Hire Scala developers pre-screened for technical and cultural fit

Scala is short for scalable language that has a high-performance runtime and, thus, proves highly attractive to finance and big data industries. Although Scala is a general-purpose language, companies primarily use it to build data-intensive distributed applications and systems and solve complex programming problems.

If you want to hire Scala developers to join your engineering team and work on your Scala-based applications, Revelo is here to help. There aren’t as many jobs for the already small pool of Scala developers as for more common languages, which puts these professionals in high demand with commandingly high salaries. All this makes finding and hiring Scala developers challenging, even for the most experienced hiring managers.

In this article, learn how to write a job description to attract high-quality candidates, ask interview questions to help you determine a candidate’s knowledge and fit, and learn how Revelo can help ease the recruitment process.

What Is Scala Development?

Scala runs on the Java Virtual Machine and works with existing Java code. Like Java, its source code is compiled into bytecode for execution. However, Scala is different from Java in several significant ways. Scala uses both object-oriented and functional programming. It's less readable than Java due to nested code but much faster at processing and compiling code.

Netflix, LinkedIn, and Uber all use Scala in their applications. Scala excels at large data applications such as these. It's used in data processing applications like the Spark framework to handle real-time data streaming and distributed computing applications, which store components on separate computers but run them as a cohesive system.

What Does a Scala Developer Do?

Scala developers design, build, and maintain Scala applications. They’re responsible for producing code to specifications, analyzing software, and collaborating with other software development team members.

Senior-level Scala developers will have a more significant role in designing software, including meeting with stakeholders to better understand their business needs. They’ll use analytical and problem-solving skills to develop software and architecture and accomplish business goals.

Junior-level developers will have more narrowly defined roles. They may be responsible for writing code to specifications or testing and debugging code. They’ll work under direct supervision.

Scala Developer Salary

Scala developers earn significantly more than most other developers on the job market for the following reasons:

• Scala is more niche than other programming languages, so developers are more challenging to find.
• Because of its scalability, Scala is ideal for building complex, high-performance applications which are more expensive to develop.
• The combination of functional and object-oriented programming is increasingly in demand.

Because of these factors, a mid-level Scala developer with four to six years of experience in the US earns an average annual salary of $142,621, according to Glassdoor.

Scala developers in Latin America also outearn their counterparts in other languages — though they still earn much less than US-based developers. While developers in Latin American countries are equally skilled, the lower cost of living means they’re usually paid 30%-50% less than their US counterparts, with salaries varying based on location and experience. Revelo provides a cost-effective solution while offering highly qualified, pre-vetted Latin American developers.

How to Write a Job Description for Scala Developers

Hiring the best Scala developer starts with your job description. Before you write a job listing, consider whether you need a junior or senior-level developer. For instance, you’d advertise for a senior-level Scala developer if you’re looking for someone to design your platform and architecture based on stakeholder input. However, if you already have a development team, and they only need more hands on deck, you could hire a junior-level developer.

Your job description should include the following sections:

• Job title: Your job title should include the word “Scala” prominently. It’s best to go with something simple, such as Scala developer and experience level.
• Job overview: Include a brief description of the job and the type of project candidates will work on. You don’t want to lose your audience here, so avoid going into elaborate detail. Your candidate is probably skimming and wants to see the most significant facts to determine whether to apply.
• Job responsibilities: Use a bulleted list to outline the primary responsibilities associated with the job.
• Required skills and experience: Use another bulleted list for the skills, education, and experience candidates should have. You can divide them into “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.”
• Company info: Write a short blurb about your company to showcase to applicants what makes you unique and why they should want to work for you. Candidates will also look for salary and benefits, which you may want to include. 

Interview Questions for Scala Developers

Scala is more technical than most languages, which makes it more challenging for hiring managers to judge candidates' abilities. These questions can help you gain insights into candidates' communication skills and technical knowledge and hire Scala developers perfect for your company.

How does Scala differ from Java?

Scala and Java are very similar languages, although proficiency in one doesn’t guarantee ability in the other. A good Scala developer, whether they know Java or not, should be able to tell you how these languages differ.

Look for an answer that hits on the following points:

• Scala is more powerful than Java and more expressive, so it can handle complex data structures easily
• Scala incorporates many more functional programming paradigms than Java
• Java needs more boilerplate code than Scala, making it more wordy and clunky
• You can use Scala operators with user-defined types because it supports operator overloading

What are the benefits of using Scala?

Given the high salaries of Scala developers, it doesn’t make sense to use it when Python or Ruby would do just as well. A good developer should understand what makes Scala the best choice for a particular project. Listen for answers that include the following benefits of Scala:

• By combining object-oriented and functional programming elements, Scala makes it easier to write scalable, reusable, and modular code
• Scala creates high-performance applications that have low latency
• You can use Scala with existing Java code because of its interoperability
• Scala’s strong typing system creates more reliable code with fewer bugs

Tell me about a recent project you worked on.

You can use this question to learn how well applicants communicate their thought and design processes. Interviewees should expect this question; if they can’t answer it coherently, that should be a red flag.  

Why Hire Scala Developers With Revelo?

If you’re looking to hire Scala developers with the highest expertise and experience, Revelo can help. We are a talent marketplace that gathers the best Latin American remote tech talent pre-vetted for top-notch skills in many in-demand fields.

Revelo will match you with a short list of qualified candidates, and you’ll choose the best match for your team. The hiring process will take weeks instead of months, so you'll be ready to work on your projects with the best Scala developers in no time.

Get in touch today to learn how we can help you build a best-in-class software development team.

‍