Hire the Top 3% of Freelance Drupal Developers

Demand for Drupal Developers Continues to Expand

Hiring the right Drupal developer for your project can be daunting. As of July 2024, high-traffic sites use Drupal more than Shopify and WordPress. Examples of Drupal-powered sites include the National Institutes of Health, MIT, Lenovo, Udemy, Home Depot, and USPS. However, the Drupal community is smaller than communities for other content management systems (CMS) and, as demand increases, finding the right hire for a successful development team becomes more difficult. Hiring managers must be well aware of their team’s needs and development processes to attract and hire Drupal developers who best match their project requirements.

This hiring guide helps you understand the Drupal developer market, know which skills are relevant for hiring a developer, craft an attractive and accurate job description, and run effective interviews. By following these recommendations and understanding the various sub-roles and skill levels, you can make informed hiring decisions that will lead to successful projects.

What Attributes Distinguish Quality Drupal Developers From Others?

First, what does a Drupal developer do? A Drupal developer is a computer programmer who specializes in building and adding custom functionality to sites relying on the Drupal CMS. Some Drupal developers can create entire applications that use Drupal as a foundation to benefit from its user interface and server-side functionality. Skilled developers are proficient at performing effective quality control, creating testing suites, and ensuring the performance of complex site features after updates and migrations.

What sets experienced Drupal developers apart from their less-experienced counterparts is a deep knowledge of the Drupal CMS and strong technical prowess in its architecture. They can also create, maintain, and extend a Drupal site to handle both steady and extreme traffic loads. By contrast, a Drupal novice may have limited practice in setting up Drupal sites from scratch and handling the aftermath of updates or code issues that come up. A lack of hands-on experience on the part of a novice Drupal developer may create security and performance problems further down the road. In contrast, an experienced Drupal developer will have the wide range of technical skills necessary to tackle these issues quickly and successfully.

There are several key areas of knowledge that a Drupal expert should have:

Knowing Drupal Design and Architecture

Drupal experts know Drupal inside and out, in the sense of being both a Drupal power user and an architecture specialist. They bring a crucial perspective on client needs and site administration challenges, and can leverage Drupal’s modular structure to build scalable components and maintain Drupal distributions. For example, a proficient developer would know how to choose the right search engine for a Drupal project, keeping both technical aspects and UX in mind.

Applying Drupal API Knowledge to Business Needs

Drupal professionals have experience extending Drupal with core APIs like Entity API, Libraries API, and Search API. When a new feature is needed, they know the pros and cons of using various Drupal subprojects and can justify their choice in the context of business requirements. Their deep understanding of Drupal’s core functionality ensures that they can smoothly integrate new features while maintaining the integrity and seamless performance of the system.

Leveraging Drupal Components and Ecosystem Familiarity

Drupal experts have current and in-depth knowledge of the Drupal ecosystem as well as Drupal’s technical components; they can manage missing features and requirements with ease. They won’t waste time reinventing the wheel or relying on third-party modules that aren’t production ready. Imagine a situation in which a Drupal site is required to allow users to contact administrators. Instead of building a custom form, a Drupal expert would know how to use the core Contact module, and, if further customization were needed, would extend what Drupal provides via hooks to avoid reimplementation. Their familiarity with a wide range of modules and components enables them to efficiently choose the best tools for the job, ensuring adherence to coding standards and the delivery of high-quality custom websites.

Prioritizing Hidden but Critical Aspects of Drupal Code

A Drupal expert would put Drupal security and performance first on a greenfield project while drawing on their previous experience of knowing how to handle subpar legacy projects. Experienced developers can mitigate security vulnerabilities after the fact and optimize Drupal performance with database profiling, caching strategies like CDN usage, and Drupal-specific best practices. They also know to avoid introducing security holes in the first place by checking their code quality with the Drupal Security Kit module and leveraging the input sanitization and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection features built into Drupal’s Form API. This expertise is essential for managing and maintaining complex websites that require robust security and performance, while implementing regular code reviews to ensure that the codebase remains clean, secure, and maintainable.

Streamlining Drupal Theme Development to Save Time and Complexity

Good Drupal developers have excellent knowledge of Drupal theming, from its extensible template architecture to CSS hierarchy to preprocessing functions. When business requirements necessitate Drupal customization, skilled developers know how to quickly locate the relevant theme file and tailor it to produce the desired UX. They ensure that themes are maintainable and can accommodate regular updates without disrupting the user experience. Their ability to create seamless digital experiences ensures users have an engaging and intuitive interaction with the site.

