly fit into a company workflow.
DenmarkFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since April 8, 2022
Erik is an ML researcher currently pursuing a PhD in machine learning at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), specializing in topics of NLP, Knowledge Graphs optimizations, and explainability in NLP. He is looking for opportunities to apply his deep learning and software engineering skills in an exciting and challenging project.
MexicoFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since October 30, 2012
Pablo is a senior software developer with over twenty years of experience writing applications, especially web and back-end applications. He works well in teams, communicates clearly and succinctly, and is always interested in new and engaging challenges.
New ZealandFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since November 3, 2020
Antonio's experience is in the areas of embedded systems, firmware, hardware, and software development. He has worked in the automotive, avionic, and defense sectors as a senior software engineer with full hands-on in all software development levels, including performance, functional, integration, system, regression, and user acceptance testing. Antonio is a supportive and passionate team player and a leader dedicated to streamlining processes and efficiently resolving project issues.
United StatesFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since March 10, 2022
Michael is a broadly experienced, results-driven software engineering leader and architect with extensive knowledge in the analysis, design, development, and implementation of software applications across a variety of areas and technologies. Proficient in using various software tools, languages, development methodologies, and patterns, Michel is also skilled at team collaboration and team management.
GermanyFreelance Software Development Developer at Toptal Since November 9, 2022
Juan is a self-motivated software engineer and a certified AWS architect. With more than 14 years of experience in software engineering, leading and being part of successful cross-functional teams, Juan loves to work in close collaboration with the product and design teams to achieve the company goals and OKRs.
Software developers are needed across so many industries that the supply can’t keep up with the demand. But with such a broad field, how do you effectively find and retain talent? This guide offers a high-level overview of what you need to know when hiring software developers, including how to assess the skills, technologies, and level of expertise needed, as well as how to narrow down your search to find the most ideal candidates.
... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.
Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.
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Creating an app for the game
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Testimonials
Tripcents wouldn't exist without Toptal. Toptal Projects enabled us to rapidly develop our foundation with a product manager, lead developer, and senior designer. In just over 60 days we went from concept to Alpha. The speed, knowledge, expertise, and flexibility is second to none. The Toptal team were as part of tripcents as any in-house team member of tripcents. They contributed and took ownership of the development just like everyone else. We will continue to use Toptal. As a startup, they are our secret weapon.
Brantley Pace, CEO & Co-Founder
Tripcents
I am more than pleased with our experience with Toptal. The professional I got to work with was on the phone with me within a couple of hours. I knew after discussing my project with him that he was the candidate I wanted. I hired him immediately and he wasted no time in getting to my project, even going the extra mile by adding some great design elements that enhanced our overall look.
Paul Fenley, Director
K Dunn & Associates
The developers I was paired with were incredible -- smart, driven, and responsive. It used to be hard to find quality engineers and consultants. Now it isn't.
Ryan Rockefeller, CEO
Radeeus
Toptal understood our project needs immediately. We were matched with an exceptional freelancer from Argentina who, from Day 1, immersed himself in our industry, blended seamlessly with our team, understood our vision, and produced top-notch results. Toptal makes connecting with superior developers and programmers very easy.
Jason Kulik, Co-Founder
ProHatch
As a small company with limited resources we can't afford to make expensive mistakes. Toptal provided us with an experienced programmer who was able to hit the ground running and begin contributing immediately. It has been a great experience and one we'd repeat again in a heartbeat.
Stuart Pocknee , Principal
Site Specific Software Solutions
We used Toptal to hire a developer with extensive Amazon Web Services experience. We interviewed four candidates, one of which turned out to be a great fit for our requirements. The process was quick and effective.
Abner Guzmán Rivera, CTO and Chief Scientist
Photo Kharma
Sergio was an awesome developer to work with. Top notch, responsive, and got the work done efficiently.
Dennis Baldwin, Chief Technologist and Co-Founder
PriceBlink
Working with Marcin is a joy. He is competent, professional, flexible, and extremely quick to understand what is required and how to implement it.
