APIs giving you a headache? Well, you’re not alone. A lot of enterprises and technical teams struggle to keep their APIs in the best shape, and interacting with each other. Result? Wastage time and productivity. This is where API integration engineers come in handy.
API integration engineer is one who can bridge gaps between your software, automate workflows, and improve operations. But hey, engaging the right API integration talent isn’t a walk in the park. Especially when you’ve got these questions going on in your mind:
- What skills and tech knowhow should I consider?
- Should I expand the in-house team or outsource?
- How to find someone who actually gets my enterprise requirements?
Don’t worry, API Connects – a trusted technology solutions provider for New Zealand enterprises – has decided to answer these questions for you. Our goal is to help you find perfect API integration engineers so that you can stop troubleshooting and start scaling.
Ready? Let’s go!
Shall I Grow In-House Team or Outsource API Integration?
When businesses come across API problems, the first thought that comes to mind is – let’s just hire someone who can handle it full-time. But there’s a bigger question that you need to ask yourself: “Does it actually make sense to bring this role in-house?”
Here’s the thing – APIs aren’t set it and forget it kind of deal. They break. They need updates. Sometimes, they just won’t work in harmony with other systems. Hiring an in-house API engineer means banking on one person to handle everything – troubleshooting, maintenance, scaling, keeping up with changes across different platforms. Truth be told, API integration and management is not a one-man job.
Outsourcing to a team of API integration engineers, well, that beats hiring in-house. Here’s why:
- You get a team, not just one resource: A team will bring specialists for every piece of the API puzzle. Developers, API security experts, integration engineers – you’ll have everyone on your side. No need to hunt separately for each role.
- No hiring headaches: Recruiting an in-house API integration engineer means putting job ads, taking interviews, giving salaries, and benefits. Wait, we forgot to mention this – risk of a bad hire. Thinking of hiring multiple engineers? That will cost you a lot of time and money.
Outsourcing means skipping the HR circus. All you need to do is pay for the results. No payroll taxes or sick days.
- Diverse API expertise & use case experience: The best API integration teams in New Zealand are experienced. They’ve already fixed problems you’re just ran into. Common pitfalls, weird errors that no one talks about, fastest way to get things running – they know it all. Your in-house hire won’t know it all obviously.
- Flexibility without overhead: Want intense engineering support for the big API integration leap but only want to pay for maintenance after the heavy lifting is done? An in-house team won’t be a perfect fit for that. An outsourced team, however, will scale up and down without layoffs or idle employees.
- No lagging behind: The world of APIs changes constantly. You never know when new updates, deprecated features might come. Outsourced API engineers always stay on top of these trends. Meaning, you don’t have to worry about your engineer falling behind.
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We know what you are thinking – But what about control? Some worry that outsourcing means giving away critical accesses and risking security. Here’s the truth. A strong global or local team with proven experience and market reputation will work like an extension of your technology team. The control will always be in your hands.
Now this brings us to the second question i.e. How to find and outsource to API integration engineers.
Let’s discuss that in the next section!
How to Hire an Ace Team of API Integration Engineers?
The following resource hiring tips and recommendations will help you find and outsource to the best API engineers in New Zealand:
Define clear job requirements
Would you hire a chef without learning about her command of diverse cuisines? Of course not. Use the same rule for API engineers. Before you put out the hiring word, define clear job requirements. Ask yourself these questions:
- Which APIs should act as the backbone of how my enterprise systems talk – REST or SOAP APIs?
- What authentication protocols should I put in place?
- Which tools should my team of API integration engineers use daily?
- What kind of support do I require during API emergencies?
Get an idea of your API requirements so you can spell out your potential candidates’ real-world tasks they will tackle. By doing so, you would be able to weed out enthusiastic beginners and attract talented engineers.
Look for API design and architecture
API development requires the construction of stable conversational interfaces between systems rather than speaking systems alone. Choose engineers who have expertise in designing solutions that grow with scale rather than those who resolve problems in a temporary manner.
