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Security Developer Hiring Trends in Cologne, Germany

This report was last updated on Sep 7, 2025

Bence Gedai / Founder

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 Security Engineers job market trends in Germany, particularly in Cologne, reveal a talent pool size where the number of job openings significantly outstrips available candidates, making hiring challenging for employers.
  • In the last three months, 46 Security Engineer roles were closed in Cologne while only 7 new positions were opened during the peak week, indicating a downward trend that necessitates focused recruitment strategies for hiring managers.
  • Security roles predominantly favor full-time employment, which comprises 95% of advertised openings, thus highlighting the expectations of candidates and the commitment required by employers in the tech sector.
  • Berlin leads the hiring landscape for Security Engineers in Germany, accounting for 42% of job postings, followed by Munich and Frankfurt, which demands awareness from hiring managers in Cologne on the competitive dynamics of the market.
  • The average time to hire for Security Engineers in Germany stands at 33 days, with nearly 39% of candidates being hired within 30 days; this quick recruitment window emphasizes the urgency for CTOs and team leads to adapt their hiring strategies.
Number of roles opened and closed for Security Engineers in Cologne in the last 3 months

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

In the past 12 weeks, the Security Engineer job market in Germany Cologne has displayed fluctuating activity, with a notable peak in week 31, where 7 new positions were opened. Over the same period, a total of 46 jobs were closed, indicating a consistent downward trend in job availability. The ongoing challenge for hiring managers in Germany Cologne is sustaining a balance between recruitment and attrition rates. In comparison to other roles within the tech sector, such as Software Developers, the hiring trends for Security Engineers appear to be more volatile, suggesting a need for tailored recruitment strategies for CTOs and tech leads looking to secure top talent in this niche market.

Who else is hiring for security Engineers in Germany:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
TieTalent logo TieTalent Switzerland Information Technology & Services 2017 111
adesso SE logo adesso SE Germany Information Technology & Services 1997 64
Canonical logo Canonical United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2004 26
MAM Gruppe logo MAM Gruppe United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2009 21
Microsoft logo Microsoft United States Information Technology & Services 1975 18
accompio logo accompio Germany Information Technology & Services 2023 17
BWI GmbH logo BWI GmbH Germany Information Technology & Services 2006 14
Diehl Defence logo Diehl Defence Germany Defense & Space 1902 11
ALTEN Germany logo ALTEN Germany Germany Information Technology & Services 1988 11
TÜV Rheinland Group logo TÜV Rheinland Group Germany Public Safety 1872 10

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Talent pool vs job openings for Security Engineers in Germany

How competitive it is to hire Security Engineers in Germany

The talent market for Security Engineers in Europe reveals notable disparities across different countries. In Germany, the number of job openings significantly exceeds the available talent pool, resulting in a jobs-to-talent ratio that indicates a challenging hiring landscape for employers. Conversely, countries such as France and Spain exhibit more favorable ratios, suggesting an easier recruitment process. Meanwhile, in the UK, the competitive nature of the market signals heightened difficulty in sourcing Security Engineers. Therefore, hiring managers in Germany, particularly in cities like Cologne, should anticipate a competitive search for qualified candidates, necessitating proactive recruitment strategies tailored for the local tech sector.

Seniority distribution of Security Engineer job openings in Cologne

Seniority Distribution of Security Engineering Jobs in Cologne

In the dynamic Security Engineers job market in Germany, specifically within Cologne, the seniority distribution reveals significant trends. Mid-Senior level positions dominate with 48%, followed by Entry level roles at 19%, and Associate positions comprising 16%. This distribution underscores the growing need for experienced Security Developers, while also highlighting entry-level opportunities that can attract budding talent in the tech sector.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Germany

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Germany

In the current landscape of the engineering job market in Germany, the predominant employment type is Full-time positions, which account for 95% of advertised roles. This is followed by Part-time opportunities, comprising 4%, and internships at 2%. Understanding this distribution is crucial for hiring managers seeking to navigate recruitment strategies effectively within Germany's competitive tech sector, particularly for Security Engineers.

Time to Hire Distribution for Security in Germany

How long does it take to hire Security Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Security jobs in Germany reveals significant insights for hiring managers in the tech sector. A majority of candidates, approximately 38.6%, are hired within 30 days, reflecting a competitive recruitment landscape. However, 15.9% of positions take between 30 to 60 days, indicating a prolonged search for top talent. Notably, only 4.6% take longer than 60 days, suggesting that swift recruitment strategies can yield success. Hiring managers in Cologne should leverage these trends to optimize their recruitment processes for Security Engineer positions.

Most popular cities in Germany to hire Security Engineers

Top 5 cities in Germany to hire Security Engineers

In examining the Security Engineers job market trends in Germany, the distribution of job openings highlights Berlin as the leading city, accounting for 42% of total job postings with 449 positions. Following closely is Munich, representing 33% with 349 roles, while Frankfurt contributes 23% with 251 opportunities. This data underscores Berlin’s dominance as a hub for Security Engineer recruitment, which is crucial for hiring managers considering talent acquisition strategies in Germany Cologne's tech sector. Refer to the accompanying chart for a detailed visual representation of these figures.

Most sought after technologies in Cologne for Security

Key technologies for Security Engineers

In the evolving landscape of security jobs in Germany, particularly in Cologne, several technologies have emerged as critical for professionals in this field. Cybersecurity, noted for its high frequency of 10,118 mentions, is the foremost priority among employers, reflecting a strong demand for expertise in securing systems against threats. Incident response, with 4,466 occurrences, underscores the need for skilled personnel who can effectively manage security breaches when they occur. Following closely, compliance and risk management, with 5,423 and 5,310 mentions respectively, highlight the importance of adhering to regulations and minimizing potential vulnerabilities. Additional essential technologies include network security and cloud security, with 2,674 and 2,579 mentions, pointing to a growing emphasis on protecting both on-premises and cloud-based infrastructures. For a visual representation of these data points, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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