André Fischer, CTO
POSTIFY
We needed a expert engineer who could start on our project immediately. Simanas exceeded our expectations with his work. Not having to interview and chase down an expert developer was an excellent time-saver and made everyone feel more comfortable with our choice to switch platforms to utilize a more robust language. Toptal made the process easy and convenient. Toptal is now the first place we look for expert-level help.
Derek Minor, Senior VP of Web Development
Networld Media Group
Toptal's developers and architects have been both very professional and easy to work with. The solution they produced was fairly priced and top quality, reducing our time to launch. Thanks again, Toptal.
Jeremy Wessels, CEO
Kognosi
We had a great experience with Toptal. They paired us with the perfect developer for our application and made the process very easy. It was also easy to extend beyond the initial time frame, and we were able to keep the same contractor throughout our project. We definitely recommend Toptal for finding high quality talent quickly and seamlessly.
Ryan Morrissey, CTO
Applied Business Technologies, LLC
I'm incredibly impressed with Toptal. Our developer communicates with me every day, and is a very powerful coder. He's a true professional and his work is just excellent. 5 stars for Toptal.
Pietro Casoar, CEO
Ronin Play Pty Ltd
Working with Toptal has been a great experience. Prior to using them, I had spent quite some time interviewing other freelancers and wasn't finding what I needed. After engaging with Toptal, they matched me up with the perfect developer in a matter of days. The developer I'm working with not only delivers quality code, but he also makes suggestions on things that I hadn't thought of. It's clear to me that Amaury knows what he is doing. Highly recommended!
George Cheng, CEO
Bulavard, Inc.
As a Toptal qualified front-end developer, I also run my own consulting practice. When clients come to me for help filling key roles on their team, Toptal is the only place I feel comfortable recommending. Toptal's entire candidate pool is the best of the best. Toptal is the best value for money I've found in nearly half a decade of professional online work.
Ethan Brooks, CTO
Langlotz Patent & Trademark Works, Inc.
In Higgle's early days, we needed the best-in-class developers, at affordable rates, in a timely fashion. Toptal delivered!
Lara Aldag, CEO
Higgle
Toptal makes finding a candidate extremely easy and gives you peace-of-mind that they have the skills to deliver. I would definitely recommend their services to anyone looking for highly-skilled developers.
Michael Gluckman, Data Manager
Mxit
Toptal’s ability to rapidly match our project with the best developers was just superb. The developers have become part of our team, and I’m amazed at the level of professional commitment each of them has demonstrated. For those looking to work remotely with the best engineers, look no further than Toptal.
Laurent Alis, Founder
Livepress
Toptal makes finding qualified engineers a breeze. We needed an experienced ASP.NET MVC architect to guide the development of our start-up app, and Toptal had three great candidates for us in less than a week. After making our selection, the engineer was online immediately and hit the ground running. It was so much faster and easier than having to discover and vet candidates ourselves.
Jeff Kelly, Co-Founder
Concerted Solutions
We needed some short-term work in Scala, and Toptal found us a great developer within 24 hours. This simply would not have been possible via any other platform.
Franco Arda, Co-Founder
WhatAdsWork.com
Toptal offers a no-compromise solution to businesses undergoing rapid development and scale. Every engineer we've contracted through Toptal has quickly integrated into our team and held their work to the highest standard of quality while maintaining blazing development speed.
Greg Kimball, Co-Founder
nifti.com
How to Hire Software Developers through Toptal
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Talk to One of Our Industry Experts
A Toptal director of engineering will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2
Work With Hand-Selected Talent
Within days, we'll introduce you to the right software developer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new software developer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
Find Experts With Related Skills
Access a vast pool of skilled developers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.
At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our software developers to ensure we only match you with talent of the highest caliber. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut. You’ll work with engineering experts (never generalized recruiters or HR reps) to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics. The end result: expert vetted talent from our network, custom matched to fit your business needs.
Can I hire software developers in less than 48 hours through Toptal?
