Toptal connects you with freelance Drupal developers experienced in crafting enterprise-grade content management systems, custom themes, and scalable websites. From e-commerce platforms and intranet systems to community portals and API integrations, our developers leverage Drupal’s flexibility to deliver tailored solutions that meet your specific business goals.
Shawn is a freelance web and DevOps engineer/consultant from Seattle who has worked with a variety of different technologies as projects have come across his way. He often works with the Drupal CMS and the LAMP stack. He has built websites, APIs, CI/CD pipelines, and other tools to manage cloud infrastructure. Lately, he has been focused on IaaC and managing developer environments and tools.
Vinicius is a seasoned software developer with a background in Go, Node.js, JavaScript, and Drupal. He has co-founded three companies in his career, from Silicon Valley to Latin America, successfully leading innovative teams of up to 15 developers and working as an individual contributor.
Orlando is a back-end developer with 14 years of experience. He focuses on Drupal and CMS projects while leading teams and gaining a profound understanding of the intricacies of Drupal back-end development. Orlando enjoys delivering performant, secure, and stable solutions.
Scott is an architect-level Drupal developer with 12+ years of experience architecting, developing, and supporting large-scale Drupal properties. Scott has worked efficiently and accurately on all aspects of a Drupal site, including complex migrations, module development, theme development, and site builds. Scott's also active in the Drupal community, where he's credited with 90+ fixed solutions and answering multiple Drupal questions.
Rafael is an experienced web developer with over nine years of expertise in Drupal CMS projects for notable organizations such as IRONMAN (via O3 World), MIT, and Doctors Without Borders. He specializes in developing back-end and front-end code, integrating systems via APIs, and building container-based infrastructures. Rafael consistently strives for excellence in both his work and communication.
Maged has been developing web applications with Drupal since 2008 and has built more than 60 projects with Drupal 6, 7, and recently 8. Maged is passionate about dealing with any project built with this content management software and enthused about integrating it with different systems and platforms.
Paweł (Paul) has over 17 years of web development experience and has been passionately developing Drupal-based applications since 2008, including all types of projects like social sites, eCommerce, and project management systems, non-profits, and rich business websites. He has worked with teams of all sizes and numerous clients, including the United Nations, the University of Warsaw, and various US web development agencies.
Kunal is a software engineer and open-source enthusiast from India. He has engineered web applications using Drupal for over a decade by embracing teamwork, Agile methodologies, and cross-functional communication. Aside from assisting clients, Kunal enjoys presenting technical talks at Drupal conferences around the world.
Denis has been working with Drupal for about ten years. He's worked as a developer, lead developer, tech manager, and project manager. He knows the whole cycle of a development process thoroughly. Denis enjoys his work and likes to have his job done in the right way—to have his customers satisfied and proud of his work.
Alexander started his career coding in the C family (C, C++, C#) for large enterprise customers, migrating to Drupal and freelance clients after a number of years. The experience he gained in the corporate sphere with systematic approaches has proved to be a great boost to his current skill set. He enjoys applying his talents and unique perspective to new solutions for all his clients.
Kent has been an independent specialist Drupal web developer since 2008, becoming highly competent in both front-end visuals and back-end coding. Kent has skills covering the entire web development cycle, including systems analysis, web design, and server configuration—making him a valuable member of any web development team. His language and communication skills are very well developed.
Drupal developers are skilled at building upon and managing the Drupal CMS. Whether they specialize in front-end, back-end, or full-stack development, they are experts at creating, maintaining, and testing key functionalities of Drupal sites. This guide shows what skills and experience you need to look for in potential developers, and provides helpful tips to find the candidate best suited to your project’s needs.
... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.
Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.
Our clients
Creating an app for the game
Leading a digital transformation
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
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Testimonials
Tripcents wouldn't exist without Toptal. Toptal Projects enabled us to rapidly develop our foundation with a product manager, lead developer, and senior designer. In just over 60 days we went from concept to Alpha. The speed, knowledge, expertise, and flexibility is second to none. The Toptal team were as part of Tripcents as any in-house team member of Tripcents. They contributed and took ownership of the development just like everyone else. We will continue to use Toptal. As a startup, they are our secret weapon.
Brantley Pace
CEO & Co-Founder
I am more than pleased with our experience with Toptal. The professional I got to work with was on the phone with me within a couple of hours. I knew after discussing my project with him that he was the candidate I wanted. I hired him immediately and he wasted no time in getting to my project, even going the extra mile by adding some great design elements that enhanced our overall look.
Paul Fenley
Director
The developers I was paired with were incredible -- smart, driven, and responsive. It used to be hard to find quality engineers and consultants. Now it isn't.
