Hire Kotlin Developers

JetBrains developed the Kotlin programming language to improve coding performance, code security, and developer satisfaction. Since its release, Kotlin has quickly become one of the most popular programming languages, replacing Java in many projects.

As Kotlin is now among the most preferred languages ​​in the Android development community, it is quite challenging to hire Kotlin developers. At the same time, there is huge competition in the market for top talent and it is harder to find and retain Kotlin experts.

Hiring the best Kotlin developers is not easy and does not happen overnight. Preparing for the recruitment process takes time, careful planning and understanding the skills the project requires.

How to work with the top 1% of Kotlin developers in your time zone

The Kotlin programming language is a Java alternative for Android development. It is a modern, concise and safe language that combines object-oriented and functional programming. Because it is compatible and interoperable with Java, developers have the ability to integrate core Java libraries and frameworks with Kotlin.

Kotlin developers typically write code cleanly, faster, and across different platforms. Apps made with Kotlin are less likely to crash and are easy to scale, which explains why popular big tech names like Slack, Airbnb, and Pinterest use it .

Finding good Kotlin developers is quite complicated, and keeping them is sometimes even more challenging. To avoid the hassle of hiring in-house Kotlin developers, many companies make the smart decision to work with third-party companies.

Working with an outsourcing provider allows companies to access an international pool of Kotlin developers at affordable prices. They save money on recruitment, infrastructure and training costs and still get high-quality end products.

They are also able to delegate Kotlin development tasks and focus on other tasks, i.e. essential business tasks. This guarantees an increase in productivity that the company can use to grow.

How to Hire Kotlin Developers: Considerations, Skills, and Questions

Before Hiring a Kotlin Development Team

There is a long way to go before hiring a Kotlin development company. From determining project needs to interviewing and hiring the right Kotlin developers for the project at hand, companies need to take some necessary steps.

The first step to hiring a Kotlin developer is to gather the project requirements. It's important to understand how hiring a Kotlin developer will help meet specific functional requirements. The company also needs to determine the scope of the project, what technology stack to use, and what skills the right Kotlin candidate should have.

The company must know where to look for the best possible candidates for the available role. There are many different job hiring platforms to choose from, and some companies may even use many of them at the same time.

Employers can choose between hiring freelancers, in-house developers, or outsourcing projects. All of these different recruitment models have their advantages and disadvantages, and not all are suitable for different types of projects.

Freelance Kotlin developers are a good option for short-term projects, small tasks, and companies with limited budgets. In this model, however, the company has no control over the freelancer.

Tech companies that decide to hire in-house Kotlin developers want to build a strong core team and expand their company culture. In-house developers are typically motivated and committed to the development and growth of their products and the company as a whole. However, this involves numerous costs, is quite time-consuming and does not give companies the same flexibility as outsourcing.

Outsourcing Kotlin projects has many benefits. This working model adapts to all types of companies, from startups to established companies, and all types of budgets. Depending on the scope, complexity and duration of the project, companies can choose between three types of outsourcing.

Smaller projects and delegated development tasks are suitable for project outsourcing. Companies that need Kotlin developers with specific skills to integrate a specific part of a project can use staff augmentation services. If a company doesn't have in-house developers and needs an entire team to work on a project from start to finish, they can hire a dedicated outsourced team.

Once a company has decided where to hire its Kotlin developers, it will need to create a great job description. It should encapsulate all relevant information in a compact way that still catches the attention of candidates.

A good job description is well-structured and should communicate the job requirements, the skills needed, the role of the developer, and the different benefits and perks associated with working at the company.

It's important to be as specific as possible when describing the developer's role. This will help recruiters narrow the candidate pool and avoid non-specific applications.

Good Kotlin developers must be well-versed in the language and many other required areas of knowledge. To assess candidates' technical knowledge, recruiters can use live coding platforms where they can demonstrate their skills.

Having the most promising candidates undergo these technical assessments will help the company select the best candidates for a one-on-one interview. The interview is the final step to understand whether a candidate has knowledge in the area of ​​Kotlin development and whether they fit culturally into the company.

Skills to Look for in a Kotlin Developer

Good Kotlin developers have a good mix of soft and hard skills. They must have a solid foundation in the programming language and extensive experience in Java, Android-based development, front-end components, and server-side frameworks.

Having an analytical mindset, good communication skills and great time management is also essential. Developers need to be open to feedback, speak clearly, and be self-disciplined.

Kotlin

To write clean Kotlin code, a developer needs to have knowledge of this programming language. Most professional Android developers today use Kotlin to help increase productivity, developer satisfaction, and code security.

Java

Kotlin code is fully interoperable with Java. Kotlin developers can use it to run Java code. This means that any developer who wants to create applications using Kotlin must have at least a basic understanding of Java and its main concepts.