Depending on availability and how fast you can progress, you could start working with a software developer within 48 hours of signing up.
What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal software developers?
We make sure that each engagement between you and your software developer begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.
Muhammad is a back-end developer specializing in C, C++, and Go. As a senior software engineer at ST Engineering and Afiniti, he built high-impact microservices serving millions of users. He currently leads R&D at Arçelik, where he works on embedded systems and IoT. Muhammad has won an NUCES ACM Programmer of the Year award.
Software Developer Demand Continues to Outpace Supply
The need for talented software developers shows no signs of slowing down: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this sector will grow by 25% between 2022 and 2032, exceeding the 3% average for all occupations by a wide margin. Developers are needed across nearly all industries and sectors of the economy—if it’s become cliché to state that all companies are technology companies now, then it’s a testament to how thoroughly software has reshaped the ways in which we do business and communicate.
Despite their outsize influence, software developers represent only about 1% of the US workforce. And when you consider how many different niches and specialties exist within this realm, it becomes clear that the talent pool of experienced software developers for any given project is actually quite small. So, how do you find qualified software developers for hire who meet the specific needs of your project or organization in a narrow pool of talent?
This guide describes sought-after traits and skills common to nearly all software developers and explains how to determine the best fit for your position. You’ll walk away with a strong understanding of what differentiates more- and less-experienced candidates across a variety of software developer specialties and how to assess both high- and low-level knowledge that those candidates may possess. We also cover where to begin with the hiring process as well as how to craft an effective job description and interview questions.
What attributes distinguish quality Software Developers from others?
Software development is a very broad field with many specialties that may have little or no overlap: One developer could spend a lifetime mastering a technology that is completely foreign to their peers. Nonetheless, there are many core competencies common to all software developers that they endeavor to refine across their entire careers.
Knowledge of Programming Concepts
Programming languages are almost as diverse as spoken languages, but the choice of which to use is more practical: Many programming languages are optimized for specific use cases, like web development (e.g., JavaScript and Ruby), data analysis (e.g., R and Stata), database management (e.g., SQL), or embedded systems (e.g., C and C++). Though they may differ dramatically in terms of syntax, the underlying patterns typically remain the same. This means that a developer who has mastered one programming language will find it that much simpler to learn a second—especially when applied to a domain they’re already familiar with. In fact, an experienced senior developer can potentially get up to speed on a new language in just one weekend.
Data structures and algorithms are often used to assess a developer’s knowledge of fundamental programming concepts. These topics are indispensable in certain specialties such as database management, AI and machine learning, and embedded systems, but they may not be applicable or relevant to all positions. For example, a front-end web developer who builds user interfaces has little need for optimization algorithms or dynamic programming strategies. When devising a hiring plan, it’s crucial to tailor your technical assessments to match the kind of work that the developer would be performing from day to day.
Problem-solving Skills
While programming languages vary widely, the skills required to harness them are largely the same. Writing and debugging code is often an exercise in managing frustrations: It’s inevitable that a developer will encounter unexpected problems that will derail their primary task, so it’s critical they know how to deal with the stress of changing course and adjusting projected timelines when the solution is uncertain. From this perspective, seniority is less about what a developer knows and more about how they will figure out what they don’t know. The best software developers thrive when presented with open-ended challenges that require them to acquire new skills or knowledge.
Leadership and Project Management Skills
Development is about much more than writing code—software development projects are complex and feature many moving parts that all need to be accounted for. As a developer grows in their career, the workload often becomes more about managing project requirements, communicating with stakeholders, and delegating tasks to other team members. The more senior the developer, the larger the scope they’ll be able to manage.
Software developers are generally presented with two tracks in their careers, which they may alternate between from job to job: individual contributor (IC) and manager. Both can be leaders in an organization, but an IC is primarily concerned with technical execution, while a manager handles project planning and coordination as well as acting as a liaison between engineers and nontechnical stakeholders. ICs can grow into subject matter experts (specialists) over time, while managers need to be familiar with lots of different pieces of the whole (generalists). Keep in mind that an engineering manager is no ordinary manager: They must possess technical know-how and a strong understanding of the software development lifecycle in order to function as both project managers and people managers.
