Python Developer Job Description: Template and Steps on How to Hire Python Developers

Common Mistakes When Hiring Python Developers

Job postings usually serve as the first touchpoint with potential employees. As such, thorough elaboration of job requirements is especially important to attract suitable candidates even before reviewing their CVs.

To prepare an effective job description for a Python developer or any other specialist, businesses should be mindful of the common pitfalls. For instance, some of these mistakes include:

• Vague Job Descriptions: Python is a versatile language used in various projects and tasks. Hence, posting overly general job descriptions can attract numerous irrelevant applicants.
• Overemphasis on Buzzwords: Using technical buzzwords like “App Wizard” or “Python Rockstar” too much may confuse or even scare the candidates away. Instead, it is better to communicate the requirements clearly without relying solely on flashy titles.
• Ignoring Cultural Fit: Focusing solely on hard skills and technical expertise may result in high turnover rates and difficulties integrating a new Python programmer into the team.

By being aware of these points, companies can craft clear job posts, thereby ensuring a more effective hiring process.

How to Create a Python Developer Job Description?

Besides avoiding the “bad things,” there are essential practices to follow. In the following paragraphs, we’ll explore the job description script for a Python developer and share a template you can adjust to your specific needs.

#1 Decide on Structure

A well-organized job description not only clarifies potential candidates but also mirrors the professionalism of your company. So first, you should decide on the sections you’ll include in your job ad and collect all the necessary information.

Some of the key components for a Python developer job description include:

1. Job Title: An informative title highlighting core position requirements helps filter out unsuitable candidates and engage those fitted for the role. Consider including details like seniority, hiring model, and project specialization. For instance: “Senior Python Developer — Machine Learning (Remote).”
2. About the Company: This section should encompass details about core services, domain focus, company size, and other relevant facts, presenting a clear and concise overview.
3. Job Summary: Here, you state a summary of the role’s purpose, the impact of developer contributions, and the types of projects the candidate will be involved in.
4. Responsibilities: This section expands on the previous one and outlines the primary day-to-day tasks expected from a Python software engineer.
5. Qualifications and Hard Skills: This section includes the expected professional experience in terms of years and proficiency in frameworks, databases, and other tools relevant to your projects. For example, expertise in Django or Flask is often required when seeking a Python developer for web development projects.
6. Preferred Skills: Here, you can mention any additional desirable experiences. It could be knowledge of other programming languages or experience in domain-specific libraries like NumPy or Pyalgotrade used for FinTech solutions.
7. Soft Skills and Cultural Fit: This section outlines the most significant interpersonal skill your team values the most. It may include effective communication, teamwork, and adaptability.
8. Perks and Benefits: Showcase the unique benefits your company offers to entice potential candidates. This may include insurance, extra day-offs, professional courses, and so on.
9. Application Instructions and Contacts: In this regard, clearly communicate how candidates should apply, whether through a website, email, or application portal. Consider providing details about the hiring stages to ensure transparency for applicants.

This is a basic set for your Python developer job description. Similarly, you can also think of paragraphs with company values, project development methodologies, and more that may help applicants better understand your expectations.

In general, a converting job post typically ranges from 300 to 700 words. To strike the right balance, you can rely on the table below indicating approximate text volume and priority levels for each section:

Once you’ve established the structure and gathered the raw requirements for the role, the next step is to wrap it up into a comprehensive and clear job description.

While some sections can be described according to your vision, the ones that deserve special attention are responsibilities, qualifications, and soft skills.

#2 Clearly Define Responsibilities

The role of a Python programmer can encompass a wide range of tasks, spanning from automation and scripting to creating streaming applications. So, the question “What does a Python developer do?” may have numerous different answers.

The daily tasks of a Python programmer will vary greatly based on the projects they will be engaged in. Hence, you should clearly state what you are expecting from a candidate in terms of a specific project or multiple projects.

