UX / UI Developer Hiring Trends in Portugal

This report was last updated on Aug 17, 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 UX / UI job market in Portugal demonstrates a robust and dynamic landscape, with an impressive talent pool size of over 3,000 UX / UI Engineers, providing ample opportunities for companies seeking skilled professionals.
Within this market, there have been approximately 28 new UX / UI positions opened weekly, indicating strong demand, despite an average of 20 jobs being closed weekly, highlighting a competitive environment for hiring managers.
Key technologies such as Figma and Prototyping are prevalent, with Figma alone being utilized in over 3,000 instances, emphasizing the importance of aligning recruitment strategies with these tools to attract top talent.
Lisbon stands out as the primary hub for UX / UI talent, accounting for 86% of job openings, while other cities like Porto contribute to the diversity of available opportunities across Portugal's tech landscape.
The median time to hire for UX / UI Engineer positions is currently 31 days, suggesting that hiring managers should adopt efficient recruitment strategies to secure candidates swiftly due to the competitive state of the talent market.

Number of roles opened and closed for UX / UI Engineers in Portugal in the last 3 months

In recent weeks, the UX / UI job market in Portugal has displayed notable fluctuations. Over the past 12 weeks, the average number of new UX / UI positions posted weekly peaked at 28 during week 27, indicating a strong demand for UX / UI Engineers in Portugal. However, this demand has been somewhat countered by a significant number of closed positions, with an average of 20 jobs closed weekly. This trend suggests that while opportunities for UX / UI Developers are emerging, competition remains fierce and hiring processes may be rigorous, impacting the overall UX / UI job market in Portugal when compared to other European countries. For hiring managers, understanding these patterns can inform effective recruitment strategies tailored to the distinct dynamics of Portugal's tech sector.

Who else is hiring for design Engineers in Portugal:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	8
Bending Spoons	Italy	Information Technology & Services	2013	4
Tabby	Saudi Arabia	Financial Services	2019	3
Capgemini	France	Management Consulting	1967	3
Revolut	United Kingdom	Financial Services	2015	2
BRAINR	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2021	2
Sovos Latinoamérica	null	null	null	2
Malwarebytes	United States	Computer & Network Security	2008	2
Grupo Serlima	Portugal	Facilities Services	1982	2
Odds Scanner Group	Malta	Marketing & Advertising	2019	2

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Talent pool vs job openings for UX / UI Engineers in Portugal

How competitive it is to hire UX / UI Engineers in Portugal

The UX / UI Engineers job market in Portugal reflects notable dynamics, particularly when compared to other European countries. With a job opening count indicating a robust demand, the ratio of available talent to job openings suggests a moderately challenging hiring environment. For instance, Portugal's jobs to talent pool ratio is higher than that of Spain and Italy, but lower than that of the Netherlands, indicating varying levels of competitiveness. This means that while there are opportunities for UX / UI Developers, hiring managers may find it slightly more challenging to recruit qualified talent in Portugal relative to these countries. Accordingly, employers in Portugal's tech sector should consider innovative recruitment strategies to attract top-tier UX / UI Engineers, particularly as the future demand for these roles is poised to rise.

Seniority distribution of UX / UI Engineer job openings in Portugal

Seniority Distribution of UX / UI Engineering Jobs in Portugal

In Portugal, the UX / UI engineering job market showcases a significant concentration of Mid-Senior level positions, accounting for 55% of the total roles available. Entry level positions follow, representing 24% of the job openings, while Associate roles make up 8%. This distribution indicates a robust demand for experienced professionals, which is essential for hiring managers looking to attract top talent in this competitive landscape.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

In the evolving landscape of the UX / UI job market in Portugal, the predominant employment type is full-time positions, which account for 94% of the current engineering roles. Contract positions make up 5% of the market, while part-time roles represent approximately 2%. These statistics underscore the strong preference for full-time engagement within Portugal's tech sector, signaling a significant opportunity for UX / UI Engineers as companies seek committed talent.

Time to Hire Distribution for UX / UI in Portugal

How long does it take to hire UX / UI Engineers

The time to hire for UX / UI Engineer positions in Portugal exhibits a varied distribution, highlighting the urgency and competitiveness within the market. A significant 87 positions were filled within 30 days, while hiring timelines extended to 60 days for 19 roles, indicating a substantial number of candidates are available for quick placement. However, as hiring durations increase beyond 30 days, there is a noticeable decline, with only 11 positions taking up to 50 days. This data suggests that hiring managers, including CTOs and Engineering Managers, should optimize recruitment strategies to attract talent swiftly. Overall, the UX / UI job market in Portugal reflects both high demand and the necessity for timely engagement to remain competitive.

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Most popular cities in Portugal to hire UX / UI Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire UX / UI Engineers

The distribution of UX / UI Engineers job openings in Portugal reveals significant concentration in key urban centers. Notably, Lisbon accounts for 86% of the opportunities, making it the primary hub for UX / UI talent. Porto follows as a distant second, representing 27% of the market, while the collective openings across other regions, including remote positions, reflect the growing demand across the country's tech landscape. For a detailed visual representation, please refer to the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Portugal for UX / UI

Key technologies for UX / UI Engineers

In the analysis of the UX / UI job market in Portugal, several technologies and methodologies stand out due to their high frequency of usage. Notably, Figma emerges as a leading tool, utilized in 3073 instances, emphasizing its importance in UX / UI collaboration and prototyping. Following closely is Prototyping, with 3011 mentions, highlighting the ongoing need for iterative design processes. The critical role of UX design is further exemplified by its occurrence at 2526 times, underlining its fundamental place in user-centric development. Additionally, user research, vital for understanding user needs, features prominently with 1545 mentions, reinforcing its significance in shaping effective UX strategies. These insights, depicted in the associated chart, provide valuable guidance for hiring managers aiming to align their recruitment strategies with market demands for UX / UI Engineers in Portugal.

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