Communication Skills
Software developers—especially those in leadership positions—should possess the soft skills necessary to be effective communicators and collaborators. The best developers can explain the most esoteric concepts to their colleagues in a way that makes them simple to understand. They know how to tailor their communications to be understood by both technical and nontechnical stakeholders, as well as how to center the needs of the team and the business when making decisions about how to implement any given technology.
It’s often said that software is only as good as its documentation, which means that a developer needs to be able to effectively document how to use what they create. It’s one thing to understand how code works; it’s another thing entirely to be able to explain how it works.
Complementary Technical Skills
Because software development is such a broad field, there are many different specializations that a developer may pursue in their career. The list below describes some of the most popular technologies, but it is by no means comprehensive, nor should you expect any given candidate to have experience with them all. When in doubt, consult with development team leaders to determine what’s needed and what’s merely nice to have.
JavaScript – JavaScript is the most popular programming language for full-stack web development. That said, it’s not common for web apps to be written in “vanilla” JavaScript anymore: Most teams prefer to use libraries and frameworks like React, Next.js, or Express.js to speed up the development process by minimizing the amount of boilerplate code that developers need to write and maintain. These frameworks all have their own nuances, but it’s not especially difficult for a proficient developer to jump from one adjacent framework to another: For example, an Angular developer can quickly learn React, and a Gatsby developer shouldn’t have much trouble transitioning to Next.js.
Java – As a staple of computer science curricula, Java is the most widely taught programming language in the world. Java is an object-oriented programming language that lends itself to modular software architecture, which is commonly favored by larger enterprise organizations. You can find Java across the full stack, both on the web and in desktop software.
R – R is a programming language that’s specifically tailored for statistical analysis and data visualization. It is commonly employed by data scientists and academics who need to perform complex computations like linear regressions and standard deviations. Data analysts coming from a mathematics or statistics background (rather than computer science) are likely to be more comfortable working in R than potential alternatives such as Python.
Python – Python could be considered one of the more open-ended programming languages, which is to say that it’s applicable to a wide range of use cases. It’s great for full-stack web development (like JavaScript), but it’s also useful for writing non-web applications (like Java) and performing data analysis (like R). Unlike some other languages, its syntax is optimized for maximum readability, meaning that developers who don’t know Python can often understand it nonetheless. These characteristics make it a favorite among data-focused tech startups employing full-stack developers because they can use a single language across the entire stack.
SQL – Structured query language (SQL) is the most common programming language used for database creation and manipulation. Similar to R, it’s optimized for a very specific use case: managing relational databases. Because SQL is a somewhat “incomplete” programming language on its own, most developers who are proficient with it are also skilled in one of the more open-ended languages like JavaScript, Java, or Python. That said, a SQL specialist can be a valuable asset for an enterprise organization operating at scale; there are situations in which performance optimizations measured in milliseconds can lead to millions of dollars in savings.
Databases – Databases are the repositories where data is stored. Broadly speaking, databases fall into two categories: SQL-based (relational) and NoSQL (nonrelational). Both approaches have their trade-offs, and an experienced developer will be able to determine which is more applicable to any given use case. In general, enterprise systems are more likely to use relational databases for their battle-tested stability, while more modern tech startups may opt for NoSQL to optimize for speed of development.
APIs – Application program interfaces (APIs) are the means by which applications communicate with one another. Regardless of their specialty, most software developers will regularly interact with APIs to retrieve data and integrate services from various sources. More-senior developers may have some experience with designing and building APIs, but this kind of experience isn’t necessary to be able to make productive use of API data.
Version control – Version control describes the practice of tracking changes made to software code. This is a critical component of the modern software development lifecycle, enabling developers to keep track of what changes have been made and by whom; to trace what consequences may have resulted from those changes; and to revert the codebase to an earlier version if serious problems arise. GitHub and GitLab (both based on Git) are among the most popular version control platforms, but some larger organizations prefer to maintain their own systems: For example, AWS has their own Git-based platform called CodeCommit.
