IT Development Outsourcing: Tips to Hire Dedicated Remote AI Developers

With the growing demand for AI-driven roles and specialised tech skills, companies that expand their search for AI talent abroad will discover a wealth of talent. But businesses seeking AI developers, AI/ML engineers, AI architects and similar roles should be aware that the quality of candidates is wide-ranging. Chances are, you’re reading this because you want to find an exceptional developer, one who readies your business for the future. But how should you go about finding your dream candidate? 

To help you hire remote AI developers, this post breaks down the steps in IT development outsourcing, with tips from our experts on finding the best candidates.

1. Brainstorm your criteria for an AI Developer or team

Hiring an exceptional AI developer or remote development team is virtually impossible without knowing what your business is looking for. So before you start hiring, it’s essential to outline the criteria for the roles you intend to source. Consider this as your needs assessment.

Begin by brainstorming the key skills candidates must be able to demonstrate, like prompt engineering, as well as formal qualifications or experience they may need, such as experience in certain types of projects. Make the criteria as specific to your business as possible, taking into account your existing team’s capabilities (if applicable) and the skills you need to help future-proof your business. 

Although the ideal candidate has to have technical skills, most developers also require certain ‘soft’ skills. Developers may code solo, but they rarely finish a project in isolation. 

These are the soft skills any remote AI developer should possess: 

• Good communication skills — this is particularly important for remote and offshore AI developers. 
• Excellent attention to detail — a crucial skill because small mistakes can have large ramifications. 
• Good collaboration skills — especially valuable in working with diverse teams cross-regionally.
• Problem-solving skills — the ability to assess a problem and understand which tools at their disposal are best suited to the task. 

2. Formalise your requirements for the role

Having a job description on hand helps attract the right candidates and makes the hiring process easier for all parties, as it sets expectations of the role. But if a job description doesn’t exist at your organisation, use your criteria to draft one. Fill it out with important details such as key skills from your brainstorm, the responsibilities, qualifications, and who they report to. You may wish to incorporate a few characteristics as well, such as company values. 

Skills and characteristics that separate exceptional developers from the rest include: 

• Initiative — This shows they can be relied upon to take action without being prompted.
• Big-picture thinking — The design and implementation of long-term solutions over short-term fixes.
• Resilience — The ability to meet strict deadlines and cope with change and moving priorities. 
• A thirst for knowledge — The best developers never stop learning new technologies and look for opportunities to grow, helping your business be ready for anything. 

Now’s the ideal time to review the job description criteria and separate your must-haves from the desirables. Create a checklist or simply make a mental note of your top-three criteria. You’ll return to these during the hiring and selection process. Keep in mind that some skills won’t be apparent on paper. 

3. Engage an IT development outsourcing provider

Criteria in hand, you are ready to recruit AI developers. If you have ever recruited staff, then you’ll know how involved the process can be unless you delegate. Engaging a global outsourcing provider allows businesses to access expert recruiters who know where to find the best talent anywhere in the world. A full-service provider, like Outsourced, manages the entire recruitment process for you, from sourcing and shortlisting to interviews, saving valuable time and money. 

A good provider also works closely with you to understand your requirements; this is when the last step pays off. Their experience recruiting AI developers means they know exactly what to look for while keeping your criteria in mind. At Outsourced, our technical recruiters source, screen and verify the suitability of candidates, which means you can entrust them with finding the best people for the job. Additionally, they exclusively focus on recruiting from the best offshore locations for tech roles. 

One more thing: ensure the outsourcing provider assesses candidates’ cultural compatibility. Not only should potential hires demonstrate key skills and good cultural fit with your company, they should also be able to work well with staff onshore. 

4. Make your selection, onboard — and grow 

Once candidate interviews are complete, a shortlist will be brought to you for your selection. If your provider only sources top talent in the field, you might be hard pressed in choosing the best candidate. This is a great problem to have. Using a developer skills matrix, a weighted scorecard or a checklist of your own design can help you arrive at an objective decision. Asking your outsourcing provider for their recommendation could offer valuable insight as well. 

As soon as you have chosen your preferred candidate(s), the provider should conduct due diligence by completing background and police checks, and handling all legal and compliance concerns. Much like dev testing ensures a high-quality product, this ‘QA’ step is essential for success. If you choose to partner with Outsourced, we take care of everything except selection, so you can rest assured the finer details will be covered. You can also expect the entire process, from sourcing to onboarding, to take as little as 6 weeks. 

So what happens next? From the first day on the job, new AI developers find themselves joining Outsourced’s certified Great Place To Work — a workplace committed to employee happiness and development. We believe staff that are happy and continually growing are more productive and even more loyal. In fact, our supportive, flexible work environment and tailored L&D programs have contributed to our outstanding 98% staff retention rate. 

With dedicated AI developers on your team, you can focus on what matters most — growth!  

Why hire remote AI developers from Outsourced

If you want to hire dedicated AI developers, look no further. At Outsourced, we specialise in the recruitment and retention of full-time AI experts, who enhance your business with deep insights and smarter processes. Connect with the world’s top 1% of AI talent, and your business will be ready for whatever change the future brings. Contact us today.