Guide To Hiring Great Freelance SaaS Developers
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) has become a profitable business model that opens the door to recurring revenue for providers and best-in-class services for customers. The only way to execute a transition to SaaS or begin a SaaS enterprise is by hiring SaaS developers. Once a business migrates to that system, SaaS developers must be on hand to test, manage, improve, and fix software.
Multiple case studies exist of companies that successfully switched from a perpetual licensing model to SaaS. For example, AvePoint moved to SaaS, leading to more predictable revenue streams, easier customer onboarding, and improved cross-selling opportunities. Likewise, Adobe’s shift to SaaS generated nearly $220 billion in market value.
The rapid growth of the global SaaS market makes hiring these SaaS specialists increasingly challenging. While its recent valuation of $273 billion looks to exceed $1.2 trillion in 2032, an IT skills gap has left many companies scrambling to uncover qualified talent. The disparity has a real impact on operations, as 60% of IT leaders report that talent shortages cause delays in digital transformation initiatives.
Additionally, the SaaS industry continues to evolve, contributing to the challenge of hiring SaaS engineers with the right skills. You cannot merely accept any software programmer because a specialist requires niche industry knowledge in multitenant architecture, continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI).
Fortunately, this guide equips you with the information to find top talent. Take a deeper dive to uncover how to source and attract top-notch SaaS developers.
Hiring a Freelance SaaS Developer
Because they work with cloud-based solutions, SaaS developers are particularly suitable for working remotely. The benefit to you is you can open your search to a global market of experts to hire a freelance SaaS developer.
With freelance talent, you can scale your team rapidly and only pay for the services you require. Also, onboarding professionals from different backgrounds can give your organization a wider range of perspectives and experience for another competitive advantage.
What Does a SaaS Developer Do?
SaaS developers for hire have the specialized expertise to design secure, efficient, and scalable platforms that can grow with your business. For instance, a sudden influx of customers might overload your system, causing your operations to grind to a halt, costing you revenue and harming your brand reputation. Developers keep your SaaS products functional and manageable as traffic increases.
Likewise, they ensure privacy and security by implementing multitenant architecture. Therefore, your data can safely reside on shared servers.
Swift innovation is a hallmark of SaaS, as these cloud-based systems allow you to deliver prompt state-of-the-art service. For that reason, you should hire dedicated SaaS engineers instead of generalists. Industry experts can bring novel ideas to the table that enhance your product or service. For example, AI and ML can help personalize customer interactions, building greater brand loyalty.
What does your SaaS developer do after you launch your product? Columbia University Professor Junfeng Yang explains: “The developers of SaaS products continuously gather user feedback and behavior analytics , quickly refine existing or build new product features , and deploy to production in a matter of minutes to test out their ideas — so-called Agile Development . This style of close collaboration with customers and fast iteration of product ideas is in stark contrast with how software was engineered two decades ago.”
Software developers continue to facilitate this agile approach with analytical tools to assess product efficacy and user satisfaction. From the design phase and development to launch and customer support, developers are key to winning SaaS strategy.
“The developers of SaaS products continuously gather user feedback and behavior analytics , quickly refine existing or build new product features , and deploy to production in a matter of minutes to test out their ideas — so-called Agile Development . This style of close collaboration with customers and fast iteration of product ideas is in stark contrast with how software was engineered two decades ago.”
Why Hire SaaS Developers?
As full-stack developer-architects, SaaS developers manage multiple technologies to build and maintain subscription-based cloud computing apps. Hire SaaS specialists to bring a competitive product to market that satisfies consumer demand.
What Can a SaaS Developer Do for Your Business?
SaaS development specialists deliver multiple benefits to your company.
SaaS Application Development
An experienced SaaS engineer builds efficient and cost-effective software. Importantly, these professionals help you bring timely solutions to market, keeping you competitive with your rivals. Their ability to deliver customized apps that meet client needs ensures you have a product that stands out.
Cloud Infrastructure Setup
Hire a SaaS developer to leverage cloud computing and storage at scale. End users enjoy a better experience because of reduced latency. Cloud-native architectures enhance deployment speed while keeping expenses low as you adjust IT resources according to usage rates. Also, disaster recovery solutions prevent a loss of continuity during emergencies and improve operational efficiency.
Subscription and Billing Systems Integration
Software can automate subscription billing to streamline payments and account management. These systems reduce manual errors to ensure seamless processing and free up employee time to focus on higher-level tasks. Your developer can also integrate software for revenue analytics, which helps you optimize pricing, identify sales opportunities, and set more accurate revenue goals.
User Authentication and Role Management
Team members and customers can count on their data and activity to stay secure on your platform with user authentication and role management. Hire SaaS developers to install role-based access controls and single sign-on to streamline user access while reducing the potential for compromised accounts or password issues. Automated provisioning and deprovisioning are other key tools for simplifying onboarding and offboarding while minimizing system vulnerabilities.
APIs and Third-Party Integrations
Developers quickly augment the capabilities of your applications with APIs and integrations. APIs connect your existing apps to other software to exchange data and boost business intelligence. Additionally, integrations make your apps more convenient for customers, reducing churn.
Continuous Delivery and Monitoring
A developer on your team also increases customer satisfaction by accelerating time-to-market for the latest product updates. Quality stays high with early bug detection through regular testing. Deployment remains reliable, and downtime decreases with their support.