How can you identify the ideal Software Developer for you?
When choosing from a pool of talent, how do you determine which candidates best suit your needs? It all begins with clearly defining the needs of the project, team, and organization. Do you need local talent for in-person work, or are you open to hiring remote developers? Is this a one-off project (in which case you might be able to hire a freelance software developer) or an ongoing commitment? Is it possible for a single skilled developer to complete the project at hand within the expected timeframe, or will it require a team of developers? Answer these questions clearly before beginning your search to ensure that the most relevant candidates will be able to self-select for application.
Do hiring managers need to prioritize candidates with knowledge of the specific tech stack currently used by their organization?
Yes—to find a software developer suited for your tech stack, consider the programming languages, frameworks, platforms, and other tools they’ll be expected to work with. It’s usually wise to seek out candidates who have knowledge of the specific tech stack that your team or organization already uses, but depending on the needs of the role, this is not necessarily a hard requirement. For example, it’s relatively simple for a skilled JavaScript developer to quickly learn a new front-end JS framework (e.g., moving from Angular to React), but it could take months for them to become proficient with a back-end framework that uses a different programming language (e.g., learning Django or Flask, which use Python).
What do open-source contributions say about a developer’s skills?
A solid track record of open-source software (OSS) contributions gives any developer a competitive edge. Developers who contribute to OSS demonstrate a commitment to programming that extends well beyond their nine-to-five roles. OSS developers are highly self-motivated to do good work and advance their skills, and this work is often imbued with a sense of pride in being a part of a developer community working toward a common goal. This is a strong signal that the developer is a great collaborator and communicator, and that they will proactively seek out ways to improve any codebase they work on—regardless of skill level.
Determining the Necessary Level of Expertise
To determine what level of developer you need to hire, think about the scope of the role or project at hand: Will this developer be delegated straightforward tasks to complete, or will they need to be able to design and implement end-to-end software solutions? Will they be an IC, or will they have direct reports to manage? What kinds of onboarding processes do you have in place to ensure that they’ll be able to properly integrate with your existing team? Once you’ve pinned down these requirements, you’ll have a better sense of the level of experience necessary for the role.
Junior software developers are in the process of becoming proficient with a programming language and general programming concepts. They should be able to complete well-defined tasks when provided with adequate guidance but may be prone to getting stuck when encountering unfamiliar situations. Regardless of the specific tech, they can generally be tasked with running tests, troubleshooting, solving minor bugs, and participating in the creation of documentation. However, junior developers will lack the practical experience necessary to make big decisions about software architecture and design. Employers who want to invest in junior talent over the long term should provide them with plenty of opportunities to take on bigger responsibilities and push their skills to the next level.
Mid-level software developers typically have about three to five years of experience, during which time they’ll have mastered their first programming language and potentially begun picking up another. They should be familiar with the libraries and frameworks available in their niche (such as Laravel for PHP developers or Spring Boot for Java developers) and some of the major trade-offs associated with them. A mid-level developer can operate more independently than a junior and take on projects that don’t necessarily have a clear solution. They may be trusted to make some decisions about software design but may not have enough years of experience under their belt to have witnessed the long-term repercussions of poor decisions at scale.
Senior software developers generally have five or more years of experience and should be highly skilled at their craft. They will be masters of multiple programming languages and have strong opinions about the relevant platforms, services, and tools at their disposal as a result of their direct experiences using them in production. They should be able to work independently and lead projects of significant complexity, delegating tasks to more-junior colleagues as well as coaching them to help advance their skills along the way. Once a developer has roughly seven to ten years of experience and has grown their leadership and mentorship skills alongside their technical skills, they may become qualified for levels above senior such as staff, principal, vice president, and even CTO. The qualifications for such roles vary widely across organizations, but common characteristics include domain-specific technical expertise, strong leadership and project management skills, and a big-picture vision that aligns with the organization’s North Star metrics.