Ryan Rockefeller
CEO
Toptal understood our project needs immediately. We were matched with an exceptional freelancer from Argentina who, from Day 1, immersed himself in our industry, blended seamlessly with our team, understood our vision, and produced top-notch results. Toptal makes connecting with superior developers and programmers very easy.
Jason Kulik
Co-founder
As a small company with limited resources we can't afford to make expensive mistakes. Toptal provided us with an experienced programmer who was able to hit the ground running and begin contributing immediately. It has been a great experience and one we'd repeat again in a heartbeat.
Stuart Pocknee
Principal
How to Hire Drupal Developers Through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Client Advisors
A Toptal client advisor will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2
Work With Hand-selected Talent
Within days, we'll introduce you to the right Drupal developer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new Drupal developer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
EXCEPTIONAL TALENT
How We Source the Top 3% of Drupal Developers
Our name “Toptal” comes from Top Talent—meaning we constantly strive to find and work with the best from around the world. Our rigorous screening process identifies experts in their domains who have passion and drive.
Of the thousands of applications Toptal sees each month, typically fewer than 3% are accepted.
The first step of the screening process is a comprehensive English language and communication evaluation. We also assess personality traits, seeking only those who are passionate and fully engaged in their work.
STEP 2
In-depth Skill Review
7.4% of applications pass
We test each applicant’s technical knowledge and problem-solving ability through various assessments. Every member of the Toptal network is an expert in their domain, and we typically only advance candidates with exceptional results in this phase.
STEP 3
Live Screening
3.6% of applications pass
Toptal screeners, who are experts in their functional domain, interview each Drupal developer. Our screeners provide specific live exercises, looking for problem-solving ability, depth of experience, communication ability, and creativity.
STEP 4
Test Project
3.2% of applications pass
Each candidate is assigned a test project to evaluate whether they can “walk the walk.” Test projects take 1-3 weeks and are comprehensive and provide real-world scenarios for candidates to demonstrate their competence, thoroughness, professionalism, and integrity.
STEP 5
Continued Excellence
Top 3.0% of Drupal developers
As a quality-first company, we demand the best from our talent, so they can deliver the best to our clients. This principle permeates every Toptal engagement and delivered project. Only the top 3% of developers can consistently perform at this level.
Capabilities of Drupal Developers
Elevate your digital strategy by integrating Drupal, a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS), into your website. With expertise in custom module development and theme creation, our talented programmers deliver secure, scalable, and content-rich web solutions precisely tailored to meet your business needs.
Creating and Managing Content Structures
Effective content architecture design is the foundation of any streamlined content management process. Through Drupal’s advanced structuring capabilities, our developers create and manage content systems that utilize content types, fields, and taxonomies to optimize organization and access.
Configuring Views for Dynamic Content
The Views module simplifies the creation of dynamic content, enabling developers to construct lists, grids, and targeted searches that visually enhance a site. To maximize user interaction, our developers leverage Views to create engaging content layouts without the complexities of custom code.
Building Complex Workflows
Creating structured workflows is crucial for managing content efficiently and providing a clear pathway from drafting through approval to final publication. Using Drupals’ Workflows module, our developers build custom workflows that guide content through its lifecycle, facilitating efficient transitions while ensuring compliance with editorial standards.
Customizing Theme Layouts
Within the platform’s flexible theming environment, our developers reshape existing themes to meet precise design specifications, ensuring a cohesive look and feel throughout the site. These customizations result in engaging layouts that enhance user engagement and reinforce brand presence.
Multi-site Functionality
With Drupal’s multi-site capabilities, multiple websites can be managed from a single installation, maintaining consistency and significantly simplifying administrative tasks. Toptal’s coders configure and oversee multi-site setups, enabling seamless operations and uniform branding across all affiliated websites.
Advanced Search Functionality
Advanced search capabilities, powered by modules like Search API and Solr, enable developers to significantly improve search result accuracy and relevance. Our programming experts configure these tools to elevate the search experience and present users with precise and contextually correct results.
Content Migration
Content migration features enable streamlined data transfer from legacy systems or earlier releases, easing the modernization of websites. Our developers automate key processes during these migrations, ensuring content is accurately and efficiently transferred to its new setup.
Optimizing Site Performance with Caching
Advanced caching options, including built-in caching and reverse proxies, are essential to optimizing website performance. To ensure quick and smooth browsing, our developers expertly configure caching strategies to reduce load times, allowing the site to handle surges in traffic gracefully without compromising speed.
