The blockchain industry is bigger than ever, with new projects and startups popping up every day. As there are many fresh ideas and technologies to keep track of lately, it can be challenging to know where to start and how to get involved in the field.
Avalanche is one of the newer platforms that offers a lot of potential for businesses and developers alike. It's currently the speediest smart contracts platform, boasting a quick time-to-finality.
If you plan to use the platform for your DeFi projects, you need to hire Avalanche developers with specific skills. But how do you find them in the first place, let alone assess the right skills?
We answer this question in the article below to help you locate and hire Avalanche engineers for your new projects. You'll also find other handy information, such as the benefits of Avalanche and its importance compared to other similar platforms.
Benefits of Avalanche for Blockchain Applications
Avalanche stands apart from other open-source platforms because it's highly scalable. It's the first-ever decentralized platform for smart contract execution that was made for global finance. On top of that, the platform aims to compensate for the limitations of Ethereum by offering near-instant transaction finality.
Let's take a closer look at the benefits of Avalanche for blockchain application development:
- Fast Transactions: Avalanche processes 4,500 transactions in a second, faster than Ethereum's transaction speed. Since it has the quickest transaction finality, Avalanche can be used by thousands of people without a lag.
- Low Cost: The transaction fee on Avalanche is much lower compared to other smart contract platforms. Moreover, the expenses are dynamic. They change with the network demand. On average, the fees range from 75 nAVAX to 225 nAVAX.
- Multi-Chain Support: Avalanche can support multiple virtual chains (or child chains) connected to the main chain (or the parent chain). That results in more space for transactions.
- Security: Avalanche uses three main mechanisms — Avalanche consensus, glomerate consensus, and Sub Zero freezing — to achieve a high level of security. These mechanisms work together to prevent 51% of attacks.
- Smart Contract Support: Avalanche allows users to create Solidity smart contracts. Therefore, Ethereum developers can also work on Avalanche, considering the platform also supports Ethereum-based tools, such as Truffle, Metamask, and Remix.
More importantly, Avalanche uses the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. The consensus protocol is environmentally friendly and more efficient than the proof-of-work consensus mechanism.
The Advantages of Avalanche Chains and Subnets
Besides its user-friendly features, the inherent build of Avalanche is also beneficial for blockchain development. Avalanche has three built-in blockchains that include:
- X Chain: The X Chain is the main Avalanche chain. It's responsible for maintaining a list of all validators, keeping track of the staking process, and managing cross-chain interactions.
- C Chain: This is a child chain that focuses on computational resources, smart contract execution, and token transfers. Clients can create smart contracts with the API of this chain.
- P Chain: Here, we have another chain explicitly designed for asset management and token transfers. The P Chain implements the Snowman consensus protocol. Clients can use the chain's API to create subnets and blockchains.
The three chains work together to offer a high degree of flexibility, scalability, and security. The Primary Network secures and validates these three chains as a unique subnet.
The subnets in Avalanche are beneficial as they offer a higher degree of security. They also protect the network from malicious actors and double-spending. Moreover, they allow the creation of private blockchains.
For example, you can create a subnet that only allows specific pre-defined validators to join. As a result, only the validators will be able to see the blockchain's content. Companies that want to keep their information private can leverage this subnets feature to maximize security and efficiency.
Technical Skills to Look for in Avalanche Developers
Before you hire Avalanche developers, you should ensure they have the specific skills you need to work on the platform successfully. These coding and technical skills will allow the developers to work on the Avalanche blockchain:
Writing Smart Contracts in Solidity
Solidity is a programming language used for writing smart contracts. It's similar to JavaScript. As we mentioned earlier, Avalanche developers can use Solidity to write smart contracts on the C Chain. Since the language is also used to write smart contracts on Ethereum, developers with experience in Ethereum development can also work on the Avalanche blockchain.
When assessing the knowledge of candidates, first make sure they are familiar with the following features of Solidity:
- Function Modifiers: These are used to check a condition before executing a function.
- String and Hash Conversions: Hashes store data on the blockchain. Meanwhile, strings help store data away from the blockchain. The conversion between these two is now allowed on Solidity. Thus, the developer must understand how the conversion works.
- Creating Custom Modifiers: Developers can also create custom modifiers as per their requirements.
- Array Slicing: This helps retrieve a specific range of values from an array and provides access to sequence parts, such as lists and strings.
Experience in Back-End Programming Languages
Back-end programming languages refer to the server-side of application development. Developers use these languages to create the logic that runs on servers.