How To Hire SaaS Developers
Prepare well to make a successful developer hire. Have you set your project timeline and budget? Do you understand the technical requirements or know what resources you already have available? Answer these questions with your team before you start looking for candidates.
For the budget, bear in mind the current rates for top developers. Compensation may need to include bonuses, benefits, or incentives for deliverables that exceed expectations. However, you may be able to balance these nonmonetary perks.
Next, write a job description that sums up the position in about a page. Post it to job boards, developer networks, and hiring platforms that have vetted tech talent. For the leading sites, you will be able to review specific candidate profiles and reach out to them directly. Strategically source prospective developers by matching skill sets to the requirements in your description.
Pay attention to whether a candidate is a junior, middle, or senior developer. While senior developers can handle any project and even manage other software engineers, junior developers require guidance on anything beyond coding with straightforward instructions. A middle dev may suffice where you have a project that is not too complex.
After this initial screening, you can do a more thorough vetting of interested parties. Take a close look at their portfolio to see what kinds of projects they have completed and what niche they specialize in.
If you still want to hire an employee, you have to do the legwork of contacting previous employers or clients to get an objective look at the person’s working style and work quality. With top freelancer platforms, you have the guidance of a hiring expert to match you to the right person. These professionals can also guide you through how to hire a SaaS developer team if you need multiple software engineers.
What Skills To Look for When Hiring a SaaS Developer
SaaS developer skills must include robust technical knowledge alongside sharp business acumen. Top competencies include:
-
Various programming languages , such as C#, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and Java
-
Relevant frameworks (for example, Angular, jQuery, or React for front-end and Node.js or Django for back-end)
-
Cloud infrastructure and multitenant design
-
Testing and debugging tools
-
Data security and regulatory compliance
-
Billing and subscription management
-
User experience
-
API design with REST or GraphQL
-
Relational and non-relational databases
-
Problem-solving skills
If a single professional is handling the job, you need a full-stack developer who can manage the front end and back end. Likewise, a senior developer or chief technology officer who manages a team project should have these skills. When hiring a team, you may be able to divide some of these skills between developers.
Reaching successful project completion requires your team to work cohesively. To contribute to that goal, hire SaaS developers with good communication skills and emotional intelligence. Patience, adaptability, and resilience are also key as you provide feedback to fine-tune the product to meet your objectives.
Remote freelancers must have mastered prioritization and time management, as you trust them to provide deliverables within budget and on schedule. Find someone with a knack for multitasking and who can switch gears as new issues arise. Verify a candidate’s leadership skills when hiring a senior SaaS engineer to oversee others.
How Much It Costs To Hire SaaS Developers
The average SaaS engineer typically brings in $109,905 a year, or about $53 an hour . Developers at different levels may merit a higher or lower rate.
| Hourly | Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | $40 | $7,000 | $84,000 |
| Average Earners | $53 | $9,158 | $109,905 |
| 75th Percentile | $65 | $11,208 | $134,500 |
| Top Performers | $72 | $12,541 | $150,500 |
Tips for Writing a SaaS Developer Job Description
In a page or two, draft an effective SaaS developer job description. Start with a short catchy paragraph that describes your company. Explain the company culture and how you like to work, even mentioning a few successful or exciting projects the team has done. For compensation, provide a range of what you are willing to pay, offering more to those with stronger qualifications or incentives for stellar performance.
In a couple of paragraphs, specify what the job is and the kind of person you are looking for to fill the role. Then, list the responsibilities in a bulleted list, focusing on day-to-day expectations. Wrap up with a list of necessary skills, years of experience, and education.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Want To Hire a SaaS Developer
Assess an applicant’s skills with the following questions:
-
What is your approach to multitenancy? (A candidate should be able to describe when they would use or avoid certain models, such as full-isolated, shared, or soft-isolated databases.)
-
What experience do you have with machine learning and artificial intelligence? (Developers should be able to explain specific solutions they have designed using ML/AI and emerging technologies they anticipate using.)
-
Tell me about a time you figure out a complex algorithm in production. (Learn about the individual’s problem-solving abilities.)
-
How do you design apps to scale efficiently? (Personal experiences of a candidate should include clearly defined tactics, real-world solutions for bottlenecks, and examples of cost management.
Choose an effective interview method that lets you evaluate technical abilities and soft skills. For instance, a pair programming exercise or online assessment could demonstrate technical abilities. Behavioral and situational interviews can give you a better idea of soft skills. Whichever you choose, look for ways to conduct unbiased evaluations for fair hiring.
How To Find Freelance SaaS Developers for Hire
Have you determined where to find SaaS developers for hire? You may have good options from connections in your network or partnering with coding academies for a junior-level dev. However, the quickest way to find SaaS developers with top skills is to use tech freelance marketplaces or outsourcing agencies.
As you review our list of the best sites to hire SaaS engineers, consider who can provide the greatest value. The quality of talent, speed of hiring, and the amount of paperwork left to you are important factors in deciding. Currently, Toptal leads all other solutions.
Your software engineers are a critical part of your SaaS team, ensuring you bring a winning service to market. Determine how to hire top SaaS developers with a strong sourcing strategy that helps you craft a team that thrives.