Overall, a Drupal expert will be more than comfortable tackling any part of a Drupal project—front end, back end, scaling, security—and will do so with business goals and best practices in mind.

How Can You Identify the Ideal Drupal Developer for You?

The first step for companies looking to hire Drupal programmers is to gain a broad understanding of Drupal sub-roles. Drupal roles often fall into at least one of two major categories: front-end and back-end developers. There are also full-stack Drupal developers who specialize in both front end and back end.

Front-end Drupal Developers

The front end of a site is the part visible to the user. A front-end Drupal developer uses technologies familiar to any front-end web developer, like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Additionally, a Drupal expert will know Drupal’s theme and module architecture thoroughly, as well as Drupal-specific tools, like the templating engine Twig, to apply common front-end technologies effectively. A strong grasp of these technologies is essential for creating an engaging and responsive user interface, whether it’s for corporate websites, e-commerce sites, or personal blogs.

If you have a large enough team to allow for specialized Drupal roles, or your project’s Drupal back end is considered feature-complete, a front-end Drupal developer may be what you need.

Back-end Drupal Developers

A site’s back end is the part that runs on a web server, dealing with data and the logic behind the project. Like any other back-end web developer, a back-end Drupal specialist must have hands-on experience with REST APIs, integrating external systems, and at least one major SQL engine, preferably the one already used in your project’s stack, if applicable. They’d also need to have Drupal-specific knowledge to allow for best practices regarding architectural choices. A specialist, for example, would be able to make an informed choice between Drupal’s core REST module and the third-party JSON:API module, depending on the project’s needs, and know how best to migrate the project from existing modules to new ones, ensuring a smooth transition. Familiarity with version control systems like Git is essential for managing code changes and collaborating effectively with the development team.

A back-end Drupal developer will need expertise in other areas such as Drupal’s core architecture, hook system, views system, user and permissions management systems, entity and field types, database management, database queries, and caching modules like BigPipe, Varnish, and Page Cache. They should also be adept at integrating third-party services to enhance site functionality and minimize repetitive tasks to achieve optimal site performance. A back-end Drupal specialist is crucial for development projects requiring complex data handling or custom functionalities.

Front End, Back End, or Full Stack?

If a candidate refers to themselves simply as a “Drupal developer,” it likely means they are a full-stack Drupal developer with a firm grasp of both front- and back-end Drupal development processes. However, it’s important to distinguish between Drupal developers with knowledge of the Drupal CMS and Drupal developers who also have deep programming knowledge in general. While the former would be enough if your aim is to find a developer to build and administer a site using the Drupal CMS, you will need a proficient programmer if your project requires customization and proper maintenance services. Strong critical thinking skills are essential for developers to analyze project requirements and troubleshoot effectively. You don’t necessarily need a developer with niche skill sets, but having someone who understands the full scope of Drupal solutions can significantly enhance your project’s success.

Throughout the hiring process, it is also important to ensure that full-stack Drupal developers are equally skilled in front end and back end. A good full-stack Drupal developer will know how to use front-end technologies and apply them, as well as being familiar with Drupal’s back-end architecture. They should be confident in approaching your project using both sets of knowledge and possess the technical expertise to handle various aspects of the development process.

Front- and back-end development are not the only helpful ways to categorize Drupal developers. It’s also necessary to match their level of expertise to your needs and expectations—and plan for how to handle any gaps. In addition to looking for technical expertise, evaluating a candidate’s soft skills, such as communication and collaborative skills, is essential for ensuring a good fit within your team.

Junior Drupal developers can vary in which areas of Drupal’s modules they’re most familiar with, since Drupal’s core and third-party ecosystems are extensive. Hiring a junior Drupal developer could result in substantial cost savings if their skills match your project’s needs. However, without a senior developer to oversee their efforts, the choice of a junior developer might heighten the risk of downtime, data loss, privacy breaches in the short term, and technical debt in the long term—especially when back-end development is involved.

Mid-level Drupal developers can leverage their broader ecosystem knowledge, more robust programming skills in PHP and/or JavaScript as needed, and awareness of Drupal best practices for better short-term effectiveness. They’ll be better at troubleshooting and know their way around the most common components. Planning for mentorship for mid-level developers is still important, especially as they grow their skills. However, a mid-level Drupal developer will generally need less guidance than a junior developer; also, mid-level developers can fill some mentoring roles themselves, especially as they progress and acquire seniority.

