How to write an Apache Spark developer job description

Hiring an Apache Spark developer can help your business harness your data. A skilled Spark developer can set up real-time data streams, build machine learning models, and run big data analyses that provide key insights into your business.

But it's essential to hire the right Apache Spark developer. A mediocre programmer can leave you with disorganized databases or inaccurate models, costing your business time and money.

The first step in hiring the best developer is writing a strong job description. In this guide, we explain how to write an Apache Spark developer job description and share a template to help you get started.

What is an Apache Spark developer?

An Apache Spark developer is a back-end developer who’s an expert at using this data processing framework. They must also be proficient in Python, Java, Scala, or R since Apache Spark offers APIs (application programming interfaces) for these languages.

An Apache Spark developer can help you analyze big data to gain insights into your business. They can also develop machine learning models based on your business’s data or create real-time data streams for collecting or sharing large data loads.

Key skills to look for in Apache Spark developers

Below are the essential skills an Apache Spark developer should have.

• Apache Spark experience: Applicants should have experience using the Apache Spark framework, including the Spark SQL module for querying databases.

• Python, Java, Scala, or R proficiency: Candidates must be experts at one or more of these programming languages, all of which are supported by Apache Spark APIs and must be used to run processes with Apache Spark.

• Clean coding: Applicants must be able to write code that’s free of bugs and reproducible by other developers.

• Database management: Candidates should have experience managing SQL databases and organizing big data.

• Teamwork: Apache Spark developers typically work closely with data scientists and other back-end developers, so they must have excellent communication and collaboration skills. 

How to write an effective Apache Spark developer job description

A strong job description for an Apache Spark developer should describe your ideal candidate and explain why they should join your company. Here’s what to keep in mind when writing yours.

Describe the Apache Spark developer you want to hire

Your job description should clearly describe the Apache Spark developer your business needs. Explain the types of data they’ll be working with and the deliverables they’ll create using that data. 

The more detail you can provide about what you need a developer to achieve, the more likely you will attract applicants with the necessary skills.

Cover required programming skills

Your job description should describe what programming skills developers need to have. For example, you may want an Apache Spark developer who codes in Python if your existing team of data engineers codes in Python. You may also need applicants to know Hadoop, another Apache framework for processing big datasets.

Highlight opportunities for growth

Many top Apache Spark developers seek jobs that offer career growth opportunities. Your job description should highlight whether there’s room for advancement in your company. You can also highlight how you support employees’ professional development, such as by enabling them to attend data engineering conferences.

Apache Spark developer job description template

Here’s a template you can use to write the perfect job description for your Apache Spark developer role.

Company introduction

Introduce your company, including how long it’s been in business and what products or services it creates. You can also discuss where your business has offices, how many employees it has, and whether it has won any industry awards.

You can make your job description stand out by discussing how data engineering contributes to your company’s current and future success. For example, you can mention how you hope to use Apache Spark to build machine-learning models to increase online sales.

Benefits of working with [your company]

Describe the benefits your company can offer an Apache Spark developer. Cover common benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement matches. Also, highlight any additional benefits, such as remote work, flexible hours, or mental health services,

Apache Spark developer job brief

[Company name]

Job Title: [For example, Apache Spark Developer]

Reports to: [For example, Senior Data Engineer, Senior Data Scientist, or Chief Technology Officer]

Position Type: [Full-time or part-time; employee or independent contractor]

Location: [Remote, hybrid, or on-site]

[Compensation details]

Apache Spark developer responsibilities

• Create real-time data pipelines using Apache Spark

• Build and maintain SQL databases using Spark SQL

• Build and maintain a codebase for Apache Spark data processes

• Collaborate with other data engineers and back-end developers

• Communicate progress to senior data scientists

Requirements/qualifications and training required

• Bachelor’s/master’s degree in computer science, software engineering, data engineering, or a similar field (or equivalent training or experience)

• [2+] years’ experience as an Apache Spark developer

• Experience programming in Python, Java, Scala, or R

2 things to avoid when writing a job description for Apache Spark developers

Ensure your job ad attracts the most qualified Spark developers by avoiding these two common mistakes.

1. Ignoring soft skills

Apache Spark developers need more than just coding skills to succeed. They must work effectively with other data engineers, data scientists, back-end developers, and project managers.

So, candidates should have excellent soft skills, including communication, prioritization, and collaboration. Make sure to highlight the importance of these skills in your job description.

2. Introducing bias towards male candidates

Four out of five US software developers are male, but avoiding biasing your job ad towards male candidates is crucial. Gender bias in your job description can discourage non-male candidates from applying and violate fair hiring laws.

Avoid gendered terms such as “aggressive” or “competitive,” which are often perceived as signaling to male candidates. Instead, use neutral words such as “hard-working” or “motivated” to attract diverse applicants.

Next steps: Attracting and assessing Apache Spark developer candidates

When you finish your Apache Spark developer job description, you can post it to online job boards to begin advertising your role. Also, consider networking at developer conferences or hiring an external recruiter to attract more qualified candidates.

Once you have an applicant pool, the next step in the hiring process is to assess your candidates. The best way to do this is by using a skills-based hiring platform like TestGorilla, which offers more than 400 expert-designed tests to help you evaluate candidates.

TestGorilla has an Apache Spark for Data Engineers test as well as programming tests for Python, Java, Scala, and R. Other tests that you can use to assess data engineering skills include TestGorilla’s:

• Data Modeling Concepts test

• Database Management and Administration test

• Data Wrangling test

• Exploratory Data Analysis

You can also test candidates’ soft skills – like communication, problem solving, and attention to detail – using TestGorilla. The platform also offers various personality tests to help you understand candidates’ behavioral traits and how well they’ll fit into your team.

You can mix and match up to five tests to create a custom assessment, plus add an unlimited number of custom one-way interview questions. Check out our data engineer interview questions to decide what to ask applicants.

FAQs

How much do Apache Spark developers make?

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for an Apache Spark developer in the US (as of November 2023) is $118,000. This is base pay and doesn’t include monetary benefits like bonuses or retirement fund contributions.

Do all data engineers know Apache Spark?

While Apache Spark is one of the most popular analysis frameworks for big data, not all data engineers have experience using Spark. Some data engineers may be more familiar with alternative frameworks like Apache Flink, Kafka, H2O, and Storm.

Use TestGorilla to hire the best Apache Spark developer

An Apache Spark developer can help you put your business’s data to work in building real-time data streams, machine learning models, and more. They can help you gain insights into your company and enable data scientists to work more effectively.

Writing a strong job description is critical to hiring the right Apache Spark developer. Your job description should outline the skills and traits you’re looking for and the benefits of working for your business.

You can use TestGorilla to quickly identify the most qualified Spark developers in your applicant pool. Our platform offers a powerful combination of tests for data engineering, programming, soft skills, and more to help you fully understand your applicants.

Join TestGorilla for free or schedule a product demo today to start hiring the best Apache Spark developer for your business.