How to Hire Top Rust Developers
Rust is a modern, systems-level programming language designed for performance, safety, and concurrency. It has rapidly gained popularity for powering high-performance back-end systems, blockchain applications, operating systems, WebAssembly runtimes, and infrastructure-level tooling. If you’re building scalable software where memory safety, speed, and reliability are non-negotiable, hiring a Rust developer is a strategic investment.
This guide outlines how to hire skilled Rust developers on BorderlessPro, what skills to look for, how to evaluate candidates, and what to include in your gig post to attract the best talent.
What Does a Rust Developer Do?
A Rust developer builds high-performance, memory-safe software using the Rust programming language. Rust is commonly used for systems programming, embedded development, cloud infrastructure, and performance-critical applications.
Core Responsibilities:
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Write safe, performant code using Rust’s ownership model and concurrency principles
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Build command-line tools, APIs, and backend services
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Optimize system performance, latency, and memory usage
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Integrate with C/C++ libraries through FFI (Foreign Function Interface)
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Create secure applications with minimal runtime errors
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Contribute to WebAssembly applications or embedded firmware
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Write unit, integration, and property-based tests
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Document and maintain clean, idiomatic Rust code
Skills to Look For in a Rust Developer
Rust developers need a deeper understanding of computer science fundamentals than most high-level language developers. The learning curve is steep, but mastery of Rust signals strong engineering ability.
✅ Technical Skills
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Rust fundamentals: Ownership, lifetimes, borrowing, traits, enums, match statements, and macros
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Memory safety & concurrency: Proficient with Rust’s zero-cost abstractions and thread-safe design
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Asynchronous programming: Experience with async/await, Futures, and the tokio or async-std runtimes
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Tooling: Familiarity with cargo, rustfmt, clippy, and dependency management
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Interfacing: Experience with C via FFI, or building WebAssembly targets
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Testing: Knowledge of #[test], property-based testing with quickcheck, and fuzzing techniques
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Version control: Comfortable with Git workflows
✅ Domain-Specific Expertise (optional depending on project)
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Systems development (OS, compilers, low-level tools)
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Blockchain and cryptography (e.g., Substrate, zk-SNARKs)
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Cloud-native infrastructure (e.g., high-throughput APIs, distributed systems)
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Embedded development using no_std and cross-compilation
✅ Soft Skills
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Rigorous attention to detail and precision in code
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Strong documentation and debugging discipline
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Ability to work independently in technically demanding environments
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Open-source contribution or awareness of the Rust ecosystem
How to Write a Rust Developer Gig Post
A well-structured job post is crucial for attracting Rust developers, who often work on highly technical or specialized projects. Be specific about the domain, performance goals, and constraints.
Sample Titles:
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Systems-Level Rust Developer Needed for File Syncing Daemon
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Rust Engineer for High-Throughput Blockchain Node
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Embedded Rust Developer for Microcontroller Firmware
What to Include:
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Project overview: “Build a high-performance, low-latency API server to process millions of requests per hour”
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Tech stack: Rust, Tokio, Actix Web, WebAssembly, etc.
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Tooling: Specify any DevOps or CI/CD tools (Docker, GitHub Actions, etc.)
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Deliverables: Include milestones, performance targets, or testing benchmarks
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Experience requirements: “Must have production experience with async Rust and systems optimization”
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Security constraints: Highlight importance of memory safety, low-level security, or auditability if relevant
Common Mistakes When Hiring Rust Developers
🚫 Hiring based only on language exposure
Rust’s strict compiler and ownership model are unlike anything in other modern languages. A C++ or JavaScript developer may struggle without prior Rust experience.
🚫 Overengineering solutions
Some Rust developers may obsess over perfection, using overly complex abstractions that hinder maintainability. Look for pragmatism and business awareness.
🚫 Ignoring ecosystem maturity
Not all domains have mature Rust libraries (e.g., ML or frontend GUIs). Ensure your developer can evaluate when to build versus bind external libraries.
🚫 Neglecting async challenges
Asynchronous Rust is difficult. Many developers misuse lifetimes or mix blocking and non-blocking code incorrectly. Test their understanding with real-world scenarios.
Rust Developer Interview Questions
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Explain Rust’s ownership model and how it enforces memory safety at compile time.
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Describe a situation where you used Rust’s async runtime for concurrency. What challenges did you face?
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What tools do you use to benchmark and profile performance in Rust applications?
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How would you handle cross-platform compilation for an embedded Rust project?
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Can you explain the difference between Box<T>, Rc<T>, and Arc<T> and when to use each?
Rust Developers FAQ
What is Rust used for?
Rust is used for building fast, reliable, and memory-safe applications. Use cases include system-level tools, blockchain infrastructure, embedded systems, high-performance back-end services, and WebAssembly targets.
How much does it cost to hire a Rust developer?
On BorderlessPro, Rust developers typically charge between $35–$100/hour, depending on experience and specialization. For project-based contracts, pricing usually ranges from $1,500 to $10,000+, depending on scope, performance goals, and timeline.
How quickly can I hire a Rust developer?
You can often begin receiving proposals within 24–48 hours of posting a well-defined project on BorderlessPro, especially if your gig highlights advanced or interesting technical challenges.
Best Practices for Working With Rust Developers
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Start with a well-scoped performance-critical task: Let them prove their strengths with tight constraints.
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Encourage proper documentation and testing: Rust devs value type safety, but testing is still essential for runtime correctness.
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Plan for long compile times and CI pipelines: Be aware of the tooling and build overhead that comes with safety guarantees.
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Don’t force OOP patterns: Rust supports traits and composition over inheritance—embrace its idioms.
Hiring a Rust developer is ideal when performance, safety, and correctness are top priorities. On BorderlessPro, you’ll find deeply technical Rust engineers who can help you build secure, scalable, and future-proof software.