Senior Drupal developers can help make sound architectural decisions, find innovative solutions, and take on stakeholder-facing roles if needed as they lead a team or tackle Drupal projects independently. Considering experience and in-depth knowledge, hiring a senior Drupal developer may be a decision that is both cost-effective and most likely to guarantee the success of your long-term projects.

No matter the skill level you choose, an interest in continuous professional development shows that a Drupal developer candidate is dedicated to staying updated with the latest trends and best practices.

What Complementary Technology Skills Are Required for Drupal Development Processes?

Drupal is an effective content management system built on a wider set of technologies, each of which plays a unique role in the work of a Drupal developer.

PHP and Symfony – PHP is the core language of Drupal, so a Drupal developer will need to be comfortable with PHP best practices to avoid security risks, performance issues, and technical debt. Similarly, Symfony is an integral part of Drupal’s architecture, so Symfony-savvy developers will be a lot more comfortable writing idiomatic Drupal code. Symfony skills for a Drupal developer, however, are less important than PHP skills, as PHP can be used without a framework. Still, a framework (Symfony in this case) is solely functional for the programming language it serves.

Laravel and Slim – These programs are nice-to-haves but not required unless your Drupal project already relies on one of them. Developers can work on a typical Drupal codebase without knowledge of Laravel or Slim, which are separate PHP frameworks unrelated to Drupal. .

JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3 – Front-end Drupal developers need to know JavaScript for any custom interactivity, HTML for page structure, and CSS for layout and presentation. The more they are acquainted with these core web technologies, the more efficiently they can work on a Drupal project, and the better the resulting user experience will be. A wide array of frameworks is available for JavaScript. Most developers who have worked with one won’t have a hard time learning another, so you can focus on testing your developer’s vanilla JavaScript skills or choose according to your project’s requirements.

MySQL – Another nice-to–have skill is MySQL; candidates don’t specifically need MySQL experience unless your project dictates it. Drupal supports other SQL engines, like PostgreSQL, and most SQL-central database experience will yield quite a few transferable skills.

Git – Any Drupal developers for hire should know Git well enough to comprehend your project’s source control strategy (e.g., Git flow) and related conventions. For a greenfield project, you’ll want a Drupal developer with enough Git experience that they can explain their preferred Git approach and its pros and cons.

To hire dedicated Drupal developers, the best place to start is to list the specific technologies used in your project. This will help you write better job descriptions, filter rėsumės effectively, and conduct insightful interviews.

How to Write a Drupal Developer Job Description for Your Project

After you prepare a list of project requirements with a focus on essential skills and technologies, you will be well-positioned to customize a Drupal job description template. Providing as many relevant details as possible will help candidates self-select, saving time for both them and you. Careful consideration should be given to the engagement models—whether you’re looking for full-time developers or freelance Drupal experts—so candidates can understand the nature and duration of the role. Depending on your project’s scope and complexity, you may require a single developer or a dedicated team to ensure its success.

Be sure to highlight whether the role has a front- or back-end focus, which SQL engine your project uses, the need for experience with particular code deployment processes, and any special integrations your product relies on. Sharing how many users and clients the project serves is also helpful to provide potential candidates with an idea of the project’s scale and needs. Finally, business goals and overall project goals are useful for candidates to know about—for example, if you’re migrating from a legacy codebase, it’s critical to include the details of its technology stack.

What Are the Most Important Drupal Developer Interview Questions?

Since Drupal development involves several other technologies, an effective Drupal job interview will mirror the several layers of Drupal development’s stack, according to need. Keeping in mind whether it’s for a back-end, front-end, or full-stack Drupal position, it makes sense to mix Drupal interview questions with a few about HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, PHP, and/or MySQL and any others applicable to your particular project’s tech stack (and legacy tech stack). The overall goal is also worth considering—for example, a Drupal e-commerce development interview should touch on some e-commerce specifics.

Even in an interview focused on technical skills, sometimes the best questions are open-ended, providing the opportunity for insightful dialogue and a consequent look at the candidate’s communication skills. Here are some ideas for questions that can help you find the right hire for your Drupal developer position, starting with fundamentals, then moving on to more complex ones.

What language is Drupal developed in?

