Hire the Top 3% of Freelance Ruby on Rails Developers
Toptal is a marketplace for top Ruby on Rails developers, engineers, programmers, coders, architects, and consultants. Top companies and startups can hire dedicated (full-time), hourly, or part-time Ruby on Rails freelancers for their mission-critical software projects.
Bruz is a full-stack developer who has loved building things for the web since he first started doing it over 15 years ago. Bruz has spent a lot of time on the back end building services with Ruby and Elixir and working with databases and infrastructure, but has also done substantial work on the front end building apps in JavaScript.
Eqbal is a senior full-stack developer with more than a decade of experience working in web and mobile development. He is a masterful problem solver and boasts an extensive portfolio of finished professional products.
Tina is a seasoned full-stack engineer specializing in mobile-first responsive web development and client-side JavaScript applications—with React, Redux, Angular, Vue, and Ember—and their APIs—Ruby on Rails, Node.js, Kotlin, and Java—backed by SQL and no-SQL databases. Tina also excels at developing native mobile apps for iOS and Android, including KMM, and has expertise in React Native and Cordova.
Botond is a highly skilled professional software developer who enjoys writing code that others can understand and follow. His passion for programming began when he was 13, after receiving a ZX Spectrum-compatible Russian PC from his father. He learned programming and became a true lifelong enthusiast.
Cristina has over five years of experience in founding startups focused on developer tools that reached over 500,000 users. She is a full-stack developer passionate about Ruby on Rails and responsive-web design. She has experience working in cross-functional teams and seeing a product go from idea to live and succeed.
Jef is a full-stack engineer with more than 10 years of professional experience in web development. He's worked on 50+ projects and solved complex business problems in industries including real estate, media, sports, eCommerce, food, and retail. Jef has consistently saved costs while increasing profits. He's ready for an opportunity to use his skills to grow your revenue exponentially.
With a decade of remote work expertise, Richa crafts exceptional web/mobile experiences as a RoR, React, React Native, and Node.js expert. She's worked on greenfield projects, established and managed a team of 15 developers, and built web and mobile projects for clients worldwide. Richa excels in async communication, making informed decisions about architecture, design, and software development process areas. She's a natural problem-solver with a knack for picking up new technologies quickly.
Amrata is a back-end engineer with over 12 years of experience and a master's degree in computer science. She is proficient in Ruby on Rails and other languages, such as Java, Node.js, Swift, and JavaScript, and has also worked with other databases and project management software. Amrata's background includes working with startups and big firms, such as Symantec, Oracle, and Bharti Soft Bank, and in various fields, including eCommerce, media streaming, and enterprise software.
Hendrik was the main Ruby on Rails engineer in two different startups for 7+ years, in charge of all technology, including front end, back end, databases, CI/CD, cloud deployment, error and performance monitoring, logging, analytics, and A/B testing. In the past two years, Hendrik was a remote freelance team member for a SaaS startup, developing a proof-of-concept of a Flask, Python, and Vue.js application for use in hospitals. He has also taught a coding boot camp for the past two years.
Alex is a senior Ruby on Rails developer with extensive experience building APIs, working with and extending 3rd-party integrations, and building proof-of-concept software. Alex is pragmatic and detail-oriented, leverages the right tools for the job, and delivers projects on time.
Simon is a software engineer with over six years of experience in the back end, distributed systems, CI, and web development. An ex-Uber employee and a founder of Salonomi.com, Simon has co-authored the paper "Keeping Master Green at Scale" (published at EuroSys '19) and created two 5-star rated courses about Ruby and Ruby on Rails for Platzi, the largest online tech school in Latin America.
Ruby on Rails developers are skilled at creating full-stack web applications using the Ruby language and the Rails framework. This guide to hiring Ruby on Rails developers features job description best practices, interview questions and answers, and tips to help you identify the best candidates for your company.
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How to Hire Ruby on Rails Developers Through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Industry Experts
A Toptal director of engineering 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 Ruby on Rails developer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new Ruby on Rails developer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
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Access a vast pool of skilled developers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.
First, define the project scope to clarify the specific technical skills and experience you need from your Ruby on Rails developer or team. Then prepare a detailed job description. While you search for candidates and review résumés, prepare a list of interview questions about the Ruby language and its specific uses with the Rails framework. Then interview shortlisted candidates to gauge their technical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and cultural fit.
How can your business benefit from hiring a Ruby on Rails developer?
