How to write a Heroku developer job description

Hiring a skilled Heroku developer means you can deploy and manage apps that perform seamlessly in the cloud. Meanwhile, hiring a Heroku developer with a poor understanding of Heroku's platform and best practices can lead to suboptimal application performance. The developer may write inefficient code, resulting in increased server costs and slow response times. They might also introduce security vulnerabilities.

Crafting a great job description can help you attract top applicants. However, pinpointing the unique blend of technical skills and knowledge to include in your job description can be challenging. 

We can help! Our article guides you through creating a job description that draws in the best candidates, ensuring your team benefits from the full power of Heroku's platform.

What is a Heroku developer?

A Heroku developer specializes in building, deploying, and scaling applications on the Heroku cloud platform. They leverage their coding skills, typically in languages like Ruby or Python, to craft apps that run efficiently on Heroku's Platform as a Service (PaaS) environment.

These developers understand the nuances of cloud architecture and are great at using Heroku's features to optimize app performance, manage workflow, and ensure continuous deployment with minimal downtime. 

Key skills to look for in a Heroku developer

Finding the right Heroku developer for your company means looking for a unique mix of technical prowess and problem-solving abilities.

Hard skills

• Proficiency in Heroku CLI: A strong candidate must be comfortable using Heroku command-line interface (CLI) for creating, managing, and scaling applications.

• Experience with buildpacks: The developer should know how to use or create buildpacks (scripts for compiling apps on Heroku).

• Database management: Experience with PostgreSQL, Heroku's preferred database, is crucial for managing and scaling databases within applications.

• App optimization: The candidate should demonstrate expertise in dyno management and an understanding of Heroku's metrics for optimizing app performance.

• Continuous deployment: Familiarity with deployment workflows using Heroku's CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous deployment) tools is essential.

• Integrations and add-ons: A Heroku developer should have experience integrating third-party services using Heroku add-ons and the Heroku Elements Marketplace.

Soft skills

• Problem-solving: The ability to quickly identify and resolve deployment issues or downtime is critical.

• Adaptability: As Heroku evolves, developers must stay current with new features and adapt to them.

• Communication: Developers should be able to clearly communicate technical details to team members and non-technical stakeholders.

• Collaboration: Heroku projects often involve working with other developers and IT professionals, so developers must have strong teamwork skills.

• Proactivity: Developers who seek ways to improve application performance or reduce costs without prompting show a valuable level of initiative.

• Time management: Prioritizing tasks and managing deployment schedules is key, especially when multiple apps are in development.

How to write an effective Heroku developer job description

Follow these best practices to write a solid Heroku developer job description.

Specify Heroku-related responsibilities

Describing what the job entails using specific details weeds out unqualified applicants while setting clear expectations. 

For instance, stating that the candidate will "manage our Heroku pipelines, ensuring seamless development to production transitions" shows them that precision and expertise in pipeline management are critical to your operations. 

This clarity helps attract professionals who are up for the challenge and possess the right skill set, ultimately saving you time and resources in the hiring process.

Detail technical requirements

When you're specific about technical skills, such as expertise in Heroku Postgres optimizations or familiarity with Heroku Redis, you're essentially filtering for excellence. By listing these precise skills, you encourage applicants who can confidently navigate the complexities of Heroku's platform. 

This specificity brings forward candidates who can hit the ground running while setting a benchmark for the technical competencies required for the role. It ensures that the person you hire will contribute to the technological robustness of your project from the get-go.

Highlight the need for Heroku-specific knowledge 

By underscoring the value of specific knowledge of Heroku – such as knowledge of scaling web applications – you're targeting candidates with the expertise you need. This attracts candidates with experience with the platform who have faced and overcome real-world challenges similar to what they might encounter in your projects. 

"Candidates should have a proven track record of scaling large-scale web applications on Heroku," suggests that you're looking for someone who can ensure scalability and reliability, for example.

Describe the ideal candidate's profile

Painting a vivid image of the perfect Heroku developer gives prospective candidates a glimpse into the future. By illustrating how their expertise will enhance app performance or cut server costs, you appeal to their desire to make a significant impact. 

Language like "the ideal candidate will leverage Heroku to enhance our app's performance, ensuring a robust, user-friendly experience" sets a high standard and shows applicants how their expertise will contribute to your company.

Heroku developer job description template

Use this comprehensive job description template to attract the most skilled Heroku developers to your team.

Company introduction

In this section, introduce your company, emphasizing its commitment to innovation and excellence in cloud-based application development. Highlight any significant projects, especially those using Heroku, and explain your company's culture and values. Mention the impact Heroku developers have had on your company's success to attract candidates who want to contribute meaningfully to their workplace.

Benefits of working with [your company]

Detail the specific benefits that a Heroku developer would enjoy at your company. Beyond standard benefits, include opportunities for professional development, like Heroku certification reimbursement or dedicated time for learning new cloud technologies. Mention the availability of powerful workstations, access to premium Heroku add-ons, or the chance to work on cutting-edge projects.

