5 Reasons to Have a Remote Software Engineering Team

In the spring of 2020, the world as we knew it changed overnight. Businesses large and small were forced to adapt to a new normal with little time to prepare. For many companies, that meant packing up the office, locking the doors, and going remote.

The work-from-home transition was relatively seamless for software engineers. Around 20% were working remotely already.

But let’s fast forward to summer 2022. Companies are rolling back their flexible work schedules. Amazon and Google are requiring employees to commute 3x a week. Tesla announced a full back-to-the-office order.

Now startups have to decide if they want to follow Big Tech’s lead.

We can all agree that the pandemic was a once-in-a-lifetime event. But that doesn’t mean software engineering remote work is going away for good. Here’s why engineering teams should continue to work remotely.

The perks of a remote software engineering team

1. 10-100x bigger candidate pool

One thing hasn’t changed in the last two years: hiring is hard. There are just as many open positions on job boards today, and the number of qualified candidates is getting smaller, not larger.

The good news is that going remote gives you greater exposure to a global pool of talent. With no geographical restrictions, you can hire the best software developers from top cities all over the world.

And since 75% of developers want to work remotely at least 3 times per week, offering a fully remote role gives you a competitive advantage.

Tip: If time zones are a concern, set a rule that all team members must overlap with at least four hours of the workday.

2. No need for expensive office space

A big fancy office comes with a big expensive price tag. In major cities like San Francisco and New York, the cost of commercial real estate continues to grow despite the pandemic. That means CEOs who have invested in buildings might push for a return to the office.

But working from home can equal savings for your startup — which you can reinvest back into the business. Instead of dishing out cash for rent, utilities, maintenance, and miscellaneous services every month, give your development team a stipend to cover the costs of home office equipment.

You’ll end up ahead in the long run.

3. Fewer distractions and other office noise

It’s no secret that office life can be distracting. Meetings, calendar invites, and urgent requests are all interruptions for software engineering teams who need to get into the flow to build something useful.

When your team is remote, they can design their work environment to minimize distractions. A senior software engineer can get into the zone and stay there. And a junior dev can step away from their desk when they need a break.

4. Increased productivity

For some folks, productivity and creativity come from being close to other people. But studies show that the opposite is true for most developers.

68% of developers say they get more meaningful work done from home compared to 32% who said they’re more productive in an office environment. That’s because software development is mostly solitary work; testing, writing code, and collecting data don’t require much collaboration.

When opportunities for teamwork do come up, engineers can quickly hop on a video call or chat to sync up.

5. More diversity and inclusion

It’s easier for employees to find the right work/life balance when they’re not bound to a physical office. Why?

Working parents can do their job without sacrificing time with their kids. Engineers with disabilities can design their work environment to accommodate their needs. People who prefer not to commute can avoid sitting in the car.

Luke Mercado, Co-Founder & CTO at Daybreak Health, likes remote work for this exact reason. He says, “We are a fully remote company. I could care less if you have to get up at 2 p.m. to go pick up your kids. Did you get the work done? Great.”

A more diverse workforce is good for business. It’s a win-win.

Companies that hire for remote software engineer jobs

There are plenty of technology companies that have been remote-first for years, and many more that have made the switch. So a senior software engineer has options when it comes to finding a role that matches their skillset and lifestyle.

Whether you’re looking for a full stack, front-end, or back-end developer, your best bet is to find remote software engineers on job boards. Make sure candidates can clearly see you’re hiring for a remote role on your job alert.

Question: Do remote software engineers make less?

Some companies might offer a lower salary for remote software engineer jobs. Others see the value in attracting top talent, regardless of location.

In general, you shouldn’t expect to pay a remote software developer any less than you would an on-site employee. The best way to stand out to top-tier candidates? Advertising top-tier salaries. This puts you in a position to get more applications and higher-quality candidates.

Conclusion

The benefits of a distributed team are clear. Offering a work-from-home option for software developers can be great for productivity and morale. It also helps attract diverse talent from all over the globe.

If you’re ready to scale your remote team, use Woven. We specialize in remote hiring and can help you easily assess candidates for skills and cultural fit without having them come into the office. We’re also a fully remote company; we know the best practices to help you set your team up for success.

Ready to learn more? Start a free trial with Woven today.