Custom Access Controls
Flexible access control features allow for the creation of detailed user permissions, which help in managing site-specific roles and authorization. Our developers leverage these capabilities to manage user roles, allowing only authorized personnel to interact with specific functions and content.
Multilingual Capabilities
Drupal’s multilingual capabilities enable websites to provide localized experiences to a global audience. By integrating robust language management tools, our developers facilitate smooth content delivery and language switching to offer global users tailored experiences.
FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a Drupal developer?
The cost associated with hiring a Drupal developer depends on various factors, including preferred talent location, complexity and size of the project you’re hiring for, seniority, engagement commitment (hourly, part-time, or full-time), and more. In the US, for example, Glassdoor’s reported average total annual pay for Drupal developers is $133,000 as of January 2025. With Toptal, you can speak with an expert talent matcher who will help you understand the cost of talent with the right skills and seniority level for your needs. To get started, schedule a call with us — it’s free, and there’s no obligation to hire with Toptal.
How quickly can you hire with Toptal?
Typically, you can hire a Drupal developer with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or Managed Delivery, timelines may vary. Our talent matchers are highly skilled in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.
Once you select your Drupal developer, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.
How do I hire a Drupal developer?
To hire the right Drupal developer, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect Drupal developers for your project.
How are Toptal Drupal developers different?
At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our Drupal developers to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.
In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.
When you hire with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched Drupal developers ready to help you achieve your goals.
Can you hire Drupal developers on an hourly basis or for project-based tasks?
You can hire Drupal developers on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our Drupal developers can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.
What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal Drupal developers?
We make sure that each engagement between you and your Drupal developer begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.
Kevin Bloch is a software developer with more than 20 years of experience, specializing in PostgreSQL, JavaScript, Perl, and Haxe, among several other programming technologies. Primarily a lead desktop and full-stack developer, he has experience in project management, back-end technologies, and game development. Notably, Kevin is a Pluralsight author and ranks in the top 2% on Stack Overflow.
How High is the Demand for Talented Drupal Developers?
The demand for talented Drupal developers is extremely high because, as of January 2025, high-traffic sites use Drupal even more than Shopify and WordPress. Examples include the National Institutes of Health, MIT, Lenovo, Udemy, Home Depot, and USPS. However, the platform’s community is smaller than that of other content management systems (CMSs), and finding the right hire for a successful development team becomes more difficult as demand increases. Hiring managers must know their team’s needs and development processes to attract and hire programmers who best match their project requirements.
This hiring guide helps you understand the 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 Does a Drupal Developer Do?
A Drupal developer specializes in building and adding custom functionality to web applications relying on the open-sourceDrupal CMS. Some developers can create entire applications that use the platform as a foundation to benefit from its user interface and server-side functionality.
What Attributes Distinguish Quality Drupal Developers From Others?
Skilled developers are proficient at performing quality control, creating testing suites, and ensuring the performance of complex site features after updates and migrations.
Top candidates have more profound knowledge of the CMS and strong technical prowess in its architecture. They can create, maintain, and extend a site to handle steady and extreme traffic loads. By contrast, a novice has less practice in setting up sites from scratch and handling the aftermath of updates or code issues that come up. A novice developer’s lack of hands-on experience can create security and performance problems further down the road. In contrast, an experienced programmer will have the wide range of technical skills necessary to tackle these issues quickly and successfully.
1. Design and Architecture
Drupal experts know the platform inside and out. They bring a crucial perspective on client needs and site administration challenges, and can leverage the platform’s modular structure to build scalable components and maintain distributions. For example, a proficient developer knows how to choose the right search engine for a project, keeping both technical aspects and UX in mind.
2. API Knowledge to Business Needs
Top professionals have experience extending the framework with core APIs like:
Entity API: handles custom data entities and their properties
Libraries API: manages the integration of external libraries
Search API: implements interfaces to search engines
When a new feature is needed, they know the pros and cons of using various subprojects and can justify their choice in the context of business requirements. Their deep understanding of the platform’s core functionality ensures that they can smoothly integrate new features while maintaining the integrity and seamless performance of the system.
3. Component and Ecosystem Familiarity
Experts have current and in-depth knowledge of the framework’s ecosystem and technical components; they can easily manage missing features and requirements. They won’t waste time reinventing the wheel or relying on immature third-party modules. Imagine a task requiring a Drupal website to allow users to contact administrators. Instead of building a custom form, an expert uses the core Contact module and extends it via hooks — avoiding reimplementation — if the client needs further customization. Their familiarity with many 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.
