Software Developer Hiring Trends in Remote, 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 Engineers job market in Portugal Remote has seen significant fluctuations over the past 12 weeks, culminating in a net loss of opportunities due to 61 total job closures, illustrating a competitive hiring landscape.
Lisbon remains the focal point for Software Engineer job opportunities in Portugal, commanding 62% of the total job postings, followed by Porto with 18%, highlighting these cities as vital hubs for talent acquisition.
Mid-Senior level positions dominate the software development landscape in Portugal, comprising 74% of remote job openings, urging CTOs and hiring managers to tailor their recruitment strategies accordingly.
With 94% of available roles being full-time, the Portuguese software development market emphasizes the preference for job stability, which is crucial for employers focusing on long-term talent retention.
The median time to hire Software Engineers in Portugal stands at 33 days, with 22% of candidates securing positions within 30 days, suggesting a need for streamlined recruitment processes to attract top talent in a competitive environment.

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

In the past 12 weeks, the Software Engineers job market in Portugal Remote has exhibited notable fluctuations, with a peak of 12 new jobs posted in week 21, followed by a decline to a low of 1 job in week 27. The trend indicates an overall modest rebound, reaching 9 job postings in week 29. When compared to the continued closure of jobs during the same period, with a total of 61 positions closed, the net loss of opportunities suggests a competitive hiring landscape. This trend is particularly relevant for recruitment strategies, as hiring managers must adapt to the contrasts between active job openings and closures, making it essential to enhance the attractiveness of Software Engineer hiring processes within Portugal'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	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 engineering job market across Europe presents a varied landscape, particularly when analyzing countries such as Portugal, Germany, and France. In Portugal, the ratio of available talent to job openings indicates a challenging hiring environment, with a notable imbalance that could hinder recruitment efforts. For instance, while Portugal may have a limited talent pool relative to its job openings, countries like Germany and France reflect a more favorable ratio, suggesting easier access to skilled software engineers. This disparity highlights the need for targeted recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers seeking software developer opportunities in Portugal's remote tech sector.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Remote

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Remote

In the dynamic software engineering job market in Portugal focused on remote opportunities, Mid-Senior level positions dominate with 74% of openings. This is followed by Entry level roles, accounting for 18%, and Executive roles making up 2%. These insights reflect current hiring trends that are critical for CTOs and hiring managers strategizing recruitment in Portugal's tech sector.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

In the Portuguese software development job market, full-time positions dominate with 94% of available roles, reflecting the strong preference for stability among employers and employees alike. Contract roles account for 5% of the employment landscape, indicating a modest demand for flexible work arrangements. Additionally, part-time opportunities constitute roughly 1% of the market, showcasing limited availability for those seeking reduced hours in the technology sector.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The distribution of time to hire for software jobs in Portugal reveals notable trends pertinent to hiring managers in the tech sector. A significant 22% of candidates are hired within 30 days, indicating a competitive recruitment landscape. However, as the hiring timeframe extends beyond 30 days, the demand for talent appears to diminish, with only 5% of candidates making it through the hiring process by the 100-day mark. This suggests that recruitment strategies focused on accelerating the hiring cycle may yield better outcomes in securing the best software engineers. As hiring managers consider positions within Europe's technology landscape, understanding these timeframes can offer insights into optimizing their hiring strategies.

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Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

In the current landscape of the Software Engineers job market trends in Portugal Remote, Lisbon emerges as the dominant hub, accounting for 62% of the total openings. Following Lisbon, Porto represents 18% of job opportunities, while the broader count for Portugal indicates 4%. The substantial share held by Lisbon underscores its significance as a prime location for talent acquisition in the tech sector.

Most sought after technologies in Remote for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

The software job market in Portugal is currently dominated by a range of key programming languages and frameworks, with JavaScript leading the charge at a frequency of 8,026 instances. Following closely, Java shows a significant presence with 10,261 mentions, showcasing its critical role in software development. Python also demonstrates robust demand, with 10,261 occurrences, reflecting its versatility across various sectors. Other notable technologies include PHP, with 5,625 usages, and React, which appears 6,433 times, indicating a strong preference for modern frameworks in the development landscape. For a comprehensive view of these trends, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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