Common Use Cases for Software Developers
The following represents a broad overview of the kinds of services that various types of software developers might perform:
Web developers write software that runs on the Internet. Specializations in this realm include front-end and back-end development, though more-experienced developers will usually be comfortable operating across the full stack. Front-end developers construct user interfaces, while back-end developers focus on business logic.
Mobile developers create apps specifically for mobile devices. There’s a fair amount of overlap between web- and mobile-development skills, but mobile developers face unique challenges with regard to compatibility across the major platforms (iOS and Android).
Cloud developers maintain web infrastructure that runs on the cloud. They understand how to use cloud-based infrastructure to save on maintenance time and compute costs. Most will specialize in a particular platform such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) because each is so vast and offers so many different tools, but the skills and best practices are transferable across platforms.
Embedded systems engineers build software for electronic devices. They may specialize in consumer electronics, automotive systems, healthcare devices, or other industrial applications. Their work requires them to work closely with the respective hardware they program to optimize performance and long-term reliability.
AI engineers write software that can learn, adapt, and make decisions autonomously. Popular topics in this field include neural networks, large language models, natural language processing, and computer vision.
Data scientists write programs for analyzing large data sets. They apply their knowledge of statistics and machine learning algorithms to uncover patterns, derive insight, and create predictive models to help make better informed business decisions.
Security engineers specialize in optimizing the security of software systems. They run tests to expose gaps in coverage and potential avenues for cyber attacks, and monitor authorization and authentication protocols across the tech stack.
Keep in mind that there are numerous other specialties that fall under the software developer umbrella, including game developers, QA engineers, database administrators, DevOps engineers, and more. Your specific use case will determine what specialties to look for.
How to Write a Software Developer Job Description for Your Project
When writing a software developer job description, be clear about the programming languages and technologies used as well as the level of seniority and leadership that you’re looking for. Highlight the kinds of tasks and responsibilities the developer will perform. Be sure to explain why developers should want to work with you (company culture, growth potential) and be upfront about what they can expect in terms of salary, benefits, and other perks. Being upfront about these details will help qualified candidates to self-select based on how relevant the listing is to their experiences and interests.
There is a wide variety of software developer job titles out there, from quality assurance tester, to systems architect, to DevOps specialist, and beyond. If the role requires a generalist, then the title should reflect that (e.g., software developer, full-stack developer); otherwise, it’s best to choose a title that’s as specific as possible to source more high-quality leads (e.g., senior React developer).
What are the most important Software Developer interview questions?
When interviewing software developers it can be a challenge to get an accurate read on their skill level, especially if they don’t have a portfolio that’s directly applicable to the project at hand. In addition to behavioral interviews, most software developer hiring processes include at least one technical round in which the candidate may be expected to perform live coding or else complete a take-home challenge within a given timeframe. The following questions are generally applicable to a wide range of software developer roles, but you’ll also want to go much more in-depth with the specific tech stack and tools that the new hire would be working with.
How would you describe an API to someone who’s never written code before?
APIs are the bread and butter of software developer jobs: They’re ubiquitous across all programming languages, tech stacks, and industries. Most developers will be able to tell you that APIs are what apps use to communicate with one another, but what does that actually mean? An API call involves three steps: first, the client side of the app makes a request to the server; next, the server processes the request to ensure it’s valid and authorized; finally, the server sends a response back to the client side, where it can be communicated to the user. An example would be updating a user’s email address: First the user sends a request to update the email address in the database by submitting a form; then the server checks the request to make sure that the user has the appropriate permissions to change the email address; and finally the user interface displays a success message to let the user know that the request for the change in email address went through. Technical questions framed for a nontechnical stakeholder are great for helping to gauge both the depth of the developer’s knowledge as well as their ability to translate that knowledge for colleagues who don’t share their expertise.
Can you tell me about a time you solved a coding problem that was far outside your comfort zone? What do you do to get unstuck when you hit a wall with a programming task?