Android SDK and Android Studio

Along with Android Studio, the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) is Google's official integrated development environment (IDE) for the Android operating system. These are the top developer tools for Android apps.

Regardless of the programming language selected for development, the application needs to go through the SDK to run on an Android device. This is why Kotlin developers need to know how to operate these tools.

Debugging and testing

When writing code, encountering bugs is inevitable. Crashes, exceptions, or minor issues may arise while running an application. Kotlin developers need to know how to quickly identify problems in code and fix them.

RESTful and XML APIs

Applications need to connect to backend services and sometimes require connections to third-party integrations. This is why Kotlin developers need to have a solid understanding of MVC frameworks such as REST/RESTful web services, Extensible Markup Language (XML), and many others.

Analytical mindset and problem-solving skills

Kotlin developers need an analytical mindset to detect patterns, interpret data, and choose the best solutions for each problem they encounter. Problem-solving skills help them break down problems into smaller parts and find systematic approaches to discover new solutions.

Communication and Time Management

Good communication in any type of development is crucial. Clear communication between team members and leaders saves time, reduces errors, and creates an overall better environment to work in where teams can succeed.

Kotlin developers often work under tight deadlines, so it's important that they have good time management skills. The way they manage their time determines the success of the project and impacts their chances of career growth.

Top Interview Questions to Hire Kotlin Developers

Companies often use standardized interview processes to evaluate their candidates. They test candidates' subject knowledge, their technical knowledge, and whether or not they would be a cultural fit for the company.

What are some of the key features of Kotlin that are not present in Java?

Development speed is faster using Kotlin because it incorporates lambda code, making compilation faster.

Kotlin has more comprehensive APIs and extension attributes and offers cleaner code structure and syntax support. There are no concurrency or synchronization issues in Kotlin, and its immutability gives it an edge over Java.

What is the difference between “val” and “var” in Kotlin?

Val defines the final variable. Its value cannot change once assigned. Var defines a general variable and its value is mutable, which means it can change after assignment.

What is the use of extension functions in Kotlin?

Kotlin extensions allow developers to extend a class without inheriting it. Developers can obtain the attributes of a class without inheriting it or using a decorator design pattern.

What do you understand about null safety in Kotlin?

Null safety in Kotlin helps reduce null pointer exceptions in production code while it is still running. This feature helps the compiler to distinguish between nullable and non-nullable references.

Hire Kotlin Developers – Final Thoughts

Kotlin is the new preferred coding language used in Android development. Its interoperability with Java and highly advanced features make it a popular choice in a wide variety of development projects.

Finding a good Kotlin developer is not always easy, considering that they are in high demand and competition between companies is fierce. That's why it's important to have a good recruitment strategy.

Companies must establish project requirements and decide what skills they need to complete the project successfully. They must create attractive and transparent job descriptions that catch the attention of the most qualified Kotlin developers.

Good Kotlin developers must have a good mix of soft and hard skills. Solid knowledge of Kotlin and Java is crucial. It's also important to be familiar with the Android SDK and Android Studio, RESTful and XML APIs, and testing and debugging.

An analytical mindset and problem-solving skills will enable a Kotlin developer to solve problems and easily find new solutions. Proper communication and time management skills ensure that a developer can work under tight deadlines, working in an environment prone to success.

The interview is the most important part of the recruitment process, where the company can assess your knowledge, technical skills and communication skills. Feel free to read our full list of Kotlin interview questions and answers to help you evaluate your potential Kotlin developers.

common questions

Are Kotlin developers in demand?

According to RedMonk, since 2019, Kotlin is one of the main programming languages. It is considered the official language of Android and its interoperability with Java makes it an extremely popular and sought-after language.

How much do qualified Kotlin developers earn?

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total salary for a Kotlin developer is $106,014 per year in the United States, with an average salary of $92,477 per year . Senior Kotlin developers can earn up to $163,000 per year.

How much does it cost to hire a Kotlin developer?

The cost of hiring a Kotlin developer mainly depends on where they are based. A UK Kotlin developer earns $72,000 per year, while the same expert in Poland earns $46,000 annually.

What does a Kotlin developer do?

Kotlin developers plan, design, and develop applications using the Kotlin programming language. They are responsible for all stages of development, testing and debugging. They ensure that the application complies with the given specifications.

What is Kotlin for?

Kotlin is a type-safe language that supports asynchronous programming techniques. It is good for mobile app development, front-end web development, server-side apps, and data science.

Expert Kotlin developers must be familiar with functional and object-oriented programming paradigms and understand how the JVM works. They must know how to implement extension functions, operator overloading, and immutability.

Hiring companies should also look for a solid understanding of static typing, type interfacing, and the different ways to declare a variable in Kotlin. It's also important to have prior experience writing and maintaining Kotlin code in a professional environment.