PHP is Drupal’s core language. However, PHP skills aren’t the only factor to consider when hiring. Experience in handling production in Drupal environments is necessary.

It is also worth noting that PHP is not the most accessible programming language. Common PHP mistakes can impact security, performance, and debugging efficiency significantly, so it pays to screen for in-depth knowledge of PHP best practices before hiring a Drupal developer candidate.

What PHP frameworks are used in Drupal development?

Symfony is the leading PHP framework used in Drupal development. It’s used in Drupal’s core components like ClassLoader, and other of its components, like HttpFoundation, have been adopted by Drupal 8 and later versions for their core architecture. Symfony is also used in core features like routing, event dispatching, and the Twig template engine. This means that developers will often interact with Symfony while creating custom Drupal modules. Generally speaking, frameworks are a smart choice for any sort of back-end development, especially when building larger projects, as they allow the developer to focus more on the system’s architecture and keep the code streamlined. However, this is not a strict requirement.

Laravel can also be used for Drupal development—as can the PHP microframework Slim—but is often seen more as a less efficient alternative to Drupal itself.

When migrating a project from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10, what are your top three considerations?

This question is important because Drupal 7 is soon to be obsolete (it will not be supported after January 5, 2025). Drupal 8 and 9 are both already past their EOL (end of life) dates, which means that they, too, are outdated compared to Drupal 10. A skilled Drupal developer might want to consider:

• How to migrate content using Migrate API and other third-party tools.
• How to cover existing functionalities with the modules available in Drupal 10, especially if further custom module development time is needed to ensure compatibility.
• How to ensure that a smooth migration plan will include maintenance of current UX standards, especially when it comes to themes.
• Whether the team has sufficient resources to meet new server and infrastructure requirements, including the time needed to implement and support them during migration.
• How to make users aware of the differences between Drupal 7 and Drupal 10, and how to get the most out of Drupal 10 for particular use cases.

What’s the most important difference between Drupal 9 and Drupal 10?

This question will allow for further discussion of the candidate’s experience, since Drupal 10 has a large number of improvements over earlier versions that a knowledgeable Drupal developer should know about. They may point to user-facing advances in forms and media management, or they may focus on behind-the-scenes changes, including compatibility breakages that can impact migration time. Another important difference is that Drupal 10 is still being supported, whereas Drupal 9 is not.

How would you go about creating a custom Drupal 10 theme from scratch?

Besides looking for a confident understanding of concepts like Twig templating, theme hooks, and preprocessing functions, this is a chance to dig deeper into the candidate’s Drupal module awareness. It’s also a chance to discover their practical approaches and the methodologies they employ, as well as how they prefer to organize their projects. Do they prefer test-driven development? Do they value documentation as an asset?

How has Symfony adoption in Drupal core affected how you approach modern Drupal code?

This should provide some insight into the candidate’s opinions about dependency injection, event-driven architecture, and routing. Even if they don’t embrace these elements and approaches in their own custom module code, you can gauge the candidate’s expertise by how well they can explain Symfony components such as DependencyInjection, EventDispatcher, and Routing. An expert candidate should at least be acquainted with the major areas in which these components are used by Drupal.

On the back end, how do you handle errors in such a way that users and administrators each receive appropriate amounts of information?

Constructive answers depend on the version of Drupal involved. For projects involving Drupal 7, the candidate should be familiar with how to log errors using watchdog(). For projects using more recent versions of Drupal, the candidate should know how to use dependency injection and LoggerChannelFactoryInterface.

Why Do Companies Hire Drupal Developers?

Companies hire Drupal web developers to build, maintain, scale, customize, or migrate Drupal sites. Drupal is a popular CMS choice, having both a scalable back end and a user-friendly front end. With the Drupal core team continuing to make user- and developer-friendly quality improvements, reduce technical debt, and leverage new features, the need for Drupal developers continues to trend upward.

Additionally, with Drupal 7’s EOL date of January 5, 2025, plenty of companies that rely on Drupal will want to plan their migration to Drupal 10 or 11 to continue to benefit from security patches and performance updates. As of July 2024, nearly half of known Drupal sites are still on version 7, meaning that competition for skilled Drupal developers is likely to increase to meet migration needs.

With the Drupal-specific hiring advice, job description outline, and interview questions provided in this guide, your company can ably position itself to attract and hire Drupal developers as needed to ensure your continued success.