Hiring a permanent or freelance Ruby on Rails developer benefits businesses in numerous ways. RoR developers can create a wide range of applications, from simple websites to complex, data-driven web applications, making it a suitable choice for many different business needs. Ruby on Rails follows the convention-over-configuration approach, which streamlines the app development process, leading to shorter time-to-market. Rails developers can build scalable web applications, allowing your business to grow seamlessly. Rails is cost-effective: It’s open-source and has a large, active community, which lowers development costs via free resources, tools, and libraries (or “gems”). With built-in support for testing, Ruby on Rails enables developers to create robust, well-tested applications with fewer bugs and improved performance. Finally, Ruby on Rails has strong built-in features that help developers create secure applications and protect sensitive data, ensuring the safety of businesses and their customers.
How do I choose between two quality Ruby on Rails developer candidates?
When comparing Ruby on Rails developer candidates, it’s essential to consider their hard skills (technical expertise) and soft skills (interpersonal abilities). Hard skills include expertise in the Ruby language, the Rails framework, object-oriented programming, front-end development, databases, testing, and essential tools. Compare portfolios: Review their past work, focusing on code quality and project complexity. Evaluate their willingness and ability to learn new technologies or processes—developers who adapt quickly may be a better fit for evolving projects. Consider, too, their industry experience and work on similar projects. Relevant experience leads to a better understanding of your business requirements. Regarding soft skills, observe their ability to express ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback. Effective communication is crucial for collaboration and project success. So is cultural fit: Candidates who share your values and adapt to your team are more likely to be successful. Candidates with a willingness to grow can be valuable assets.
Are Ruby on Rails developers in demand?
Many well-established companies and startups continue to use Ruby on Rails for their projects, which drives the demand for skilled Ruby on Rails developers. Some prominent companies that use Ruby on Rails include Airbnb, GitHub, Shopify, and Basecamp. While Rails may not be the newest or trendiest technology, it has a mature ecosystem, an active community, and a strong reputation for rapid development, maintainability, and scalability. The demand for Ruby on Rails developers can vary depending on factors such as location, industry trends, and specific project requirements, but top-quality experts do enjoy a competitive edge in the job market.
How quick is the hiring process with Toptal?
Typically, you can hire a Ruby on Rails developer with Toptal in about 48 hours. Our talent matchers are experts 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 Ruby on Rails 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.
What is Ruby on Rails and what are the benefits of choosing it?
Ruby on Rails is a major open-source web development framework with varied tool sets and a strong, active community. Its reliability, developmental efficiency, and scalability are undeniable. These traits, combined with Ruby on Rails’ full-stack capabilities—Ruby on Rails has built-in solutions that seamlessly combine front- and back-end development—make it ideal for prototyping and building MVPs. Ruby on Rails also offers numerous libraries (“gems”), which are rich resources that cut development time even further. Since Ruby on Rails is an opinionated framework, it promotes well-organized, maintainable code, simplifying deployment and updates while ensuring the application remains scalable. Likewise, Ruby on Rails supports test-driven development (TDD) and behavior-driven development (BDD), helping developers create high-quality, reliable applications.
Gustavo is a startup founder and web developer with more than 17 years of experience. He specializes in building and scaling Rails and JavaScript apps and perfecting UI/UX design. Years before Zoom or Google Hangouts existed, Gustavo single-handedly created a video collaboration service used in more than 110 countries.
Market Faces Surging Demand for Ruby on Rails Developers
As the use of Ruby on Rails continues to grow, so does the market for professionals who specialize in it: In 2022, Ruby on Rails ranked as the second-most in-demand software engineering skill, with its developers having a 78% better chance of being contacted for an interview than the marketplace average.
So where can you find the best Ruby on Rails developers for hire? It’s relatively straightforward to locate developers with “Ruby on Rails” somewhere on their résumé, but finding a truly proficient expert in the field is a much greater challenge.
There are many Rails engineers who possess different levels of knowledge, experience, and motivation. Your goal is not to simply hire a Ruby on Rails developer who is qualified but to find the right one for your specific needs. Here we tell you how to find and hire the best Ruby on Rails developers for your project.
What attributes distinguish quality Ruby on Rails Developers from others?
A skilled Ruby on Rails developer can harness the power and efficiency of the Rails framework to swiftly build robust and scalable solutions tailored to your company’s needs. They can also support a preexisting development team to help architect new features, debug and optimize code, and align coding standards with best practices.
