Java is one of the most portable languages available at a developer’s disposal. It’s possible for a great Java developer to build a highly distributed web application, a sophisticated desktop application, or even a powerful mobile application running on a handheld device. With the power of the Java Virtual Machine behind the platform, sometimes a talented developer is all it takes to build a robust, secure, and efficient application.
Java is one of the most portable languages available at a developer’s disposal. It’s possible for a great Java developer to build a highly distributed web application, a sophisticated desktop application, or even a powerful mobile application running on a handheld device. With the power of the Java Virtual Machine behind the platform, sometimes a talented developer is all it takes to build a robust, secure, and efficient application.
With Java developers being some of the most sought-after talent in the industry, it is particularly difficult to attract expert candidates with a generic job advertisement. To ensure that you hire an expert Java developer, there must be a very thorough interview process; however, the search begins with a great job ad. This article will provide you with a sample Java developer job description that will help you write the perfect job ad, and assure that you find and hire the person that matches your specific needs.
Java Developer - Job Description and Ad Template
Copy this template, and modify it as your own:
Company Introduction
{{Write a short and catchy paragraph about your company. Make sure to provide information about the company’s culture, perks, and benefits. Mention office hours, remote working possibilities, and everything else you think of that makes your company interesting.}}
Job Description
We are looking for a Java developer responsible for building Java applications. This includes anything between complex groups of back-end services and their client-end (desktop and mobile) counterparts. Your primary responsibility will be to design and develop these applications, and to coordinate with the rest of the team working on different layers of the infrastructure. Thus, a commitment to collaborative problem solving, sophisticated design, and product quality is essential.
Responsibilities
Translate application storyboards and use cases into functional applications
Design, build, and maintain efficient, reusable, and reliable Java code
Ensure the best possible performance, quality, and responsiveness of the applications
Identify bottlenecks and bugs, and devise solutions to these problems
Help maintain code quality, organization, and automatization
{{Add other responsibilities here that are relevant}}
Skills
Proficient in Java, with a good knowledge of its ecosystems
Solid understanding of object-oriented programming
Familiar with various design and architectural patterns
Skill for writing reusable Java libraries
Knowledge of concurrency patterns in Java
Familiarity with concepts of MVC, JDBC, and RESTful
Experience with popular web application frameworks, such as Play and Spark
Familiarity with Java GUI frameworks {{such as Swing, SWT, and AWT depending on project requirements}}
Knack for writing clean, readable Java code
Experience with both external and embedded databases
Understanding fundamental design principles behind a scalable application
Basic understanding of the class loading mechanism in Java
Creating database schemas that represent and support business processes
Basic understanding of JVM, its limitations, weaknesses, and workarounds
Implementing automated testing platforms and unit tests
Proficient understanding of code versioning tools, such as Git
Familiarity with build tools such as Ant, Maven, and Gradle
Familiarity with continuous integration
{{Make sure to mention other frameworks, libraries, or any other technology relevant to your project}}
{{List education level or certification you require}}
Mastering Java is no small feat. Its extensive class libraries contain a wide array of capabilities and nuances, many of which are lost on the average developer. Those who have mastered the language can have a significant positive impact on your team's productivity and on your system's performance. Here are some targeted questions to help identify true masters of the language.
Toptal is a marketplace for top Java developers, engineers, programmers, coders, architects, and consultants. Top companies and startups choose Toptal Java freelancers for their mission-critical software projects.
ThailandFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since September 24, 2014
Radek is a certified Toptal blockchain engineer particularly interested in Ethereum and smart contracts. In the fiat world, he is experienced in big data and machine learning projects. He is a triple winner in two different international IBM Apache Spark competitions, co-creator of PlayStation 4's back end, a successful hackathon competitor, and a speaker at conferences in Australia, Poland, and Serbia.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since June 13, 2018
Rizwan has a reputation for overcoming complex challenges through clear thinking, innovative approaches, and enhancing communication between different parts of organizations. Throughout his career, he has optimized the efforts of diverse and dispersed teams of IT professionals and has consistently delivered projects profitably in challenging environments.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since September 12, 2018
Claudio is a seasoned IT specialist focused on business outcomes, along with having a solid engineering background. He's applied data science to optimize customer satisfaction, product personalization, and customer churn. Claudio is also a certified SharePoint expert and has worked with prominent Microsoft customers, helping them to maximize security, performance, and usability.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since June 18, 2020
Dan has been an expert in the technology field for 25 years and has collaborated with several large firms, such as Oracle and Accenture, including startups. He also had the chance to develop his own business. His latest technology focus has been on eCommerce, full-stack web development, and Elasticsearch. Dan had many opportunities to architect and deliver large-scale solutions to clients while staying hands-on with the technology throughout his career.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since June 18, 2020
Keith has nearly 40 years of experience in the IT industry with the last 20+, designing and developing using Oracle database and Oracle eBusiness Suite. He's also delivered presentations at Oracle Open World and Oracle Application User Group conferences. Keith has made individual contributions as well as managing on-shore/off-shore teams of up to ten resources. Keith is very detailed-oriented and always delivers a quality product.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since June 13, 2019
Viacheslav has seven years of experience in data science and software engineering. He is passionate about the insights gained from raw data and enjoys converting them to create exceptional business value. Viacheslav's primary expertise is Python, with production experience in Java and C++. To solve data-heavy projects, he has applied advanced machine learning techniques, such as computer vision, NLP, product recommendation systems, networking data, and classical data science.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since April 15, 2019
Alex has over ten years of experience developing software, especially web and mobile apps. He’s led the development of interactive projects for companies including AT&T, EMC, Legendary Pictures, Hewlett Packard, Foundation Capital, UCLA, Anaheim Ducks, and LA18 Television. Apps he’s developed have been featured in TechCrunch and iPod commercials. Alex graduated with a degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since August 27, 2018
Ken has over 20 years of experience as an independent contractor providing application development services to his customers. For the last 12 years, he has developed applications on the .NET platform. Ken's motivation to deliver value-added solutions and pull projects through to completion has earned him the respect of his clients, resulting in long-term relationships.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since February 2, 2018
Joseph is a professional with strong leadership skills, highly experienced in software engineering, and specializing in mission-critical systems in aerospace, defense, and telecommunications. He has over two decades of experience designing and developing sophisticated enterprise web applications using various technologies, most recently with ASP.NET MVC.
United StatesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since January 26, 2018
Fabian is a DevOps professional with a proven track record as a hands-on individual contributor—from early-stage startups to established enterprises, full-time, and consultant roles. He has experience wearing multiple hats and operating in highly regulated environments.
United Arab EmiratesFreelance Java Developer at Toptal Since December 6, 2019
Luigi is a seasoned cloud and leadership specialist with over two decades of professional experience in a variety of environments. He is passionate about technology and value-driven projects, and he is highly adaptable. Luigi has been part of significant industry transformation waves directly from some of the leaders driving the digital era.