Data Developer Hiring Trends in Leuven, Belgium

This report was last updated on Sep 6, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Data Engineers job market trends in Belgium, particularly in Leuven, indicate a complex hiring landscape characterized by fluctuating job openings and closures over recent months.
In the last 12 weeks, Data Engineer positions faced significant competition, with notable peaks in job postings, yet experiencing a higher rate of closures, suggesting potential challenges in candidate retention or fit.
The talent pool size is constrained, posing hiring difficulties for CTOs and Engineering Managers, as competition for qualified Data Engineers intensifies amid an upward trend in job openings.
Brussels stands out as the leading city for Data Engineer opportunities, accounting for 63% of roles, while Leuven represents 6% of openings, highlighting its emerging tech scene.
The median time to hire for Data Engineers in Belgium is currently 32 days, with around 424 candidates hired within 30 days, underscoring the urgency in recruitment strategies for firms looking to secure top talent in this competitive field.

Number of roles opened and closed for Data Engineers in Leuven in the last 3 months

In the past 12 weeks, the Data Engineering job market in Belgium Leuven has demonstrated fluctuating activity, with peaking opportunities noted in weeks 29 and 28, where 10 and 4 new jobs were posted, respectively. However, the closure of jobs reflects a higher trend, particularly in weeks 30 to 32, indicating potential challenges in candidate retention or fit. When compared to other roles in Belgium Leuven, Data Engineer positions appear to face significant competition as closures consistently dominate openings, a scenario that may also mirror trends observed across Europe where hiring for Data Developers is increasingly competitive.

Who else is hiring for data Engineers in Belgium:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	23
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	21
Extia	France	Information Technology & Services	2007	11
In4Matic	Belgium	Information Technology & Services	1999	11
ENGIE - International Supply & Energy Management	null	null	null	9
Colruyt Group	Belgium	Retail	1925	7
Capgemini	France	Management Consulting	1967	7
Belfius	Belgium	Financial Services	1996	6
Cegeka	Belgium	Information Technology & Services	1992	6
Belgie Vacature	Netherlands	Human Resources	2011	6

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Talent pool vs job openings for Data Engineers in Belgium

How competitive it is to hire Data Engineers in Belgium

The talent market for Data Engineers in Belgium presents a challenging landscape for hiring managers. With a notable count of job openings juxtaposed against a relatively limited talent pool, the hiring ratio suggests increased competition in sourcing qualified candidates. In comparison, countries like Germany and the Netherlands show a more favorable balance between job openings and available talent, potentially easing recruitment efforts for CTOs and Engineering Managers. Conversely, the United Kingdom exhibits a similar challenge as Belgium, indicating a broader trend in the European technology landscape where demand for Data Engineers outpaces the supply. Ultimately, hiring talent in Belgium may require more strategic recruitment approaches to attract the right candidates amidst these market conditions.

Seniority distribution of Data Engineer job openings in Leuven

Seniority Distribution of Data Engineering Jobs in Leuven

In Belgium Leuven, the seniority distribution for Data Engineering roles reveals a noteworthy trend. The Mid-Senior level positions account for 36% of job openings, followed closely by Entry level roles at 27%, and Associate positions comprising 18%. This distribution highlights the growing demand for experienced talent while also indicating a significant entry point for new professionals in the Data job market.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Belgium

In the competitive landscape of the engineering sector in Belgium, full-time positions dominate, comprising 90% of the job market with 31,175 roles available. Contractual opportunities follow with 3,325 jobs, representing 9% of the employment types. Part-time positions account for a modest 2% with 556 job openings, highlighting a preference for full-time engagement among Data Engineers and other technical roles.

Time to Hire Distribution for Data in Belgium

How long does it take to hire Data Engineers

The time to hire for Data jobs in Belgium, particularly in Leuven, presents a diverse distribution, reflecting the competitive landscape of the local tech market. A significant majority of candidates, around 424, are hired within a 30-day window, indicating a strong demand for Data Engineers and rapid recruitment cycles. However, hiring processes extend beyond 30 days, with 201 candidates taking up to 35 days and a notable 225 positions filled within 15 days, underscoring the urgency for recruitment strategies among CTOs and engineering leaders. With 116 candidates hired in 40 days and a gradual decline in hires extending to 105 days, it is crucial for hiring managers to adapt their recruitment strategies to align with these trends in order to secure top talent in the data domain.

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Most popular cities in Belgium to hire Data Engineers

Top 5 cities in Belgium to hire Data Engineers

In Belgium, the distribution of Data Engineer job openings reflects a concentration in major urban centers. Brussels leads with 63% of the total job count, followed by Antwerp at 16% and Ghent at 10%. Leuven, while notable with 6% of opportunities, highlights the emerging tech scene outside the capital. This data is represented in the accompanying chart, which details the distribution across these key cities.

Most sought after technologies in Leuven for Data

Key technologies for Data Engineers

In the evolving landscape of the Data Engineers job market in Belgium, particularly in Leuven, several technologies are dominating. Python leads the charge with an impressive frequency of 7,785 mentions, followed closely by SQL at 7,444. Other notable technologies include ETL, which appears 2,981 times, and Machine Learning, significant with 2,883 mentions. Additionally, Data Engineering itself is highlighted 3,749 times. This data indicates a robust preference for these tools among employers, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

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