You are ready to scale your eCommerce business and have chosen bigcommerce as your platform — a smart move. But choosing the right platform is only half the battle. The real challenge? Hiring a bigCommerce developer who understands your business goals, has the right mix of skills, and can deliver a store that’s not just functional but optimized for growth.
The truth is, a great bigCommerce developer can do much more than write code. They can influence your conversion rates, user experience, SEO, and even your operational efficiency. This guide is designed to walk you through the exact steps to hire BigCommerce developers who can turn your vision into a high-performing store. Whether you’re a founder, a product manager, or a tech company building for clients — this roadmap will help you hire right, the first time.
A Practical Hiring Guide to Build High-Converting, Scalable BigCommerce Stores
1. Identify Your Project Goals and Technical Needs
Before you start browsing profiles or reaching out to agencies, take a pause. Define what success looks like for your bigCommerce store.
Are you migrating from another platform? Do you need custom theme development, or are you aiming for advanced API integrations with CRM, ERP, or third-party tools? The clearer you are, the more focused your hiring process will be.
Also consider the scope of work — is it a short-term build, ongoing support, or full-time development? Tech companies often make the mistake of hiring generalists without clarifying whether they need design-heavy skills, backend customization, or SEO-optimized development. The more specific you are, the better you can hire bigcommerce developers.
2. Look for Proven BigCommerce Experience
Once your needs are mapped out, focus on finding developers with real-world BigCommerce experience. This isn’t a “learn on the go” type of platform — it’s robust, with its own logic, themes, and API structure.
When reviewing candidates, ask:
- Have they worked on stores with a similar scale or industry?
- Can they show before-and-after performance metrics?
- What BigCommerce APIs or SDKs are they familiar with?
Look for developers who are certified or partners with BigCommerce. They often stay ahead of updates and use best practices. Reviews from past clients and a live portfolio speak volumes — don’t skip them. If you are a tech company outsourcing projects, vetting BigCommerce-specific experience is especially critical.
3. Evaluate Technical and Communication Skills
You are not just hiring a coder — you are hiring someone who will work with designers, marketers, and product owners. Communication matters.
During interviews or trials, assess how well they:
- Explain technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams
- Respond to project changes or bugs
From a technical perspective, quiz them on Stencil CLI, custom app development, and integrating third-party tools like ShipStation or Klaviyo. Strong communication and critical thinking make a bigcommerce developer more than just a pair of hands — they become a problem-solver who contributes to business success.
4. Test with a Small, Paid Project
You’ve shortlisted a few candidates. Before making a long-term commitment, give them a paid test project. This could be:
- A custom checkout modification
- Integrating a third-party plugin
- Fixing a layout issue on mobile
Watch how they manage timelines, ask questions, test their work, and respond to feedback. Some developers shine on paper but fumble in practice. This test phase helps you confirm you’ve got a professional, not a hobbyist.
If you are building a long-term relationship, this trial run is crucial to avoid bottlenecks and misalignment later. Many tech companies use this same method before onboarding full-time or freelance developers.
5. Review Pricing Models and Budget Transparency
Now, let’s talk numbers. When you hire bigcommerce developers they typically work on hourly or project-based models. Some may prefer retainers for long-term support.
Don’t just compare prices — compare value. A cheaper developer who takes twice the time (and delivers buggy code) ends up costing more. Ask for a breakdown of what’s included:
- QA testing?
- Bug fixes post-launch?
- Responsive adjustments?
Clarify payment terms, milestones, and communication expectations upfront. Tech companies hiring at scale should also ensure compliance and contract terms are clear to avoid surprises down the line.
6. Align on Tools and Workflow Early
Imagine hiring a great developer — but they can’t work with your current tools. Frustrating, right?
Before hiring, check their comfort level with your tool stack. Are they used to Git-based version control? Do they understand Jira, Slack, or Asana workflows?
Agree on:
- Version control systems
- Deployment process (especially on headless BigCommerce setups)
- How daily/weekly updates will be shared
Consistency in workflow is especially critical if you are working with remote or offshore teams. This is often overlooked, but it’s a major cause of missed deadlines and poor deliverables in larger tech companies.
7. Consider Specialists When Needed
Not all bigcommerce developers are full-stack. Sometimes, you’ll need to hire a product designer, UI/UX expert, or a CRO consultant to complement your dev hire.
If you are implementing advanced analytics, SEO audits, or app integration — consider hiring multiple specialists for short-term sprints. Many startups think hiring one developer means they’ll handle everything from UX to SEO — which often leads to missed KPIs.
A balanced team will help you scale faster and build better.
8. Set Up Post-Launch Support and Optimization
Your store goes live — now what?
A great bigcommerce developer doesn’t walk away after launch. They should support version updates, plugin management, and speed optimization post-launch.
Ask:
- How do they handle post-launch bugs?
- What’s the turnaround time for critical fixes?
- Do they offer monthly maintenance retainers?
This ensures your store stays healthy, secure, and conversion-optimized. For tech companies managing multiple client stores, setting SLAs upfront helps maintain trust and continuity.
Conclusion: Make Every Hire Count
When you hire bigcommerce developers, you’re not just hiring a coder — you’re hiring a growth partner. From performance optimization to seamless integrations, the right developer plays a vital role in your online store’s success.
And whether you’re a solo founder or a CTO at a tech company, investing time in your hiring process pays long-term dividends. Clear project scopes, real-world trials, and strong communication channels make for a smoother development journey.
So, if you’re serious about building a BigCommerce store that performs — choose wisely. And when you find the right BigCommerce developer for hire, don’t just hand over the keys — invite them to help you drive.