Some common back-end programming languages used in web development include PHP, Java, and Python. Usually, developers with experience in any of these languages can also work on others. However, the developer should at least be proficient in Python and Node.js to work in Avalanche.
Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment. It's used for developing server-side applications. Meanwhile, Python is a high-level programming language widely used in web development, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Experience in Front-End Frameworks Like React
In blockchain development, the front-end framework includes the user interface and client-side of the application. Usually, developers use JavaScript to write code for the front-end.
React is a popular open-source JavaScript library used for developing user interfaces (UI). It can create single-page applications and cross-platform apps. The developer you hire should also be familiar with React Native.
Besides React, your blockchain developer should also know about Angular and Vue. These are other popular JavaScript frameworks used in web development.
Avalanche Developer Salaries
Avalanche engineers get paid well since their role is critical for the platform operation and exists within a growing field. Therefore, when you hire Avalanche engineers, you should expect to pay them a handsome amount. The average salary for an Avalanche developer is $44,850 per year. However, the wage can be as high as $68,897, based on the developer's skill and expertise.
Average Yearly Salaries for Related Roles
Before you hire AVAX developers, you may want to explore the average salaries for related roles. The chances are, you'll quickly need to expand your team. In a crisis, when you can't find suitable candidates for the job, people from related roles can also make an unexpectedly good fit.
Smart Contract Developer
Smart contract developers are responsible for developing and deploying smart contracts on the blockchain. They also test and audit smart contracts to ensure their accuracy and security. The average salary for a smart contract developer ranges from $60k to $300k a year.
Blockchain Developer
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a blockchain developer is $118,171 per year. Beginners can earn $55,000 a year at the lower end, while experts can make as high as $259,000.
Web3 Developer
Web3 developers make up to $118,655 on average. Beginners can earn $82,000 a year, and developers with substantial expertise can make nearly $171,000 per year.
Solidity Developer
On average, Solidity developers earn $127,500 a year. However, individuals with considerable expertise can make up to $180,000 a year, while entry-level developers make $80,000.
Differences in Tech Experience Needed vs. Other Blockchains
Avalanche shares some similarities with the Ethereum Virtual Machine and Polkadot, but keep in mind that the blockchain has its unique protocol. Therefore, developers experienced in other blockchain protocols may need some time to adjust to Avalanche.
Avalanche vs. Ethereum (ETH)
Like Avalanche, Ethereum also uses Solidity for smart contract development. Still, there are some critical differences between the two protocols. Firstly, Avalanche is proof-of-stake while Ethereum is proof-of-work. Secondly, Avalanche supports multiple virtual machines while Ethereum only supports the EVM.
Avalanche vs. Solana (SOL)
Solana uses Rust instead of Solidity for smart contract development, but the two protocols are otherwise quite similar. Both Avalanche and Solana are proof-of-stake and support multiple virtual machines.
We should mention that if you hire developers with prior experience in Solana development, they will have to learn Solidity to work on Avalanche. However, the familiarity with the proof-of-stake mechanism should help them get up to speed quickly.
Avalanche vs. Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot is another popular protocol that supports multiple virtual machines. However, it uses the WebAssembly virtual machine instead of the EVM. Developers with Solidity experience will not be able to transfer their skills directly to Polkadot development.
Like Solana, Polkadot also uses Rust as its primary programming language. Apart from that, developers can also use JavaScript on Polkadot.
Avalanche vs. Cardano (ADA)
Cardano uses Plutus for smart contract development, a language very similar to Haskell. Nevertheless, developers with Haskell experience will still need to learn Plutus before they can start developing on Cardano.
The platform also uses Rust and OCaml for development purposes. Additionally, Marlowe is used for developing smart contracts specifically for financial applications.
Meanwhile, Avalanche uses Solidity for smart contract development. Since Cardano is notably different from Avalanche in its programming languages and structure, Cardano developers have a lot to learn before working on Avalanche.
Where to Find Avalanche Engineers
In the beginning, most blockchain developers were only proficient in Ethereum. But with the popularity of other protocols like Avalanche, more people are growing skills in different blockchains. Here are some excellent places where you can find and hire AVAX developers:
Crypto Job Boards
Nowadays, there are websites exclusively dedicated to crypto and blockchain-related jobs. Companies can put up job posts and get applications from developers for remote or in-house positions. Here are two of the most popular crypto job boards:
Both job boards allow applicants to filter jobs by location, job type, and experience level.
