What to know before hiring iOS Developers

iOS Developers play a crucial role in building, maintaining, and optimizing apps for Apple’s iOS platform, which powers iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. Hiring the right iOS Developer is crucial to creating a high-quality app that delivers seamless performance and great user experience and aligns with Apple’s strict guidelines.

Here’s what you need to know to hire iOS Developers for your team effectively.

What does an iOS Developer do?

An iOS Developer specializes in building applications for Apple’s iOS platform using programming languages like Swift and Objective-C. Their responsibilities typically include:

• Developing iOS applications: iOS Developers design, code, and maintain applications for iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. This includes building user interfaces, managing data, and ensuring smooth user experiences.
• Adhering to Apple guidelines: They ensure that the app meets Apple’s strict guidelines regarding performance, security, and user experience to avoid rejections during the App Store review process.
• Collaborating with designers and back-end developers: iOS Developers work closely with designers to create intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces and collaborate with back-end teams to integrate APIs and manage data efficiently.
• Performance optimization: They are responsible for optimizing app performance, handling memory management, and improving responsiveness to ensure that apps run smoothly on various iOS devices.
• Testing and debugging: iOS Developers use testing frameworks to ensure their apps function correctly and are free of bugs, conducting unit, UI, and performance testing.

iOS Developers are also responsible for staying up-to-date with Apple’s latest technologies, software updates, and device specifications to ensure compatibility across all Apple devices.

How to hire iOS Developers: a quick guide

Define your requirements

Before starting your search for an iOS Developer, clearly defining your project’s requirements is essential. This will help you focus on hiring a developer with the right skills and experience. Some factors to consider include:

• App type: Are you building a simple app, a game, or a complex enterprise-level application? The type of app will determine the complexity of the skills you need.
• Native vs. cross-platform: Do you want a fully native iOS app, or are you considering a cross-platform approach using tools like React Native or Flutter? Native iOS Developers will focus exclusively on Swift or Objective-C, while cross-platform developers may use other tools to build for both iOS and Android.
• Integration with back-end services: Does your app need to interact with external APIs or databases? Make sure the developer is experienced in API integration, security, and data handling.
• UI/UX Design: If your app requires detailed, high-quality UI/UX, look for a developer experienced in converting design prototypes into polished, user-friendly interfaces that align with Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.
• App store submission: Do you need help with the app submission process? Find a developer familiar with the App Store review guidelines and distribution process to avoid delays or rejections.

By defining these key project needs, you’ll be able to narrow down your search and find an iOS Developer with the right experience and technical expertise.

Where to find iOS Developers

There are several platforms where you can hire top-tier iOS Developers. Job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, Jobshark, and Glassdoor are excellent starting points. Additionally, platforms like Toptal, Jobshark, Upwork, and Fiverr offer access to freelance iOS Developers.

Communities such as Stack Overflow, GitHub, and the iOS subreddit are great places to engage with iOS Developers and find active contributors. Attending or sponsoring tech conferences like WWDC (Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference) or local iOS meetups can help you connect with experienced iOS Developers.

For quicker hiring, partnering with tech sourcing companies, like Jobshark, can help streamline the process.

Assess technical skills

When hiring an iOS Developer, assessing their technical proficiency is crucial to ensure they can build high-quality, secure, and scalable applications. Prepare to assess the following technical skills:

• Proficiency in Swift and Objective-C: Swift is the primary programming language for iOS development, while Objective-C is used to maintain legacy applications. Ensure the developer has a deep understanding of Swift and experience with Objective-C if your project requires it.
• Knowledge of iOS frameworks: Look for developers experienced in using core iOS frameworks like UIKit (for building user interfaces), Core Data (for data persistence), Core Animation, and Core Location (for GPS-related apps).
• Familiarity with Xcode and Interface Builder: Xcode is the integrated development environment (IDE) for iOS development, and Interface Builder is used for creating UI layouts. Developers should be proficient in both to ensure smooth development workflows.
• Experience with APIs and back-end services: Ensure the developer is experienced in using RESTful APIs or GraphQL, integrating back-end services, and managing data flow between the app and server.
• Testing and debugging skills: The developer should have experience using testing frameworks like XCTest and UI Automation to test the app’s functionality, as well as debugging tools to identify and fix performance or usability issues.
• Version control systems: Familiarity with Git or other version control systems is crucial for collaborative development, ensuring that code is appropriately managed, tracked, and shared.

Evaluating these technical skills through coding tests, technical interviews, or reviewing past projects can help you assess the developer’s capability to meet your project requirements.

Evaluate soft skills and cultural fit

Soft skills to look for when hiring an iOS Developer include:

• Communication: Effective communication is essential, especially when collaborating with designers, back-end developers, and stakeholders. A good iOS Developer should be able to explain technical concepts and progress to non-technical team members.
• Problem-solving ability: iOS Developers often face challenges like optimizing performance, ensuring compatibility with new Apple updates, and handling complex UI elements. Strong problem-solving skills are vital for overcoming these challenges efficiently.
• Collaboration: In Agile or Scrum environments, collaboration is paramount. Look for developers who are comfortable participating in sprints, working with cross-functional teams, and contributing to code reviews.
• Adaptability: Apple frequently releases iOS updates and new devices, requiring developers to adapt quickly. A good developer should be open to learning new tools, frameworks, and technologies to stay current with Apple’s evolving ecosystem.
• Attention to detail: Ensuring that apps function flawlessly and meet Apple’s strict standards requires high attention to detail. Look for developers who take pride in delivering pixel-perfect designs and intuitive user interfaces.

Evaluating these soft skills through interviews and trial projects can help you ensure that the developer is technically proficient and fits well within your team’s culture and communication style.

Benefits of hiring a skilled iOS Developer

Hiring a skilled iOS Developer can offer several key benefits:

• Seamless user experience: iOS Developers ensure that apps provide a smooth, consistent experience across all Apple devices, from iPhones to iPads, taking into account performance, UI/UX, and Apple’s design standards.
• High-quality code: Experienced iOS Developers follow best practices in coding, testing, and debugging, ensuring that your app is secure, reliable, and scalable.
• App store compliance: A skilled iOS Developer knows how to build apps that comply with Apple’s strict guidelines, minimizing the risk of rejection during the App Store submission process.
• Long-term maintenance and updates: Hiring an iOS Developer for long-term maintenance ensures that your app remains compatible with future iOS updates and devices, keeping your app running smoothly for users.

These benefits ensure that your iOS application delivers an excellent user experience and meets Apple’s high standards for quality and performance.

A brief overview of iOS development tools and technologies

iOS Developers use a variety of tools and technologies to build, test, and deploy iOS applications. Some important tools include:

• Xcode: Apple’s official IDE for iOS development. It includes tools for coding, testing, and debugging iOS apps.
• Swift and Objective-C: These are the two primary programming languages used for iOS development, with Swift being the modern choice and Objective-C for legacy apps.
• Cocoa Touch Framework: A key framework for building iOS applications, providing tools for working with animations, touch input, and gestures.
• TestFlight: Apple’s platform for beta testing apps, allowing developers to distribute pre-release versions of their apps to testers and gather feedback before the official release.