Machine Learning Developer Hiring Trends in Lisbon, 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 Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job market in Portugal, especially in Lisbon, currently faces a fluctuation in hiring trends with a total of 14 positions created at the peak in week 26, contrasting with weeks 24 and 25, which saw only 2 job openings each.
With a prominent concentration of 77% of job listings in Lisbon, it remains the leading hub for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers, followed by Porto at 22%. This trend underscores Lisbon’s vital role in the recruitment landscape.
The talent pool in Portugal presents challenges for hiring, revealing a competitive environment for securing qualified Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers, particularly when compared to other European countries. A notable recruitment strategy will be critical for employers to attract skilled professionals.
The current median time to hire for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Portugal stands at 31 days, with significant hiring activity concentrated in the 25 to 30 day range. This insight highlights the need for hiring managers to devise efficient recruitment processes.
The majority of job openings for Machine Learning Engineers in Portugal favor full-time roles, comprising 94% of available positions, projecting a sustained demand for full-time Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Developers in the tech sector of Lisbon.

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

Over the past 12 weeks, the Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, has displayed notable fluctuations. The peak of new job postings occurred in week 26, with 14 positions created, contrasting sharply with weeks 24 and 25, which recorded only 2 new openings each. Additionally, there has been a consistent closure of positions; for instance, week 22 saw 20 jobs closed, highlighting a mismatch in demand and availability. Comparatively, the hiring activity for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers in Lisbon appears more volatile than in other European countries, indicating a significant competition for talent that hiring managers should strategically address.

Who else is hiring for ai Engineers in Portugal:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	11
Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa	null	null	null	9
Air Apps	United States	Information Technology & Services	2018	9
KCS iT	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2008	9
Zendesk	United States	Information Technology & Services	2007	8
Devoteam	France	Management Consulting	1995	8
PrimeIT	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2006	7
Noesis	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	1995	7
Axelera AI	Netherlands	Semiconductors	2021	6
Tripadvisor	United States	Information Technology & Services	2000	5

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Talent pool vs job openings for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Portugal

How competitive it is to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Portugal

The job market for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers shows varying trends across Europe, with Portugal emerging as a unique case. Currently, Portugal has a ratio of talent pool size to job openings that suggests hiring is relatively challenging compared to neighboring countries. For instance, while Germany reports a robust talent pool with a lower ratio, facilitating easier recruitment, France displays a similar trend, bolstering its position in the tech landscape. In contrast, the UK has a significant number of openings coupled with a sizeable talent pool, indicating a more competitive hiring environment. This analysis underscores the necessity for strategic recruitment approaches by CTOs and Engineering Managers in Lisbon to attract top talent in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Seniority distribution of Machine Learning Engineer job openings in Lisbon

Seniority Distribution of Machine Learning Engineering Jobs in Lisbon

In the competitive landscape of the Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, the seniority distribution reflects a diverse range of experience levels. Approximately 55% of roles are classified as Mid-Senior level, while Entry level positions make up around 24%. Additionally, Associate level jobs account for about 8% of the total openings. This distribution highlights the demand for seasoned professionals, providing insights for hiring managers seeking to attract talent within this burgeoning sector.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

In Portugal's engineering roles, the employment type distribution reveals a predominant preference for Full-time positions, accounting for 94% of available opportunities. This is followed by Contract roles, which represent 6% of the job market, while Part-time and Internship roles collectively make up only 2%. This data underscores the critical focus on securing Full-time Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers, a trend that aligns with the future demand for skilled professionals in Portugal's tech sector, particularly in Lisbon.

Time to Hire Distribution for Artificial Intelligence in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

The time to hire for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers in Portugal exhibits a significant distribution across varying time frames. Notably, the highest frequency occurs within the 25 to 30 day range, with 191 candidates being hired in this period, reflecting a considerable demand in the tech sector. Notably, 87 hires occurred at the 15-day mark and 76 at 10 days, indicating that recruitment efforts are often concentrated in the early stages. However, it's essential to acknowledge that hiring times extend, with 67 candidates recruited after 40 days. This data suggests that for hiring managers, particularly CTOs and engineering leads in Lisbon, understanding these trends is crucial to developing effective recruitment strategies that align with the evolving job market landscape.

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Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

The majority of Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineer job openings in Portugal are concentrated in Lisbon, which accounts for 77% of the total job listings. Porto follows, representing 22% of the opportunities, while the remaining cities, including remote positions, contribute to a small fraction of the market. This data highlights Lisbon's prominence as the leading hub for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job opportunities in Portugal.

Most sought after technologies in Lisbon for Machine Learning

Key technologies for Machine Learning Engineers

In the bustling Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, several technologies stand out as essential for professionals in the field. The most prominent language is Python, utilized in 6,500 job postings, highlighting its critical role in AI and Machine Learning development. Following closely, SQL appears in 2,543 listings, underscoring its importance in data management and retrieval. Additionally, Machine Learning itself is mentioned in 3,788 opportunities, reinforcing its significance in the job landscape. Other notables include Data Science with 1,439 occurrences and Java, which appears in 1,069 roles. A detailed chart showcasing these technologies is provided for further insight.

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