4. Prioritizing Hidden but Critical Aspects of Code
An expert programmer puts 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 performance with:
Database profiling
Caching strategies like content delivery network (CDN) usage
Framework-specific best practices
They know to avoid introducing security holes in the first place by:
Leveraging the input sanitization and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection features built into Drupal’s Form API
They implement regular code reviews to ensure the codebase remains clean, secure, and maintainable. These habits are essential for managing and maintaining complex websites that require robust security and performance.
5. Streamlining Theme Development to Save Time and Complexity
The best developers have excellent theming knowledge, from its extensible template architecture to CSS hierarchy to preprocessing functions. When business requirements necessitate 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, an expert will be more than comfortable tackling any part of a 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 Developer for You?
The first step for companies looking to hire programmers is to understand the broad categories of “front end” and “back end,” along with the combination of the two, “full stack.”
Front-end Developers
The front end of a site is the part visible to the user. A front-end developer uses technologies familiar to any front-end web developer, like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; an expert will have a deep understanding of theme and module architecture, as well as specific tools, like the templating engine Twig, which enables them to apply standard front-end technologies effectively. A firm 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.
When to hire: Look for front-end developers if you have a large or mid-sized team or your back end is complete.
Back-end 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 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 need to know architectural best practices. A specialist, for example, can make an informed choice between Drupal’s core REST module and the third-party JSON:APImodule, 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 developer has expertise in other areas such as the framework’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 are adept at integrating third-party services to enhance site functionality and minimize repetitive tasks to achieve optimal site performance.
When to hire: Hire a back-end developer if your development project requires complex data handling or custom functionalities.
Front End, Back End, or Full Stack?
It’s important to distinguish between developers with knowledge of the Drupal CMS and those with deep but general programming knowledge. While the former suffices if you aim to find a developer to build and administer a site using the 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 solutions can significantly enhance your project’s success.
Front- and back-end development are not the only helpful categories. Evaluating a candidate’s soft skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and collaboration, is essential for ensuring a good fit within your team. Consider how to match a candidate’s level of expertise to your needs and expectations and plan for how to handle any gaps:
Level of Expertise
Capabilities
Caveats
Junior
Junior developers can vary in which areas of Drupal’s modules they’re most familiar with since the platform’s core and third-party ecosystems are extensive. Hiring a junior developer brings substantial cost savings if their skills match your project’s needs.
Without a senior developer to oversee their efforts, a poorly chosen junior developer heightens 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
Mid-level developers can leverage their broader ecosystem knowledge, more robust programming skills in PHP and/or JavaScript as needed, and awareness of 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 essential, especially as they grow their skills.
A mid-level developer will generally need less guidance than a junior developer, and mid-level developers can fill some mentoring roles themselves, especially as they progress and acquire seniority.
Senior
Senior 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 projects independently. Considering their technical expertise, having senior developers among your ranks is ultimately a cost-effective means to the success of your long-term projects.
Highest up-front cost.
Years of experience aside, look for candidates dedicated to staying current with the latest software development trends and best practices.
Which Complementary Skills Does Drupal Development Require?
Below are the most relevant complementary skills to the Drupalcontent management system:
PHP and Symfony – PHP is a proven technology for website development and the core language of Drupal, so a developer will need to be comfortable with PHP best practices to avoid security risks, performance issues, and technical debt. Similarly, but secondarily, Symfony is an integral part of Drupal’s architecture, so Symfony-savvy developers will be much more comfortable writing code that’s idiomatic to the CMS.
Laravel and Slim – These programs are nice-to-haves but not required unless your project already relies on one of them. Developers can work on a typical codebase without knowledge of Laravel or Slim — separate PHP frameworks unrelated to Drupal.
JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3 — Front-end developers need to know JavaScript for any custom interactivity, HTML for page structure, and CSS for layout and presentation. The more familiar they are with these core web technologies, the more efficiently they can elevate a project’s user experience.
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 – A candidate’s Git knowledge helps them comprehend your project’s source control strategy (e.g., Git flow) and related conventions. For a greenfield project, you’ll want a developer with enough Git experience to explain their preferred approach and its pros and cons.
To hire dedicated programmers, the best place to start is to list the specific technologies used in your project. This list will help you write better job descriptions, filter rėsumės effectively, and conduct insightful interviews.
How Can You Write a Job Description for Your Drupal Project?
List your project requirements, focusing on essential skills and technologies, so you can accurately customize a job description template. Provide as many relevant details as possible, including:
Accepted engagement models: Whether you’re looking for full-time developers for your in-house team or freelance experts, candidates should understand the nature and duration of the role. To ensure your project’s success, whether you need a single developer or a dedicated team depends on your project’s scope and complexity.
