App and other software development are at the center of all kinds of industries, and they provide tools not only for teams to work more effectively internally but also for businesses to interact with each other more efficiently and securely. The machines that are part of an organization’s IT infrastructure need to be properly optimized and connected to the public cloud service that the company uses, and automated processes need to be in place to reduce wasted time and energy as well as speed up the turnaround for businesses in their everyday tasks.
Kubernetes is a superior development solution that enables businesses to tap into this kind of efficiency and productivity, and there is a thriving community of Kubernetes professionals out there who are available for hire. Before you go and sign anything, though, consider these four tips for finding the right Kubernetes professional for your project.
1. Shoot for Well-Rounded Experience
While any Kubernetes engineer should know Kubernetes well, it’s also important that they have well-rounded experience in DevOps in general and potentially in other areas of IT infrastructure and development. At a minimum, a good Kubernetes engineer will have knowledge and experience with basic terminal commands, containerization, microservices, and networking between systems.
If a developer has knowledge of other types of Container as a Service (CaaS) platforms, they will more likely be able to go beyond just developing your apps and automations to incorporating other tools (such as Prometheus, Sonobuoy, and Aqua Security). Knowledge and proficiency in coding languages is also a great plus.
2. Look for Strong Communication Skills
In any field, communication is key to the success of projects and the building of cohesive teams. Especially if you’re hiring a freelance contractor who will be working remotely, it’s important to make sure that the person you hire is strong in communication. Intuition and initiative are both important for this, as any good software developer will be sure to seek the right kind of clarity in their assignments as well as communicate accurate timelines and other relevant information to the business they’re working for. Communication skills can make a huge difference in whether you’ll want to rehire any given Kubernetes developer.
3. Stick to Your Budget
One great way to help narrow your search is to have your budget set. That way if a developer or consultant costs too much, it’s a no-brainer and you can move on. As with anything, you typically get what you pay for in terms of quality. If you’re uncertain about whether you want to hire a developer, just remember that you don’t need to sign anything long term; just bring them onto a smaller project and see how it goes before you commit to a higher amount of funding. Finding the right developer who can work well with your team and with your projects can save you a lot of time and money in the future searching for another contractor.
4. Consider the Type of Hire You Need
It’s also extremely important that you know exactly what your project entails and what kind of professional you’re looking for at each stage. Different situations call for different types of Kubernetes professionals, such as consultants and developers. For example, if you’re still uncertain whether Kubernetes is the right tool for the job, you might want to find a Kubernetes consultant who can look at your situation and help you determine what your next steps should be.
Or, if you know your business is ready to make use of Kubernetes, hiring a Kubernetes Certified Service Provider (KCSP) to help guide your business through the process of incorporating Kubernetes can be very beneficial, especially for startups who have not yet set up their microservices architecture or other IT infrastructure. In other cases, an individual Kubernetes developer may be the best way to go.
Hiring a Kubernetes engineer can be a great step toward increased productivity in the long term for your business. The scalability and automation features that it offers make it ideal for businesses that are expecting growth and high volumes. These four tips can help you get a jump start in your search for the right new team member or third party contractor you need to make your project a success with Kubernetes.
