Data Developer Hiring Trends in Cologne, Germany

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 in Germany, particularly in Cologne, is characterized by a competitive environment where there are currently 27 new roles opened and 34 positions closed over the past 12 weeks.
The talent pool size remains limited, leading to challenges for hiring managers. Companies are competing for a finite number of qualified candidates, requiring adaptive recruitment strategies.
Key players in the local job market include adesso SE with 14 openings, KPMG Deutschland with 12 openings, and TieTalent, demonstrating a diverse landscape for Data Engineer hiring.
Cologne, alongside Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, remains one of the top cities for fulfilling Data Engineer roles, making geographical awareness crucial for employers seeking to attract talent.
With a median time to hire of 32 days for Data Engineers in Germany, organizations are encouraged to streamline their hiring processes to effectively secure top talent amidst rising demand.

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

In the past 12 weeks, the Data Engineering job market in Germany Cologne has shown a fluctuating pattern with a total of 27 new positions posted and 34 roles closed. Notably, there was a peak in hiring during weeks 28 and 29, where 4 and 5 jobs were opened respectively. However, the consistent closure of roles indicates a competitive environment, suggesting that the demand for Data Engineers may not be keeping pace with job postings. Compared to other roles in Germany Cologne or across Europe, Data Engineer positions demonstrate unique hiring trends, highlighting the need for adaptive recruitment strategies by CTOs and hiring managers to attract and retain the right talent.

Who else is hiring for data Engineers in Germany:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	17
adesso SE	Germany	Information Technology & Services	1997	14
KPMG Deutschland	null	null	null	12
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	10
Microsoft	United States	Information Technology & Services	1975	9
Instaffo	Germany	Information Technology & Services	2014	9
Trimble Inc.	United States	Information Technology & Services	1978	5
Apside Switzerland	Switzerland	It Services And It Consulting	2015	5
SoSafe	United States	Information Technology & Services	2018	4
ALTEN Germany	Germany	Information Technology & Services	1988	4

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Talent pool vs job openings for Data Engineers in Germany

How competitive it is to hire Data Engineers in Germany

The Data Engineers job market trends in Germany highlight a competitive environment, particularly in cities like Cologne. With a significant number of job openings compared to the available talent pool, the ratio indicates increasing difficulty in hiring qualified Data Engineers. For instance, while Germany showcases robust demand, countries like France, the Netherlands, and Spain reflect similar challenges, with their job openings outnumbering the available talent. This landscape prompts hiring managers, CTOs, and recruiters to adopt proactive recruitment strategies tailored for Germany Cologne's tech sector. As future demand for Data Engineer positions continues to rise, understanding these dynamics will be crucial to securing top talent.

Seniority distribution of Data Engineer job openings in Cologne

Seniority Distribution of Data Engineering Jobs in Cologne

In the vibrant job market for Data Engineers in Germany, particularly in Cologne, a notable distribution of seniority levels has emerged. The Mid-Senior level positions constitute 39% of the available roles, followed closely by Entry level jobs at 34%. Additionally, Associate roles make up 26% of the market, indicating a rich diversity in opportunities for candidates across various experience levels in the Data job market in Germany Cologne.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Germany

In Germany's engineering job market, the predominant employment type is full-time positions, accounting for 96% of opportunities, which highlights the strong demand for committed talent in the tech sector. Part-time roles make up a mere 4%, while internships represent a small fraction at 2%. These statistics underscore the focus on securing full-time Data Engineer talent as organizations look to enhance their data capabilities and streamline operations.

Time to Hire Distribution for Data in Germany

How long does it take to hire Data Engineers

In Germany's competitive landscape for Data Engineers, the time to hire reveals critical insights for hiring managers. Notably, the majority of hiring activity clusters around a time to hire of between 10 to 30 days, with 243 positions filled at the 10-day mark and 290 at the 30-day mark, indicating a strong demand for swift recruitment processes in this sector. The data further suggests that while some roles extend beyond 30 days, the significant volume at quicker hiring intervals may reflect a strategic emphasis on attracting skilled Data Engineers, particularly in hotspots like Cologne. For CTOs and engineering managers, understanding these hiring patterns is essential for developing effective recruitment strategies that align with market expectations.

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Most popular cities in Germany to hire Data Engineers

Top 5 cities in Germany to hire Data Engineers

In the Data Engineers job market in Germany, Cologne is notably positioned among the top contenders, with Berlin leading at 36% of total job openings, followed by Munich at 17% and Hamburg at 12%. Frankfurt contributes 9% to the overall distribution, highlighting the capital's significant role in shaping the job landscape for Data Engineers in Germany. For hiring managers, these statistics underscore the prominence of Berlin as a focal point for talent acquisition in the tech sector.

Most sought after technologies in Cologne for Data

Key technologies for Data Engineers

In analyzing the Data Engineers job market trends in Germany, specifically in Cologne, several technologies emerge as highly utilized within the sector. SQL tops the list with a significant frequency of 7444, illustrating its critical role in database management and manipulation. Python follows closely behind with 7785 occurrences, highlighting its versatility and importance in data processing and analysis. Additionally, the prevalence of ETL tools, recorded at 2981, indicates a strong focus on data integration processes. Other notable technologies include Machine Learning (2883) and Data Engineering (3749), which underscore the industry's commitment to advanced data solutions. A comprehensive chart detailing these technologies can be referenced for further insights.

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