Artificial Intelligence Developer Hiring Trends in Sofia, Bulgaria

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 Artificial Intelligence Engineers job market in Bulgaria, particularly in Sofia, has seen a dynamic landscape over the last three months, with 12 roles opened in week 28 and significant closures peaking at 26 jobs in week 31, signaling a competitive environment for tech hiring managers.
Sofia remains the predominant hub for Artificial Intelligence Engineer job opportunities, accounting for 86% of the total openings in Bulgaria, highlighting its importance in recruitment strategies aimed at attracting top talent in the tech sector.
The talent pool for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Bulgaria is relatively limited compared to the number of job openings, creating a tighter job market that necessitates adaptive recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers.
With a median hiring timeline of 35 days for Artificial Intelligence Engineers, swift recruitment is essential, yet hiring managers must navigate variations that may impact their overall recruitment effectiveness.
The seniority distribution in Sofia reveals a strong demand for mid-senior level candidates, representing 66% of job postings, which emphasizes the need for targeted recruitment strategies to attract experienced professionals in this competitive hiring landscape.

Number of roles opened and closed for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Sofia in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the job market for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Sofia has exhibited notable fluctuations. A total of 12 jobs were opened in week 28, highlighting a peak in demand, while week 35 saw a significant drop with only 3 openings. In comparison, the number of jobs closed reached its highest in week 31 with 26 closures, indicating potential retention issues or shifts in hiring priorities. This trend hints at a competitive landscape for recruitment strategies targeted at CTOs and other decision-makers within Bulgaria's tech sector, especially when juxtaposed against similar roles across Europe, where demand appears steadier.

Who else is hiring for ai Engineers in Bulgaria:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
EPAM Systems	United States	Information Technology & Services	1993	8
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	7
AgileEngine	United States	Information Technology & Services	2010	5
Axelera AI	Netherlands	Semiconductors	2021	4
The Flex	United Kingdom	Real Estate	2019	4
Exadel	United States	Information Technology & Services	1998	3
Deloitte	United States	Management Consulting	1845	3
Ocado Technology	null	null	null	3
Schwarz IT Bulgaria	null	null	null	3
Wiser Technology	Canada	Information Technology & Services	null	3

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Talent pool vs job openings for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Bulgaria

How competitive it is to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Bulgaria

The job market for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Bulgaria presents a challenging landscape for hiring managers. With a significant count of job openings compared to the available talent pool, Bulgaria's jobs-to-talent ratio indicates a tighter market for recruitment. For instance, when compared to Romania, which has a more favorable jobs-to-talent ratio, and Germany, where demand heavily outweighs talent availability, Bulgaria's situation signals an increased competition for skilled professionals. Similarly, countries like Poland also exhibit a higher number of available talent relative to job openings, making it relatively easier for employers to find qualified candidates. Consequently, CTOs and recruiting managers in Bulgaria must adapt their recruitment strategies to attract the increasingly competitive pool of Artificial Intelligence Engineers.

Seniority distribution of Artificial Intelligence Engineer job openings in Sofia

Seniority Distribution of Artificial Intelligence Engineering Jobs in Sofia

The seniority distribution of Artificial Intelligence Engineering jobs in Bulgaria Sofia reveals a significant concentration of opportunities at the Mid-Senior level, comprising 66% of the total job postings. Entry-level positions account for 20%, while Associate roles represent 5% of the market. This distribution suggests a robust demand for experienced professionals, highlighting the importance of tailoring recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers in the region.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the employment type distribution for engineering roles reveals a significant preference for full-time positions, comprising 96% of the job market. Contract roles represent 2% of the employment landscape, while part-time opportunities account for 1%. Additionally, internships make up a smaller fraction, at 0%.

Time to Hire Distribution for Artificial Intelligence in Bulgaria

How long does it take to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

The analysis of the time to hire distribution for Artificial Intelligence Engineer roles in Bulgaria reveals essential insights for tech hiring managers. A significant portion of candidates (40) are hired within a 30-day timeframe, indicating that swift recruitment can be a viable strategy. However, the spread continues with 21 roles taking 25 days and another 21 requiring 15 days. It's critical for CTOs and Engineering Managers to be prepared for variations, as about 18 positions take up to 40 days. Understanding these timeframes can assist in formulating effective recruitment strategies and aligning with the Future Demand for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Bulgaria, especially in Sofia's burgeoning tech sector.

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Most popular cities in Bulgaria to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

Top 5 cities in Bulgaria to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

In Bulgaria, the distribution of Artificial Intelligence Engineers job openings reveals notable concentration in key areas. Sofia, as the capital, dominates the landscape with 86% of the job opportunities, followed by Plovdiv at 6% and the broader category of Bulgaria capturing 1%. This concentrated demand highlights the importance of Sofia as the primary hub for Artificial Intelligence roles in the region, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Sofia for Artificial Intelligence

Key technologies for Artificial Intelligence Engineers

The Artificial Intelligence job market in Bulgaria, particularly in Sofia, is characterized by a strong emphasis on essential technologies. The leading technology, Python, commands significant attention with a frequency of 7,472, reflecting its critical role in AI development. This is closely followed by machine learning at 5,033 and AI itself at 4,376. SQL also plays a pivotal role, with 1,995 occurrences, underscoring the importance of data management in AI projects. Additionally, Data Science, crucial for analytics-driven AI solutions, stands at 1,464 occurrences. For further insights, please refer to the accompanying chart showcasing these data points.

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