Rather than providing long intros and fuzzy statements like “writing maintainable code,” crafting a precise list of duties is recommended. Present responsibilities in a bullet-point format within your job description of a Python developer. For more clarity, you can also mention how the new hire will collaborate with the team.

To illustrate the difference, let’s compare two distinct descriptions of responsibilities for a Senior Python Software Engineer focusing on Machine Learning projects:

#3 Specify Qualifications and Hard Skills

Once you’ve set the responsibilities for a potential Python software engineer, the next step is to align them with the skills and qualifications necessary for the role.

To attract candidates with the right skill set, mention the frameworks, databases, and other essential tools. In addition, provide clarity by specifying the years of practical experience and preferable educational background.

When composing a Python developer job description, it’s crucial to differentiate between the qualifications of junior, middle, and senior specialists. Here, we provide a breakdown of fundamental skills for each level that you can adapt to your unique business context.

Skills to include in a Junior Python developer job description:

• 1-2 years of experience in Python programming.
• Fundamental understanding of Python frameworks like Flask or Django.
• Knowledge of version control systems like Git.
• Basic understanding of databases and SQL.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields.

Skills to include in a Middle Python Developer job post:

• 3-5 years of experience with Python.
• At least one year of working with web frameworks such as Flask Django.
• 1+ year of experience with Cloud services.
• Proficiency in working with databases and SQL queries.
• Experience with version control systems like Git.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields.

Skills to include in a Senior Python developer job description:

• 5+ years of experience in designing and developing Python applications.
• 2+ years of proficiency in Django, Flask, or other frameworks.
• 2+ years of experience with AWS or other cloud services.
• Deep understanding of both relational and NoSQL databases.
• Expertise in architecting and implementing APIs.
• Good comprehension of JavaScript, CSS, and HTML and their integration with back-end services.
• Track record of successful project deliveries.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or related fields.

As mentioned earlier, you can follow up on the essential skills with a list of preferred ones for the role. It may include experience with specific libraries or niche expertise in Data Science, eCommerce, or Healthcare projects.

Note: Even after filtering out unsuitable candidates based on CV screening, verifying the technical expertise of those who passed is essential. This typically involves a technical interview and a test task to assess their skills in practice. If you don’t have time for this multi-step process, consider contacting a staff augmentation company that can provide you with pre-screened candidates upon request.

#4 Pay Attention to Soft Skills

While technical expertise is a foundational requirement, soft skills can be considered a “secret key” concerning how to hire suitable Python developers. The ability to communicate and collaborate within cross-functional teams effectively is an invaluable quality for a harmonious working process.

Focus on the most significant soft skills that match your company’s culture and work dynamics. For instance, if your company is launching a new product and requires rapid iterations, you’d probably require someone adaptable, quick at solving problems and enjoying open communication.

To showcase how cultural fit matters, provide a straightforward heading like “You’ll perfectly match our team if…” followed by a clear bullet list.

Note: Screening the candidate’s CV is barely enough to be sure they fit you in terms of effective communication. This is why soft skills interviews often stand out as a separate initial stage to evaluate potential team members.

Python Developer Job Description: Template

By relying on the essential components and best practices discussed above, we’ve compiled a structured job post template. You can use it as a basis for your job vacancies and customize it based on your unique hiring needs:

How to Hire Python Developers?

The ultimate goal of crafting a job description is to hire the right candidate for your company. But this is just the beginning of the hiring journey.

The process can take different routes depending on your specific needs.

In-house Python Hiring

When considering in-house Python hiring, businesses often face the choice between traditional methods and utilizing talent tech recruiting services. Here’s how they compare.

Traditional In-House Python Hiring

Opting to hire in-house Python developers involves bringing them on board as full-time members of your company. While this approach offers the advantage of close collaboration and a close-knit working environment, it often requires a time-consuming process.