Here are the essential Ruby on Rails developer skills to look for when hiring:
Ruby – The primary programming language used in any Ruby on Rails project. If you hire someone who hasn’t mastered Ruby’s syntax and best practices, you can expect their code to have readability issues. These concerns can multiply development costs, especially in long-term projects.
Object-oriented programming (OOP) – A well-established programming paradigm that’s a natural fit for programming in Ruby, where everything is an object. A firm grasp of OOP principles like inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation is a vital skill for Ruby on Rails developers for creating clean, maintainable code.
SQL databases– A widespread and scalable way of storing data structured in tables. Rails is designed to work with SQL databases in general and even includes built-in support for SQLite to facilitate Ruby on Rails scaffolding. Anyone looking to hire a Ruby on Rails developer will want to ensure candidates have a strong understanding of SQL. PostgreSQL and MySQL are popular with Ruby on Rails developers, but this aspect will depend on your requirements unless you’re hiring for a flexible greenfield project.
Front-end development – Since Ruby on Rails is a full-stack technology, candidates must be well-versed in standard front-end technologies. At a minimum, these include:
JavaScript – The de facto front-end programming language, supported by all major browsers for decades. Without JavaScript, web developers are severely limited in options for making a website or web app interactive and engaging.
HTML – The basis for every web page. Ruby on Rails developers who stay informed as web standards and browsers evolve in parallel will be able to leverage new features sooner, lowering development costs and elevating user experiences.
CSS – How developers encode the look of every element of a web page. Over time, many interactive features that used to require heavy amounts of JavaScript have become built into the CSS standard; developers who switch to the “CSS way” often see significant performance improvements. Thus, Ruby on Rails developers must keep current with CSS features amid the ever-changing landscape of the web.
QA testing and QA engineering – The manual and automated ways, respectively, of ensuring that your code adheres to the desired functionality. Automated testing makes it possible to scale confidently by efficiently verifying your product even after adding new features or doing major code refactoring. For Ruby on Rails developers, this is a must-have skill.
Don’t neglect proficiency in essential software engineering tools like Git or Docker. The best Ruby on Rails developers will successfully blend these technical abilities with soft skills and excel at programming, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication—irrespective of whether you’re looking for a remote developer, a permanent on-site Ruby on Rails engineer, or someone in between.
How can you identify the ideal Ruby on Rails Developer for you?
When hiring a Ruby on Rails developer, you’ll need to consider not only their skills and attributes but also your project requirements to find the ideal candidate. You should line up your project’s scope, complexity, and budget with a developer’s skill range, technical acumen, and experience.
It also pays to gather a list of project-specific tools and methodologies, e.g., CI platforms like Jenkins, project management software like Jira, and advanced version control practices like Git flow. Familiarity with these can be a boon at crucial moments in a project’s development—like major upgrades—so this is a key factor when looking to hire a Ruby on Rails developer.
Rails is versatile and has been the framework of choice for renowned companies such as Airbnb, Twitch, Shopify, Coinbase, and GitHub. But these companies’ teams (and their products) couldn’t thrive without knowing how to rapidly classify experience levels when sorting through résumés of Ruby on Rails developers for hire.
Junior Ruby on Rails developers have:
A basic understanding of the Ruby language and the Rails framework.
Familiarity with the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, RESTful API design, front-end basics (HTML, CSS, and JS), and databases.
Some experience with version control systems like Git.
Sufficient confidence in handling smaller projects, which can benefit tight budgets, though they may still need guidance from senior developers.
Mid-level Ruby on Rails developers have:
Strong proficiency in Ruby and Rails, understanding best practices and software design patterns.
Experience with testing tools, front-end libraries, deployment tools, and performance optimization.
A proven record of working on projects of varying complexity.
Extensive knowledge of investigative techniques like git bisect and step-by-step debugging.
The ability to spearhead some projects that require advanced features; they can be counted on to work independently and make significant contributions.
Senior Ruby on Rails developers have:
Expert knowledge of Ruby and Rails, best practices, design patterns, and architectural principles.
Extensive experience with test-driven development (TDD) or behavior-driven development (BDD), Agile programming methodologies, advanced Rails concepts, and scalable applications.
Problem-solving skills, DevOps knowledge, and cloud computing platform acumen.
Deep awareness of Git’s internal workings to the extent that they can guide version control processes and correct any Git misuse that may occur.
The capacity to build and maintain large-scale projects and provide mentorship and technical leadership to other team members.
Regardless of expertise, candidates must keep up with new Rails releases, as they often introduce major improvements and clever new features that make development easier and faster.
