C++ 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 software C++ engineers job market trends in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, are characterized by significant fluctuations, including the opening of 71 positions and the closure of 88 over the last 12 weeks, indicating a challenging hiring landscape for recruitment strategies.
In terms of the available talent pool, there are currently 9,000 Software C++ Engineers, which leads to a jobs-to-talent pool ratio of 3:1, reflecting a competitive hiring environment compared to other European markets like Germany and the UK.
Lisbon is the premier location for hiring Software Engineers in Portugal, dominating the market with 62% of total job listings, followed by Porto at 17%, underscoring its critical role in the tech sector.
Key hiring trends reveal that the majority of positions fall within the Mid-Senior level category, comprising 55% of job listings, while entry-level positions represent 29%, presenting opportunities for both experienced and emerging talent.
With a median time to hire of 28 days, hiring managers must focus on efficient recruitment strategies to secure top Software C++ Engineer candidates amidst an increasingly competitive and dynamic job market.

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

The software C++ engineers job market in Portugal Lisbon has recently shown fluctuations, with a notable increase observed in week 23 where 15 new positions were opened, contrasting with the earlier weeks that recorded fewer openings. Over the past 12 weeks, a total of 71 positions were opened, yet 88 were closed, yielding a negative net balance that raises concerns for hiring managers regarding the retention and vacancy challenges specific to this role. Compared to other tech roles within Portugal, software C++ engineers are facing a potentially tighter market as demand lags behind supply, indicating recruitment strategies may need to be adapted to attract candidates effectively. Notably, this trend mirrors the broader European landscape where hiring for software C++ developers is becoming increasingly competitive.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Portugal:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
KCS iT	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2008	137
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	100
Indie Campers	Portugal	Leisure, Travel & Tourism	2013	70
Decskill	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2014	68
Adentis Portugal	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2016	53
Irium Portugal	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2019	48
Inetum	France	Information Technology & Services	1970	43
PrimeIT	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2006	42
Mindera	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2014	32
Cloudflare	United States	Computer & Network Security	2009	31

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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 development job market trends in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, reflect a challenging environment for hiring Software C++ Engineers. With a total of 3,000 job openings and a talent pool of 9,000 available Software C++ Engineers, the jobs-to-talent pool ratio stands at 3:1, suggesting a relatively competitive hiring scene. In contrast, countries like Germany and France exhibit ratios of approximately 4:1 and 5:1, respectively, indicating a more favorable market for employers seeking talent. Similarly, the UK presents a tougher landscape with a ratio of 6:1. This analysis highlights that while opportunities for Software C++ Developers abound in Portugal, attracting the right talent may require strategic recruitment efforts and enhanced offerings.

Seniority distribution of C++ Engineer job openings in Lisbon

Seniority Distribution of C++ Engineering Jobs in Lisbon

In the Lisbon job market for Software C++ Engineers, the seniority distribution reveals significant insights for hiring managers. The Mid-Senior level constitutes 55% of available positions, followed by Entry level at 29%, and Associate roles at 7%. This distribution underscores a strong demand for seasoned professionals, while also highlighting opportunities for entry-level candidates in the region.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

The employment type distribution for engineering roles in Portugal reveals a significant preference for full-time positions, which constitutes 94% of the total job market share. In contrast, contract roles make up 6%, while part-time and internship opportunities account for a mere 2% and 1% respectively. This data underscores the dominance of full-time employment in the Software C++ job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, where demand for Software C++ Engineers continues to grow.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for Software positions in Portugal indicates a diverse range of recruitment timelines, which can impact the software C++ Engineers job market trends in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon. The majority of hires occur within 30 days, with 1,409 occurrences noted at the 30-day mark and 1,116 at 25 days. However, there are significant candidates beyond 30 days, suggesting a competitive landscape where hiring managers, including CTOs and Engineering Managers, may experience extended timelines of over 60 days for 309 candidates. This data highlights the necessity for recruitment strategies that ensure efficiency in acquiring Senior Software C++ Developers amidst a fluctuating hiring environment.

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Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

The location distribution for Software C++ Engineer job openings in Portugal reveals a significant concentration in Lisbon, which accounts for 62% of the total job listings. Porto follows, representing 17% of the opportunities, while Braga contributes 2%. This chart illustrates the dominance of the capital, Lisbon, highlighting its critical role in the Software C++ job market in Portugal.

Most sought after technologies in Lisbon for C++

Key technologies for C++ Engineers

In the competitive Software C++ Engineer job market in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, several key technologies stand out based on their frequency of usage. The technology 'C++' itself leads with a substantial frequency of 3,688, indicating its paramount importance in this sector. Other prominent technologies include 'Embedded systems' with 751 and 'Linux' with 1,050, which are also critical in the development processes for C++ applications. 'Software Development' holds a frequency of 819, emphasizing the broad skill set required for prospective Software C++ Developers. As illustrated in the attached chart, these technologies play a pivotal role in shaping hiring trends and opportunities within Lisbon's tech sector.

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