Francis Lacoste, Senior Director at Salesforce Heroku, has stated, "Around 70% of Heroku engineers are working from home, and that ratio is probably going to continue for the foreseeable future." So, if your company has a strong remote work policy, including that in your job description is a good idea.

Heroku developer job brief

[Company Name]

Job Title: [Heroku Developer]

Reports to: [For example, Chief Technology Officer]

Position type: [For example, full-time, part-time, or contract]

Location: [For example, remote, hybrid, on site (include address if applicable)]

Salary: [Salary range]

Responsibilities and duties

• Develop and maintain scalable applications on the Heroku platform.

• Optimize app performance through effective dyno management and Heroku metrics.

• Implement and manage continuous integration and deployment pipelines.

• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to app deployment and runtime.

• Integrate third-party services and manage databases with Heroku Postgres.

• Collaborate with the development team to create innovative cloud-based solutions.

Skills and qualifications

Required skills and experience:

• Proven experience with Heroku CLI and buildpacks

• Strong background in database management, specifically with PostgreSQL

• Familiarity with implementing CI/CD pipelines on Heroku

• Proficiency in dyno management and app performance optimization

• Solid understanding of Heroku add-ons and marketplace integrations

Preferred skills and experience:

• Certifications in Heroku or cloud-based technologies

• Experience with containerization and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes

• Advanced knowledge of app security best practices within the Heroku environment

• A history of contributing to open-source projects or community involvement in Heroku forums and events

4 things to avoid when writing a job description for a Heroku developer

To secure the best Heroku talent, dodge these common pitfalls that can deter candidates from applying.

1. Being vague about Heroku-specific tasks

Avoid broad or generic descriptions of responsibilities. If you're vague about the Heroku-related tasks, candidates might not recognize the opportunity to utilize and grow their specific skill set. Instead, clearly state the Heroku-related tasks such as managing add-ons, handling app scaling, or setting up and maintaining Heroku pipelines.

2. Underestimating the importance of Heroku's ecosystem

Don't overlook the need for familiarity with the broader tools and services that integrate with Heroku, like Salesforce, AWS, and GitHub. Failing to recognize the Heroku ecosystem's importance can make the job seem disconnected from the current tech environment. Candidates should have experience not just with Heroku but also with its ecosystem.

3. Ignoring the balance between Heroku and other technologies

Don’t focus solely on Heroku to the detriment of associated skills. Overemphasizing Heroku might lead to overlooking a developer's ability to work with other critical technologies. A well-rounded developer should also have expertise in the programming languages and frameworks commonly used with Heroku, like Ruby on Rails or Node.js.

4. Omitting details on collaboration 

Remember that your Heroku developer won’t work in isolation. Neglecting to mention teamwork can result in hiring a developer who may struggle with your company's collaborative dynamics. Be sure to mention the need for collaboration with other departments.

Recommended reading: How to write great job descriptions for a skill-based hiring approach

Next steps: Attracting and assessing Heroku developer candidates

After crafting your job description, you're ready to post it on job boards and professional networks. You'll soon have a pool of applicants, but how do you sift through them effectively? That's where TestGorilla steps in. 

TestGorilla is a talent assessment platform that provides hundreds of tests designed to measure job-specific skills and provide a holistic view of each candidate's potential fit within your team.

When assessing Heroku developer applicants, consider the following tests specific to the role:

• Heroku test: Evaluates a candidate's ability to use Heroku for deploying, managing, and scaling applications

• Git test: Measures proficiency in Git, essential for version control in collaborative Heroku development projects

• Docker test: Assesses knowledge of Docker, crucial for creating containerized environments that can be easily deployed to Heroku

• PostgreSQL test: Tests the candidate's ability to manage databases, particularly PostgreSQL which is commonly used with Heroku apps

• REST API test: Evaluates understanding of REST APIs, as integrating third-party services is a key part of working with Heroku

• DevOps test: Measures a candidate's skills in DevOps practices, which complement the deployment and operational tasks within Heroku

TestGorilla has various other tests – including personality tests and cognitive ability tests – that you can use. Bundle up to five tests into a single assessment to give to your applicants right after they apply. This way, you can move forward with the best.

FAQs

What programming languages and frameworks are most commonly used with Heroku?

Heroku supports several programming languages, including Ruby, Java, Python, and Node.js, among others. It's commonly paired with frameworks like Ruby on Rails and Express for Node.js, due to their ease of deployment and scalability on the Heroku platform.

Why is Heroku preferred for certain development projects?

Companies value Heroku for its ease of use, scalability, and support for multiple programming languages. 

What types of projects benefit most from a Heroku developer’s skills?

Projects that require rapid scaling or frequent updates – or use a microservices architecture – benefit greatly from a Heroku developer's skills. 

TestGorilla helps you hire the best Heroku developers

Writing a precise Heroku developer job description is key to attracting top talent. After you’ve drawn in qualified developers, the next step is evaluating them.

With TestGorilla's tests, you can find candidates with the expertise you need and ensure they align with your team's dynamics. 

Ready to streamline your hiring?Sign up for a live demo or free account today.