Creating the Best Java Developer Job Description

Today, nearly a third of developers around the world use Java, according to Stack Overflow’s 2024 Developer Survey. Released three decades ago, the language remains in high demand. 

That, of course, means that there is great demand for Java developers across industries. But there’s also competition for the top professionals. Now, the question is: How can you stand out from the crowd and capture their attention, making them excited to join your organization?

As easy and simple as it may sound, creating attractive and effective job descriptions is an art that not all hiring managers and organizations master. Here, you’ll learn how to craft the best Java developer job description to make your role stand out from the competition.

Key Elements in the Best Java Developer Job Descriptions

Let’s look at the different elements of a Java developer job description.

The “Must-Have” Elements of Any Job Description

Inspiring purpose: Many software engineers, especially younger generations, want to make an impact and contribute. They look for organizations that have a purpose beyond making money. Your vision and mission must be clear and inspiring to them. Candidates are also likely to seek alignment with their own values and sense of purpose. The stronger the alignment, the higher the odds of getting them to consider your organization for their next chapter.

Contribution and growth: Developers also want to understand how their contributions will have an impact. This is something you should highlight in the job description and discuss during the hiring process. 

Java developers take their growth and development seriously and tend to be motivated by opportunities for continuous learning and innovation. They may appreciate organizations that promote a culture of experimentation, provide resources for staying updated with new Java releases and best practices, and encourage participation in conferences, workshops, or hackathons.

Clear expectations: To get engineers excited about a job, first, they need to understand what they will be working on. Be clear on the projects, the goals, the roles, and the responsibilities. Be honest and authentic. 

Autonomy and mastery: These two qualities are key to intrinsic motivation. Stressing the level of autonomy they will have in their job and how they will be able to use their current knowledge and expertise (in addition to growing new competencies) will positively influence their excitement and curiosity levels.

Exciting challenges and projects. Needless to say, the more exciting, challenging, or innovative the projects, the higher the odds of getting the engineers excited about the role. If they can also see a clear alignment with their own mission or personal goals, then the odds might play in your favor!

Java Developer Specific

Collaborative environments: Many Java developers thrive in collaborative and Agile environments. They may be interested in working on projects where they can actively participate in cross-functional teams, engage in pair programming or code reviews, and contribute to Agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban. Similarly, they will be attracted by organizations that encourage participation in open-source projects and communities that allow them to collaborate with other developers and make a meaningful impact in the Java ecosystem.

Cutting-edge technologies: Java developers often enjoy working on projects that involve the latest technologies and frameworks. If your projects leverage microservices architecture, cloud-native development, or emerging technologies like blockchain or AI/machine learning, be sure to mention those.

Targeting the right skills: Java developers are always looking for opportunities to apply their skills and work on what they are passionate about. Be specific about what the role entails and what the developers will be doing. Some things you might want to highlight in your job description are: 

• Frameworks and Libraries: Mention specific frameworks and libraries they will be working with, such as Spring framework, JavaFX, or Hibernates. 
• Scalability and performance: Highlight whether the job involves fine-tuning code for better performance or building high-performance systems, handling large data sets, or working on distributed computing. Java developers who are passionate about optimizing code and designing scalable architectures will be intrigued by these opportunities.
• Enterprise development: This is applicable if the role involves building robust, scalable, and secure enterprise applications. Java developers with experience in enterprise development frameworks might find this particularly interesting.
• Backend development/server-side tech: If the opportunity involves working on backend systems, RESTful APIs, web services, or server-side application development, Java developers with experience in building scalable and reliable backend systems will be attracted to such opportunities. 
• Integration with other technologies: This indicates anything that involves working with various technologies and systems and integrating them into cohesive solutions.

Crafting Your Java Developer Job Description 

It is important to view your job description from the engineer’s lens and focus on “what’s in it for them.” It’s not just about what you want to say but also what you think they will want to read. 

Similar to how an author or marketer would approach its content strategy, as the author of the job description, you must understand your target audience and what they want. The more you are clear on their needs, desires, aspirations, and pain points, the better you can tailor your job description to address them. 

As you write your job description:

• Make sure to include information about your organization, specifically about your culture,  mission, vision, and values. You need to sell the company before the role.
• Separate your must-have requirements from your nice-to-have requirements, while being mindful of not including too many. It may discourage some potential good fits from applying.
• Be clear on what the job entails in terms of roles and responsibilities. Emphasize how they will contribute to exciting and innovative projects ahead.
• If you can share information like the size of your team, your past achievements, or the milestones you have reached, this will give engineers a feel for their future contribution and opportunities for growth.
• Include learning and growth opportunities. For example, mention learning stipends, mentoring, or coaching programs.
• Describe attractive benefits such as:
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Health insurance benefits
  • Work-life balance/wellness programs
  • Remote-first policy
  • Teambuilding events
  • Committees and employee resource groups

Sample Java Developer Job Description

We’re looking for an experienced Java developer to research, design, build, and maintain Java applications. If you are a self-motivated developer who loves a challenge and wants to be part of a thriving, collaborative, and enthusiastic team, this is the opportunity for you!

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze user needs.
• Design, develop, and test high-quality and performant Java mobile and web apps.
• Collaborate closely with team members.
• Debug Java applications.
• Ensure performance, functionality, and usability of all applications.
• Participate in code reviews.
• Maintain apps.

Required Skills

• 3+ experience in professional Java development.
• Experience with frameworks like Spring.
• Familiarity with developing both web and mobile applications.
• Knowledge of relevant front-end and back-end languages.
• Knowledge of relational databases.
• Knowledge of microservices architectures.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Experience with VCS like Git.
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail.

Preferred Skills

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree (or commensurate experience).
• Experience working in an agile environment.
• Experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure.

About Us

Established in 2022, we are a fast-growing startup with a small but mighty team. As a member of our 100% remote team, you’ll receive competitive compensation, unlimited PTO, health/dental benefits, 401 (k), mentorship opportunities, and biannual off-site events. 

Additional Tips and Considerations

As you complete your Java job description, use this checklist to ensure it’s polished and ready to publish.

Java Job Description Checklist

• Include legal and DEI verbiage.
• Add gender neutral requirements.
• Use inclusive language.
• Avoid using cliche words and phrases such as man-hours, ninja, hacker, digital-native, or crazy.
• Use “you” instead of they or the candidate.
• Make your tone/visual layout and message reflect your company, team values, and culture. 
• Pay attention to: 
  • Spelling mistakes and syntax errors
  • Inconsistencies 
  • Acronyms and abbreviations (avoid them)
  • Overall layout and visual appearance (e.g., mismatched fonts, unwanted spaces, and number of colors)

• Consider using videos or testimonials.
• Avoid lengthy and overwhelming descriptions. Crisp and concise job descriptions are harder to write, but they make a lasting impression!

Check out our full library of job description templates. 

FAQ

What does a Java developer do?

A Java developer designs, develops, and maintains applications, programs, and systems written in Java. Depending on the experience and seniority of the developer, they may also lead code reviews and create development standards and best practices for their organization, among other responsibilities.

What should I include in the job description for a Java developer?

A Java developer job description should include the summary of the role, main responsibilities (such as building and maintaining Java applications), required skills (such as experience with Java and relevant frameworks like Spring), preferred skills (such as certifications or education), a brief description of the company, and benefits of joining the organization.

What is Java used to create?

Java is used to create everything from web and mobile applications to chatbots, cloud applications, and enterprise apps. Once the official language for Android development, Java is still widely used to create Android applications.