While it may be unexpected, the crypto community is very active on Twitter. Many developers use the platform to share their work, connect with other developers, and look for job opportunities.
To find Avalanche engineers on Twitter, try following relevant hashtags like #solidityjobs, #AVAXjobs, or #blockchainjobs. You can also search for "Avalanche engineer" or "AVAX developer" on the platform to find people who might have the keywords in their bios.
Web3 Talent Marketplaces
With the rise of web3, marketplaces for relevant jobs have emerged recently. The significant benefit of hiring people from a talent marketplace is that you no longer have to vet the applicants.
In fact, you can hire AVAX developers from any part of the world without going through a lengthy and tiresome recruitment process. As talent marketplaces do all the hard work for you and provide you with customized services, you can rest assured you'll find the best talent without much effort.
Revelo
Revelo is a talent marketplace that connects companies with blockchain talent from Latin America. You can find pre-vetted developers and engineers in US-adjacent time zones without going through the hassle of posting jobs or sifting through hundreds of applications. We do all the hard work for you so you can focus on your other business tasks and operations.
Are you interested to hear more about how Revelo can support your hiring process? Reach out to us today and experience our solution first-hand.
How to Hire an Avalanche Developer
You can hire Avalanche developers to create a custom solution for your business or work on an existing project. Here are some tips on how to find and hire Avalanche developers:
Avalanche Engineer Job Post Example
Crypto job boards make it easy for businesses to post their open positions and find qualified candidates. All companies need to do is write a thorough description of the role, the company, and the qualifications they are looking for in a candidate. From then on, they only wait for people to apply.
However, only a good job post will attract the best candidates, and such an example should include:
- Company Description: Let the applicants know a little about your company and what you do. You can also explain the kind of projects you generally have. For example, in this Software Developer - DeFi job post, the company introduces itself as an algorithmic trading firm.
- Job Type: Do you plan to hire full-time, part-time, or contract workers? What is the duration of the project? It's essential to be clear about your needs.
- Skills and Qualifications: List the skills and qualifications you are looking for in an Avalanche developer. For example, you might want the developer to be skilled in a specific programming language. You can choose the skills and qualifications based on the project your developers will tackle. Likewise, if you want to hire developers with a specific number of years of expertise in a particular programming language or protocol, don't skip mentioning it.
- Compensation: Many companies give blockchain developers the option to get paid in digital currency. If you plan to do the same, mention it in the job post. Alternatively, the fiat compensation is $120k to $150k. If you don't have an exact number in mind, go with a salary range instead.
- Responsibilities: Make sure to include the duties in the job description too. It will tell the applicants what is expected of them.
- Benefits: Besides compensation, if you offer other benefits to your employees, you can also mention them in the job post. In this way, you'll be able to attract suitable candidates.
The more specific and detailed the job post is, the more likely you are to find suitable candidates. On the other hand, if you put out a vague job post, you'll get hundreds of job applications from people who're not even close to being the best fit.
Avalanche Development Interview Questions
When interviewing Avalanche developers, you should choose your questions wisely. The answers will help you assess their skills and narrow down your choices. You can start with these:
- Have you ever worked on an Avalanche project before? If the developer has already worked on the blockchain, you can request to see their past work and judge if they'll be the right fit for your company.
- Which programming languages are you proficient in? Programming languages like Solidity, JavaScript, and Go are the most commonly used for blockchain projects. Of course, an Avalanche developer should know Solidity. But proficiency in other languages can also come in handy.
- What do you think are the benefits of using Avalanche? You can gauge how familiar the developer is with the protocol by asking this question.
- How would you solve this (show a case study or issue) problem? This technical question will help you understand the developer's thought process and problem-solving skills.
- What do you think are the limitations of the Avalanche protocol? By understanding the constraints, developers can work around them and find solutions that will help improve the protocol.
Find and Hire Avalanche Developers Through Revelo
We have discussed the skills you must look for in your Avalanche developers and the interview questions you should ask to narrow down your choices. However, hiring Avalanche developers can be a tedious process since you have to go through a lot of steps, such as posting jobs, checking applications, conducting interviews, vetting applicants, and more.
Revelo eases the hiring process by giving you access to hundreds of blockchain developers in Latin America. You can hire Avalanche developers in US-adjacent time zones without worrying about vetting them. Ready for the best part? Revelo also lets you pay your remote employees through the same platform.
Sign up for a 14-day trial to explore Revelo's features and see for yourself how beneficial our services can be. Schedule a meeting with someone from our team and learn more!
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