This line of questioning is intended to shed light on the developer’s problem-solving skills; asking about problems that stretch their existing skill set can also help you determine their level of experience. It’s especially useful when talking to junior candidates, who are most likely to get stuck the most often. Responses should include reading the documentation, searching Google and Stack Overflow, combing through GitHub issues, and reaching out to friends and colleagues who may be able to help. If they mention using ChatGPT or other generative AI tools, ask them how they vet the accuracy of the responses: It’s well established that these tools will sometimes “hallucinate” nonsensical code or introduce subtle bugs. Those who’ve experienced this firsthand should be able to name trusted sources they turn to for confirmation.
Can you tell me about a project you’ve worked on that’s comparable to ours? What were the biggest problems you faced?
One of the most straightforward questions you can ask to determine if a candidate is a good fit is “have you ever done anything like this before?” Of course, a yes or no response isn’t very useful here, so press them on specifics to find out how big their team was, what their specific responsibilities were, and how much they were involved in major project decisions. Invite them to describe what technologies they used and why they made those choices over the alternatives. Were there any big ideas or aspirations for the project that had to be compromised or abandoned along the way? A strong candidate should display a detailed understanding of the kinds of problems they’re likely to encounter when taking on the role you have in mind for them.
How do you set priorities when juggling multiple tasks on a software project?
When time is the biggest limiting factor for a software developer, it’s crucial to be able to effectively prioritize. Balancing the immediate needs of the users with the long-term vision of the stakeholders can often be quite complicated. How do you ensure that you’re delivering high-quality output at a steady cadence? These are all key project management skills that a developer should understand how to navigate. Developers from larger enterprises may discuss their experiences with Agile or Scrum methodologies; agency developers and freelancers will have more to say about keeping clients and managers happy with the timeline and scope of the project; and startup developers should be able to discuss priorities for launching a minimum viable product (MVP) and responding to the most-urgent bug reports from early adopters.
Take-home Assessments and Live Coding Challenges
If you need to screen candidates for the baseline proficiency required to perform general coding tasks, there are myriad challenges you could present them with: LeetCode is one of the most popular platforms that aggregates these kinds of challenges. They’re commonly used to vet recent computer science graduates and other early career developers, but there are worthwhile challenges like this for all levels. And because they’re applicable to almost all programming languages, you could think of them as akin to standardized test questions you’d encounter on college and graduate-school entrance exams.
Two quintessential challenges taught to most developers are FizzBuzz and the Fibonacci sequence. In the first, the developer is asked to write a function that sorts a list of integers based on their divisibility by 3 (in which case the app should print “Fizz” on the screen), 5 (which should print “Buzz”), or 3 and 5 (“FizzBuzz”). In the second, they’re asked to write a function that returns any nth number in the Fibonacci sequence, wherein each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. In both cases, there are brute-force solutions as well as more elegant and optimized solutions; the choices the developer makes along the way will help you determine how well they understand best practices in addition to data structures and algorithms. Expert software developers should be able to breeze through these kinds of questions. These are some of the most common challenges for early career developers, but keep in mind that the best technical assessments are those that mirror the actual day-to-day work.
Why do companies hire Software Developers?
When Marc Andreessen of a16z proclaimed that “software is eating the world” in 2011, even he could not have anticipated just how dramatically the nascent technologies he was observing would disrupt the status quo. Apps now mediate almost every kind of transaction we engage in, from discovering a new musician or TV show, to checking our bank account balance, finding a date, booking a reservation, and hailing a ride to a restaurant. If these examples seem too obvious to even mention, then that’s only further proof of Andreessen’s point. More recently, advances in cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence have shown us that the sky’s the limit when it comes to software innovations.
Hiring software developers is no simple feat given the wide range of technologies at one’s disposal. Those who are able to hire and retain developers most effectively do so by narrowing their search based on the specific needs of their organization and by providing those they bring on with interesting challenges, opportunities for career growth, and a company culture that aligns with their values. Give your software developers a space where they can thrive—you’ll be amazed by what they’ll be able to deliver for your business and your customers.