Relevant technologies: 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 helps provide potential candidates with an idea of the project’s scale and needs.
Business goals: The company’s and overall project goals are helpful for candidates. For example, if you’re migrating from a legacy codebase, it’s critical to include the details of its technology stack.
Size of the company: Many developers are interested in joining a startup’s initial team, while others prefer the stability of a larger organization.
Project management methodology: Share your company’s project management methodology, whether derived from Agile or a more waterfall-based system.
Doing so will help candidates self-select, saving time for both them and your organization.
What Are the Most Important Interview Questions?
Since Drupal development involves several other technologies, an effective job interview will mirror the several layers of Drupal development’s stack, according to need. Keeping in mind whether you’re hiring a back-end, front-end, or full-stack developer, it makes sense to mix 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 worth considering—for example, it’s appropriate to touch on some e-commerce specifics in an e-commerce development interview.
Even in an interview focused on technical skills, the best questions are sometimes open-ended, providing the opportunity for insightful dialogue and a consequent look at the candidate’s communication skills. Here are seven ideas for questions that can help you find the right hire for your developer position, starting with fundamentals and then moving on to more complex ones.
1. Which language is Drupal developed in?
PHP is the framework’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 worth noting that PHP is not the most accessible programming language. Common PHP mistakes can significantly impact security, performance, and debugging efficiency, so it pays to screen for in-depth knowledge of PHP best practices before hiring a candidate.
2. Which PHP frameworks are relevant to Drupal development?
Symfony is the leading PHP framework used in Drupal development. Since version 8 of the platform, its core has used Symfony in components like ClassLoader and HttpFoundation and features like routing, event dispatching, and the Twig template engine. Thus, developers will often interact with Symfony while creating custom modules. Generally speaking, frameworks are a smart choice for any 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.
Alternatively, Laravel can be used for Drupal development—as can the PHP microframework Slim—but is often seen as a less efficient alternative.
3. What are your top three considerations when migrating a project from Drupal 7 to 10?
There are several considerations when migrating to the newer version of Drupal. A skillful answer will consider some, if not all, of the following:
How to perform a Drupal migration using the 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 regarding 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 10, and how to get the most out of Drupal 10 for particular use cases
This question is vital because version 7 is obsolete (unsupported since January 5, 2025). Drupal 8 and 9 are already past their EOL (end of life) dates, unlike versions 10 and 11.
4. What’s the most significant difference between Drupal 9 and 10?
The major differences between the two versions include user-facing advances in forms and media management. Responses to this question can also focus on behind-the-scenes changes, including compatibility breakages that can impact migration time. Another critical difference is that Drupal 10 is still supported, whereas Drupal 9 is not. This question welcomes further discussion of the candidate’s experience since Drupal 10 has many well-known improvements over earlier versions.
5. How would you create a custom Drupal 10 theme from scratch?
There are multiple methods for creating a custom theme. 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 preferences and development workflow, which includes the following:
Module awareness.
Practical approaches.
Methodologies.
Preferences around project organization. (Do they prefer test-driven development? Do they value documentation as an asset?)
6. How has Symfony adoption in Drupal’s core affected how you approach modern code?
Responses to this open-ended question will shed light on the candidate’s opinions about dependency injection, event-driven architecture, and routing. Even if they don’t embrace these elements and approaches in their custom module code, you can gauge the candidate’s expertise by how well they can explain Symfony components such as:
Experts know the major areas in which Drupal uses these components.
7. How do you handle errors on the back end so that users and administrators see a level of detail tailored to their roles?
Responses to this question will vary depending on the platform version:
For projects involving Drupal 7, the candidate must be familiar with logging errors usingwatchdog().
For projects using more recent versions, the candidate must know how to use dependency injection andLoggerChannelFactoryInterface.
Why Do Companies Hire Drupal Developers?
Companies hire Drupal web developers to build, maintain, scale, customize, or migrate websites. The platform is a popular CMS choice because it offers both scalability and a user-friendly front end. With the platform’s core team continuing to make user- and developer-friendly quality improvements, reduce technical debt, and leverage new features, the need for developers continues to trend upward.
With Drupal 7’s EOL date of January 5, 2025 now past, plenty of companies will want to plan their migration to Drupal 10 or 11 to continue to benefit from security patches and performance updates. As of January 2025, nearly two-fifths of known Drupal sites are still on version 7, meaning that competition for skilled developers is likely to increase to meet migration needs.
With the hiring process advice, job description outline, and interview questions provided in this guide, your company can ably position itself to attract and hire top-notch developers as needed to ensure your continued success.
