Software Developer Hiring Trends in Lisbon, Portugal

This report was last updated on Aug 24, 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 software engineers job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, is experiencing an evolving landscape with significant competition for talent amongst 317 job openings recorded in a peak week, contrasted with a notable closure of 403 positions, thereby indicating the need for strategic recruitment approaches.
Lisbon stands out as the prime location for software development roles, accounting for 60% of job openings across Portugal, followed by Porto at 17% and Braga at 2%, making it essential for CTOs and hiring managers to focus their recruitment efforts in this key city.
Currently, the talent pool for software engineers presents a balanced yet competitive environment, comparable to that of Poland and Hungary, necessitating robust recruitment strategies by CTOs to navigate the moderate hiring challenges faced in this vibrant tech sector.
The median time to hire for software engineers in Portugal is approximately 33 days, highlighting the urgency for timely recruitment strategies, as a significant portion of hires occurs within the 20 to 35-day timeframe.
Technologically, Java and Python lead as the top skills sought in the market, with 10,342 and 10,444 mentions respectively, underscoring the necessity for hiring managers to align their candidate sourcing with these in-demand technologies.

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

In the past twelve weeks, the software engineering job market in Portugal Lisbon has exhibited fluctuating trends. The highest number of new software developer jobs was observed in week 29, with 317 postings, which significantly contrasts with the lowest spike in week 23, where only 149 were recorded. Meanwhile, job closures peaked in week 24, with 403 positions closed, indicating a dynamic yet challenging recruitment environment. Compared to other roles within the region, software developer opportunities experience substantial competition, further highlighting the need for robust recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers in Portugal Lisbon's tech sector.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Portugal:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
KCS iT	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2008	146
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	116
Indie Campers	Portugal	Leisure, Travel & Tourism	2013	82
Decskill	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2014	61
Adentis Portugal	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2016	52
PrimeIT	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2006	49
Inetum	France	Information Technology & Services	1970	46
Irium Portugal	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2019	45
Ankix	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	1999	40
Match Profiler	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	1999	38

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Portugal

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Portugal

The software engineers job market trends in Portugal's Lisbon showcase a compelling yet challenging scenario for hiring managers. With a notable ratio of talent pool to job openings, Portugal presents a competitive environment akin to that of Poland and Hungary, where the talent supply is sufficient but not excessive. In comparison, countries like Germany and the Netherlands show lower ratios, indicating a tighter job market for software developers. Thus, while Portugal offers ample Software Developer opportunities, the demand is steadily increasing, leading to moderate hiring challenges. Consequently, recruitment strategies for CTOs and engineering managers must adapt to the competitive landscape in Lisbon to secure top talent.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Lisbon

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Lisbon

In the dynamic software job market in Portugal Lisbon, the seniority distribution reveals that Mid-Senior level positions dominate the landscape, comprising 65% of available roles. Entry-level opportunities account for 23%, while Associate roles make up 8%. This distribution underscores the growing demand for experienced Software Engineers, highlighting important recruitment strategies for CTOs aiming to attract top talent in Lisbon's tech sector.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

In the software engineering job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, full-time positions dominate with 94% of available roles. Contract positions represent 5% of the market, while part-time jobs account for just 1%. This distribution highlights a robust preference for stable employment, a trend that hiring managers should consider when formulating their recruitment strategies.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for software roles in Portugal indicates a significant variance, with the most notable concentration occurring around the 30-day mark, where 1,443 candidates were hired. This trend reflects the current dynamics in the Portuguese software job market, particularly in Lisbon, where recruitment strategies must adapt to this timeline to remain competitive. Positions requiring 20 to 35 days of hiring account for over half of the total hires, showcasing the demand for rapid recruitment in the tech sector. Hiring managers and CTOs should consider these trends when formulating strategies to attract talented Software Engineers in Portugal, especially in Lisbon’s burgeoning tech landscape.

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Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

In Portugal, the software engineers job market is significantly concentrated in Lisbon, which accounts for 60% of the relevant job openings, followed by Porto at 17% and Braga at 2%. This highlights Lisbon's status as a central hub for software developer opportunities, making it a focal point for recruitment strategies for CTOs in Portugal's tech sector.

Most sought after technologies in Lisbon for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the current software job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, several technologies stand out due to their high frequency of usage among job listings. Notably, Java has emerged as the most sought-after skill, recorded at a frequency of 10,342, followed closely by Python at 10,444. Other dominant technologies include JavaScript, with 8,006 mentions, and PHP, showcasing its relevance with 5,868 listings. Additionally, TypeScript and React have made significant impacts, with frequencies of 5,224 and 6,576, respectively. The accompanying chart illustrates these trends and highlights the importance of these technologies in shaping recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers in the tech sector.

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