Technical Recruiting for Startups: How to Screen, Interview, and Close Top Engineers

Alona Groza
Jul 8
2 min read

Audience: Pre‑seed and seed-stage founders without a technical background who need to hire engineers for their MVP or early team.

Intent: Provide a step‑by‑step framework to screen, interview, and hire engineers demystifying tech recruiting so you don’t get lost in jargon or wasted cycles.

Step 1: Define What You Really Need

Don’t start with vague terms. Break your needs into:

Role scope: Are you launching your MVP or building long-term architecture?
Skill baseline: What languages, frameworks, or stacks matter most?
Level of seniority: Junior or senior, hands-on or a lead role?
Cultural fit: What traits collaboration, communication, speed—matter here?

Entrepreneur research shows defined roles reduce bad hires by 40% (entrepreneur.com). That clarity attracts better candidates.

Step 2: Screen With Data, Not Bias

Your first filter should be resumes and GitHub or project links. Only advance people with consistent scores across categories. Non‑tech founders often skip resumes and focus only on interviews. That wastes time and causes inconsistency.

Step 3: Conduct Tech Calls Confidently

You don’t need to do a whiteboard session. Use this 30‑minute call format:

Intro (5 minutes) - Tell your vision and find out what excites the candidate.
Technical walk-through (15 minutes) - Ask them to explain a recent project in their own words.
Problem-solving prompt (10 minutes) - Present a realistic mini challenge: “How would you design a user login flow for an MVP?”

Sources show role-paced interviews reduce bias and improve candidate experience.

Step 4: Ask Behavioral Questions That Reveal Culture Fit

Always include behavioral questions focused on ownership, team interaction, and adaptability. For example:

Tell me about a time you had to pivot on a feature late in development.
Give an example of working with a non‑technical founder or PM.
Describe a mistake you made and how you handled it.

These questions reveal mindset and communication skills things that matter more than just code speed.

Step 5: Clarify Expectations and Compensation Early

Don’t wait until the offer stage. Share:

Role responsibilities and growth path
Time commitment and flexibility
Compensation range (salary + equity)

A 2024 Glassdoor survey reports 67 percent of candidates expect transparency early. Hiding pay signals low trust.

Step 6: Fast and Human Offer Process

Speed is critical for early-stage candidates. To close top engineers:

Send a written offer within 48 hours of demo
Include clear next steps
Follow up with a personal note or call sharing enthusiasm

Research shows offers made within two days close at a 30 percent higher rate than those delayed further.

Checklist: Your Technical Recruiting Framework

Defined role scope, skills, and level
Resume screening sheet ready
30-minute technical intro call planned
Behavioral questions prepared
Compensation discussed early
Offer template with timelines prepared

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be a tech expert to hire one. A structured, clear process helps you find and close engineers efficiently. It also shows respect for their skills and time.