Machine Learning 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 Machine Learning Engineers job market in Bulgaria Sofia is characterized by a competitive landscape, with 1,034 job openings predominantly in Sofia, which holds an impressive 85% of the total positions available in the country.
In the last three months, job openings peaked at 6 per week, although a high closure rate was observed, reaching 13 positions closed in week 31, indicating a pressing need for effective recruitment strategies among hiring managers.
The majority of roles available, around 68%, are at the Mid-Senior level, while Entry level positions comprise 24%, reflecting a significant demand for experienced Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Developers in the market.
Top companies actively hiring in Bulgaria Sofia include EPAM Systems, Canonical, and AgileEngine, underscoring a vibrant technology sector with robust recruitment needs for top talent.
With a median time to hire for Artificial Intelligence Engineers set at 35 days, CTOs and Engineering Managers should anticipate extended recruitment cycles and adapt their hiring strategies accordingly to capture the best talent amidst rising competition.

Number of roles opened and closed for Machine Learning Engineers in Sofia in the last 3 months

The Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers job market in Bulgaria Sofia has shown fluctuating trends over the past 12 weeks. Weekly job openings peaked at 6 in weeks 26, 31, and 32, while a concerning number of positions closed significantly, reaching a high of 13 in week 31. This indicates a competitive landscape where the demand for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Developers may outpace supply. When compared to other tech roles in Bulgaria Sofia, the dynamics of job openings and closures suggest that CTOs and engineering managers may need to refine recruitment strategies to attract and retain talent in this rapidly evolving sector.

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 Machine Learning Engineers in Bulgaria, particularly in Sofia, reflects a competitive landscape marked by a challenging hiring environment. With the number of job openings significantly surpassing the available talent pool, Bulgaria demonstrates a low jobs-to-talent ratio when compared to other European countries such as Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands. For instance, while Bulgaria shows a healthy demand for AI professionals, nations like Poland experience a more favorable balance between job openings and talent availability. This suggests that hiring for positions in Sofia may be more difficult than in these other markets. Consequently, CTOs and recruitment managers in Bulgaria must adapt their recruitment strategies to navigate these challenges and attract top-tier talent effectively.

Seniority distribution of Machine Learning Engineer job openings in Sofia

Seniority Distribution of Machine Learning Engineering Jobs in Sofia

In Bulgaria's Sofia, the distribution of Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineering jobs reveals significant trends within the job market. The Mid-Senior level positions dominate with 68% of openings, followed by Entry level roles at 24%. Associate positions account for 6%, indicating a clear preference for experienced professionals in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

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 account for 2%, while part-time positions represent 1%. This data emphasizes the need for hiring managers, especially CTOs and Engineering Managers, to focus on full-time talent acquisition strategies in the highly competitive Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers job market trends in Bulgaria, Sofia.

Time to Hire Distribution for Artificial Intelligence in Bulgaria

How long does it take to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers in Bulgaria reveals important trends for hiring managers. Notably, the highest frequency of hires occurs between 30 to 35 days, indicating that the hiring process for AI talent in Sofia may extend beyond the initial expectations. A significant count of 40 candidates were hired in 30 days, while 30 candidates took 35 days, suggesting that recruitment strategies should accommodate this timeframe. Additionally, a considerable portion of hires occurs up to 50 days, which should inform CTOs and Engineering Managers as they adjust their recruitment practices in the competitive 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

The distribution of Artificial Intelligence Engineer job openings in Bulgaria reveals that Sofia is a dominant player, accounting for 85% of the total relevant positions. The capital city stands out significantly, with 1,034 job openings, while Plovdiv and Remote follow, contributing only 6% and 2% respectively. This data underscores Sofia's critical role in the Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job market in Bulgaria.

Most sought after technologies in Sofia for Machine Learning

Key technologies for Machine Learning Engineers

In the dynamic job market for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers in Bulgaria, particularly in Sofia, certain technologies stand out in frequency of usage. Python emerges as the most utilized programming language, with a remarkable frequency of 5,248, making it an essential skill for potential candidates. Following closely, Machine Learning ranks high with a frequency of 3,149, indicating its pivotal role in current job requirements. Other noteworthy technologies include SQL, frequently used in data management with a frequency of 1,995, and Data Science, significant in analytical roles, with 1,229 occurrences. For a detailed visual representation of these technologies' popularity, please refer to the chart accompanying this section.

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