How to Write a Ruby on Rails Developer Job Description for Your Project
Candidates need to know what will be expected of them and what value they will bring to the project and company. A clear, appealing, and well-thought-out job description is essential. Highlight the most relevant and enticing details to attract developers who will be proud to work on your project.
It can also be helpful to note the major technologies and tools your project uses (or will use), such as your choice of cloud platform, database, additional programming languages, and testing frameworks.
Finally, be clear about where your project is headed. If you are considering a significant pivot, like migrating a crucial part of your stack, be upfront about that in the job description.
What are the most important Ruby on Rails Developer interview questions?
Including a good mix of Ruby versus Ruby on Rails interview questions is wise since solid skills in the Ruby language are essential to working with the Rails framework. To gauge a candidate’s level of expertise, you might want to ask:
What is the difference between false and nil in Ruby?
In Ruby, false and nil are both falsy values. Still, they represent different concepts:
false represents a boolean falsehood, indicating that a condition or statement is incorrect or that an expression evaluates to a falsy value. false is an instance of FalseClass.
nil represents the absence of a value or the concept of “nothing.” It signifies that a variable or an expression has no value or that a method does not return any value. nil is an instance of NilClass.
While both false and nil evaluate as false in boolean contexts, they are not the same, as they belong to different classes and serve different purposes.
What does garbage collection do in Ruby on Rails?
Garbage collection in Ruby on Rails is an automatic memory management technique the Ruby language handles. It identifies and reclaims memory occupied by unused objects, using a generational system to improve performance.
Benefits of garbage collection (GC) in Ruby include:
Program stability – Helps prevent memory leaks and promotes stability.
Security – Mitigates risks by ensuring proper memory management.
Developer focus – Allows developers to concentrate on application logic rather than memory concerns.
While garbage collection can optimize resource usage in some cases, developers must also be aware of the risks of memory fragmentation—and the resulting memory bloat—due to Ruby’s GC design. Qualified candidates should have experience identifying and resolving Ruby memory issues.
What is the difference between :string and :text in Rails?
In Rails, :string and :text are data types used to store textual information, but they differ in terms of storage capacity and use cases:
A :string data type is conventionally used to store short pieces of text, usually with a maximum length of 255 characters. It is backed by the VARCHAR data type in most databases. Examples of when to use a string include storing names, email addresses, or short descriptions.
A :text data type, on the other hand, is conventionally used to store larger blocks of text, often without a specific character limit. It is backed by the TEXT data type in most databases. Examples of when to use text include storing longer descriptions, user-generated content, or even entire articles.
During the interview process for mid- or senior-level developers, it is wise to ask questions about advanced software development concepts beyond Ruby on Rails, such as:
Database management.
Performance tuning and app health metrics.
Optimizing end-to-end user flows.
Effective code reviews.
Remember, even technical questions like these provide an opportunity to assess nontechnical skills. Soft skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability are vital to a Ruby on Rails developer’s cultural fit and success on your team.
Why do companies hire Ruby on Rails Developers?
Ruby on Rails developers can create comprehensive web applications, handling back-end and front-end development. However, companies most often hire a Ruby on Rails developer to focus primarily on back-end tasks, such as building APIs, while collaborating with other team members who work on front-end development (using JavaScript libraries like React) or mobile applications that connect to APIs.
Hiring a quality Ruby on Rails developer confers several advantages, including speed and cost-effectiveness. Ruby on Rails is a full-stack framework that includes most of the components necessary to create an app, which allows for rapid prototyping and MVP development compared to alternatives.
Another key factor in Ruby on Rails’ popularity is its breadth of performance capabilities. Rails allows developers to create high-performing applications rapidly using a vast array of built-in tools and libraries. Moreover, Rails frequently releases updates with new features to accommodate the ever-growing needs of modern web development without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
Ruby on Rails also offers a large and supportive community. This ensures access to extensive documentation and many open-source libraries and plugins, making the application development process more efficient and economical. And the Rails framework’s convention-over-configuration approach promotes clean, organized, and maintainable code, ensuring that projects remain scalable and easy to modify in the long run.
Ruby on Rails provides the web application foundation for a significant and growing number of companies. Hiring a quality Ruby on Rails developer will help you achieve faster, more cost-effective development and ensure scalability, maintainability, and high-quality code that can adapt to the ever-evolving needs of the digital world.
The technical content presented in this article was reviewed by Phil Pirozhkov.