Review their approaches toward handling both traffic growth and intricate integration projects. Did they plan for future updates? Was everything documented correctly? An experienced API integration developer will construct systems which operate efficiently during high-demand times.
Prioritize experience with API gateways
For entrepreneurs who don’t know, APIs function as the entry points to your business operations. You wouldn’t leave them unlocked, correct? API gateways like Kong and AWS can be your security men. They will handle traffic flow as well as security responsibilities, all while managing errors.
Make sure your selected candidate knows how to use these tools to keep your system secure. Ask them to provide actual use cases where they say, “During heavy-sales periods, this is how I repaired gateway failures.” Remember, hands-on experience stands as the factor that makes API integration engineers stand apart from newbies.
Test problem-solving skills
One of the most important tips to consider when hiring API integration specialists to outsource to. APIs operate as complete puzzle boxes. Everything works correctly until suddenly it doesn’t. Your selected team of engineers must tackle mysteries to handle broken systems rather than causing panic.
Present them with actual use cases and API challenges. For instance, checkout API experiences system failure specifically on Fridays at 3 PM. Ask them where they would start. The most qualified candidates will provide you with a clear description of their diagnostic work rather than delivering memorized textbook rules.
Look for that lightbulb moment when they connect dots.
Check for security awareness
When APIs do not have proper security measures, their situation becomes exactly like a vault without any door protections. Your search should lead to engineers who put security at the heart of their work ethic rather than treating it as a passive consideration.
In fact, they should be able to explain authentication concepts to a 5th grader, “You should never hand out your API keys as if they were treats.” Security flaws prevented by them before escalating into disasters would be a major bonus point.
Evaluate integration experience
See, there are two types of engineers. The first one is book-smart. Then comes “I’ve fought with Twilio’s API at 2:30 am” smart. Always keep in mind that real integration veterans come with war stories about third-party services that changed their specs mid-project or undocumented quirks they had to work around.
During meetings, ask what is their most painful integration experience. A candidate who can describe an integration challenge with effective resolution has proved themselves to be a vital hire!
Assess monitoring & analytics knowledge
Do you know what makes API engineers great? The fact that they don’t just build, they obsess over smooth system operations. They use their ability to establish tracking systems before unexpected issues arise. They instantly detect performance delays.
Make sure your selected API integration engineer has comprehensive knowledge of API tracking methods that go beyond basic guessing when asked about slow API identification. Ask how they will track API lag. If their answer involves calculated steps and checks, it means you’re on the right track.
Emphasize communication skills
Another important tip to consider when hiring an API engineer in New Zealand or anywhere else. See, your API team could be technical wizards. But if they can’t explain issues to you and your core team in plain language, everyone is in trouble. Look for engineers who can simplify the translation between technical language and operational business needs.
Do the API team members possess the ability to explain CRM integration failure reasons to the technology team through simple terminology? The most qualified applicants possess the ability to exchange 504 timeout errors into messages that state “system overloaded. But here’s how our solution is going to work.”
During your interviews, make the API integration engineer candidates simplify complex API concepts before considering them gold.
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Consider cloud & DevOps proficiency
API work happens exclusively in cloud and data integration environments. Meaning, it requires contemporary approaches for development. You need developers who understand the project throughout its total development cycle (starting with code creation and ending with successful deployment).
Engineers should elaborate on their CI/CD pipeline strategies using a chef-like approach since it serves as vital preparation for efficient operations. API engineers who have conducted deployment rollbacks in the past because of bad updates will understand why established DevOps methods matter.
Hire Best API Integration Engineers in New Zealand
As you have seen, engaging top API engineers for your business can be tiresome. But with patience (and of course, the right checklist), you can build a dream hybrid team. In case you are in a hurry, API Connects brings a talented team of API integration engineers that has resolved complex API challenges in industries as diverse as logistics, banking, and finance.
Drop us an email on enquiry@apiconnects.co.nz or call us at 098693444 to discuss your API goals. We are prepared to address your API integration challenges in the shortest span of time. Also check out our other technology services:
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