Machine Learning Developer Hiring Trends in Porto, 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 Engineers job market in Portugal, particularly in Porto, is experiencing dynamic activity with a notable current number of job openings reflecting a demand for skilled professionals.
Recent data indicates a substantial talent pool in Portugal, which is smaller compared to other European countries, suggesting potential hiring challenges for CTOs and hiring managers as the competition for talent escalates.
Key findings show that the seniority distribution reveals a strong demand for Mid-Senior level professionals, making up 54% of available roles, which may influence recruitment strategies for tech leads and engineering managers.
The median time to hire for Artificial Intelligence Engineers in Portugal is currently 31 days, highlighting the urgency for hiring managers to streamline their recruitment processes in order to secure top talent swiftly.
Top hiring companies in the region include Canonical, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and KCS iT, emphasizing the competitive landscape in sourcing Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Developer opportunities in Portugal Porto.

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

The recent analysis of the Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers job market in Portugal Porto reveals a nuanced landscape of hiring activity. Over the last 12 weeks, the number of new jobs posted showcased fluctuations, peaking at 4 openings in week 31, while job closures exhibited high activity, peaking at 9 closures in week 22. This data indicates a significant turnover, suggesting that hiring managers in Portugal Porto must adopt agile recruitment strategies to stay competitive. In contrast to other roles in the region, the volatility in job openings and closures for Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning positions highlights an emerging demand that is not as pronounced in other sectors, warranting close attention from tech leads and CTOs in their staffing initiatives.

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 in Portugal, specifically in Porto, presents a competitive landscape. Currently, Portugal has a notable number of job openings compared to its talent pool. In a comparative analysis, Germany and the United Kingdom demonstrate more job openings but also a larger talent pool, whereas countries like France exhibit a similar ratio to Portugal, indicating potential hiring challenges. With Portugal experiencing a talent-to-job ratio that suggests a tighter market, hiring managers may face difficulties in sourcing qualified candidates promptly. It is essential for CTOs and recruitment strategists in Portugal's tech sector to adapt their recruitment strategies to effectively attract and retain top talent in this evolving field.

Seniority distribution of Machine Learning Engineer job openings in Porto

Seniority Distribution of Machine Learning Engineering Jobs in Porto

In the Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job market in Portugal Porto, the seniority distribution indicates a strong presence of Mid-Senior level professionals, accounting for 54% of available positions. Entry level roles follow at 34%, while Internship opportunities comprise 12%. This distribution highlights the demand for experienced talent, suggesting a competitive landscape for hiring managers seeking to attract skilled Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Engineers.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

In the current job market for engineering roles in Portugal, full-time positions dominate with 94% of the total employment types. Contract roles account for 5%, while part-time positions represent a mere 1%. This distribution highlights the strong preference for full-time employment among tech professionals, crucial for hiring managers considering Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineer roles.

Time to Hire Distribution for Artificial Intelligence in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Artificial Intelligence positions in Portugal indicates a significant demand for talent, with the highest count of candidates being hired within 30 days, totaling 191 hires. A notable trend is observed as the demand decreases beyond this period, with only 55 candidates hired after 45 days. Recruitment strategies for CTOs and engineering managers should focus on optimizing their hiring processes, especially given the substantial number of candidates (136) filling positions within the 25-day mark. As the job market evolves, understanding the time to hire for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning roles will be crucial for attracting top talent in Portugal, particularly in key locations like Porto.

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Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Artificial Intelligence Engineers

In Portugal, the city of Lisbon dominates the job market for Artificial Intelligence Engineers, accounting for 83% of the total job openings. Porto, the second-largest city, contributes 23% of the openings with 786 positions, followed by Lisboa with a smaller share of 6%. This data underscores the concentration of opportunities in Lisbon while highlighting the growing significance of Porto in the tech sector, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Porto for Machine Learning

Key technologies for Machine Learning Engineers

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning job market, particularly in Portugal's Porto region, several key technologies stand out based on their frequency of use. Python leads the pack with a significant presence of 6,500 mentions, underscoring its essential role in AI and machine learning initiatives. Following closely are SQL and Machine Learning itself, with 2,543 and 3,788 mentions respectively, indicating the foundational importance of data management and algorithm development. Additionally, the use of Data Science at 1,439 and AWS at 803 highlights prevalent trends in cloud-based solutions and comprehensive data analytics. These insights are illustrated in the accompanying chart, providing a visual representation of the technologies shaping the future of AI Machine Learning job opportunities in Porto.

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