The steps involved in traditional in-house hiring are as follows:

1. Choose a suitable place for a job posting (e.g., job boards, LinkedIn or Facebook, company website),
2. Review numerous CVs to shortlist the most qualified candidates,
3. Conduct soft skills screenings,
4. Arrange at least one technical interview round,
5. Verify candidates’ background and work history through reference checks,
6. Negotiate the job offer and terms,
7. Onboard the candidate.

However, even after such an extensive process, there is no guarantee that the chosen candidate will perfectly match your team and project requirements. So, you’ll need to start over.

In-House Hiring Through Talent Tech Recruiting Services

On the other hand, utilizing talent tech recruiting services streamlines the hiring process significantly. These services leverage advanced technologies and industry expertise to connect businesses with highly qualified Python developers efficiently.

Here are the steps for a business when collaborating with talent tech recruiting services:

1. Research and choose a reputable talent tech recruiting service specializing in sourcing and assessing developers with your required skills.

2. Arrange a consultation with the service to discuss your business requirements thoroughly.

3. The recruiting service leverages its resources and networks to source qualified candidates matching your criteria. They conduct thorough screenings and technical and soft skills evaluations to assess candidate qualifications.

4. The service presents you with qualified candidates and arranges interviews for your final selection.

5. Provide feedback, select candidates, and negotiate offers with support from the recruiting service.

By following these steps and leveraging the expertise of talent tech recruiting services, businesses can streamline their hiring process, access a wider talent pool, and make informed decisions when bringing new developers onboard.

Remote Python Hiring

The alternative option is contacting staff augmentation vendors and extending your team with remote engineers.

When it comes to hiring remote Python developers, businesses often face a choice between staff augmentation and dedicated development teams. Both options offer unique advantages and can significantly impact the hiring process.

IT Staff Augmentation

IT staff augmentation refers to the practice of hiring external IT professionals, usually on a temporary or project-specific basis, to supplement an organization’s existing in-house team.

This approach may not even require an extensive job description. You need to complete several basic steps to find the right fit:

1. Provide details on job roles and the number of professionals required,
2. Get relevant CVs handpicked by a vendor and select suitable candidates,
3. Negotiate terms and the deal with a vendor, 
4. *Conduct interviews with specialists if needed*
5. Finalize the contract and formalities.

Dedicated Development Teams

On the other hand, businesses can opt for dedicated development teams for their remote Python hiring needs. This approach involves forming a team specifically dedicated to your project under the vendor’s management. While it requires a more detailed job description and project scope, you make several basic steps to find the right fit:

1. Clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and objectives to communicate expectations effectively to the dedicated team.

2. The service provider presents candidates with the necessary skills and experience aligned with your business needs. You then evaluate these candidates to ensure they meet your requirements and expectations.

3. Finalize the contractual terms, including timelines, deliverables, payment structure, and any other relevant agreements with the dedicated development team provider.

Choosing between staff augmentation and dedicated teams depends on factors such as project complexity, timeline, and long-term objectives. Staff augmentation is advantageous for its agility and quick access to talent, making it suitable for short-term projects or when specific skills are needed on demand. On the other hand, dedicated teams offer a more tailored and integrated approach, making them ideal for long-term projects requiring sustained collaboration and alignment with business goals.

Conclusion

Crafting a comprehensive job description is a considerable investment in your hiring process. By clearly defining project domains, responsibilities, and skill requirements, you attract qualified candidates and save time on filtering dozens of unqualified ones.

As you can see, job posting is just half a recruiting pathway. When hiring in-house, you should spend quite a bit of time screening the CVs, conducting interviews, and accessing the skills of each developer. So, how to hire Python developers if you have an urgent project necessity?

To stay on schedule with your project timeframes, consider extending the team with JayDevs. We provide vetted senior and lead software specialists on demand who can join your project in a week. With JayDevs, you can hire qualified remote Python developers without spending a fortune of time or making quality trade-offs.

Contact JayDevs and receive shortlisted CVs of candidates for your specific projects!