What Should I Look for When Hiring Salesforce Developers in the USA for Custom Integr

[vihanrichard]

I’m in the process of evaluating vendors to hire Salesforce developers in the USA for an enterprise-grade project involving deep integrations with Salesforce Marketing Cloud, third-party CRMs, and a custom-built ERP system. The project is mission-critical and involves handling sensitive customer data, so I’m looking beyond just certifications.

From a technical evaluation standpoint, I’d appreciate insights into:

• How to accurately assess Apex and LWC proficiency beyond basic Trailhead badges. Are there proven code samples or architectural decisions to request during vetting?
  
• Best practices for judging experience in asynchronous data handling—especially usage of Platform Events, Queueable Apex, and Scheduled Jobs.
  
• Ways to validate hands-on knowledge in REST and SOAP API integrations, especially when multiple systems are involved (e.g., bidirectional sync with ERP/CRM).
  
• Understanding of HIPAA or compliance requirements if working in regulated domains like healthcare or finance.
  

I'm also curious—what red flags should I watch for when hiring Salesforce developers in the US? Have you encountered issues like weak sandbox strategies, poor CI/CD pipelines, or lack of hands-on experience with real-world integrations? Insights are welcome!
Your personal experiences, suggested evaluation techniques, or even recommended firms would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!