Java Developer Hiring Trends in Portugal

This report was last updated on Aug 10, 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 Java Engineer job market in Portugal is characterized by notable fluctuations and competitive demand, evidenced by a peak of 116 new job openings in week 22 and a concerning rise of filled positions peaking at 90 in week 26.
Lisbon leads the way as the primary city for Software Java job openings, representing 70% of the total market, followed by Porto with 18%, indicating key recruitment locations for hiring managers.
The majority of roles—79%—are targeted at mid-senior level professionals, underscoring the need for hiring strategies to attract experienced Software Java Engineers in Portugal.
Hiring for Software Java Engineer positions in Portugal appears to be relatively manageable, with a favorable jobs-to-talent ratio compared to tighter markets in Germany and the UK, making Portugal an attractive hiring destination.
The median time to hire for Software Engineers in Portugal is 33 days, with a concentration of successful hires typically made between 25 to 35 days, emphasizing the importance of swift recruitment practices.

Number of roles opened and closed for Java Engineers in Portugal in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the Software Java Engineer job market in Portugal has exhibited notable fluctuations. In week 22, new job postings peaked at 116, indicating a significant demand for Software Java Developers, while the lowest point occurred in week 30 with only 18 new roles. Conversely, the closed jobs trend reveals a concerning rise in the number of filled positions, peaking at 90 in week 26. This data suggests a competitive landscape for hiring Software Java Engineers in Portugal, potentially requiring strategic recruitment approaches from CTOs and Engineering Managers. When contrasted with other roles in Portugal and similar positions across Europe, the volatility in job openings and closures underscores an urgent need for robust talent acquisition strategies in the fast-evolving 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	130
Decskill	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2014	70
Indie Campers	Portugal	Leisure, Travel & Tourism	2013	59
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	56
Adentis Portugal	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2016	45
Inetum	France	Information Technology & Services	1970	41
Irium Portugal	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2019	41
PrimeIT	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	2006	37
Alter Solutions Group	France	Information Technology & Services	2006	31
Noesis	Portugal	Information Technology & Services	1995	30

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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 job market for Java Engineers across Europe presents a dynamic landscape shaped by varying job openings and available talent pools. In Portugal, for every job opening, there is a significant talent pool that offers a favorable jobs-to-talent ratio, which bodes well for recruitment efforts. In contrast, countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom show a tighter market with fewer candidates per job, suggesting more competition among tech hiring managers. For instance, France also indicates a similar trend, which could imply that sourcing top talent may prove more challenging in these regions. Consequently, hiring in Portugal appears to be relatively more manageable, positioning it as an attractive destination for CTOs and Engineering Managers seeking to recruit Software Java Engineers.

Seniority distribution of Java Engineer job openings in Portugal

Seniority Distribution of Java Engineering Jobs in Portugal

In the Portuguese job market for Software Java Engineers, the distribution of seniority levels reveals a notable trend. Mid-Senior level positions account for 79% of the roles, indicating a strong demand for experienced professionals. Entry level opportunities comprise 12% of the market, while Associate positions make up 7%. This distribution suggests that hiring managers should focus on attracting mid-level talent to meet the prevailing demands of the tech industry in Portugal.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

The employment landscape for engineering roles in Portugal shows a significant preference for full-time positions, which represent 94% of the job market. In contrast, contract roles account for 6% of the openings, while part-time opportunities are marginal, comprising only 2%. This distribution highlights the strong demand for stable, full-time Software Java Engineer positions, making it crucial for hiring managers to adapt their recruitment strategies accordingly.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Software Java Engineers in Portugal reveals significant insights into the recruitment landscape. A notable concentration of hires occurs within the 25 to 35-day range, indicating that the majority of candidates are secured within this timeframe. With 1,337 candidates hired at 30 days and 1,078 at 25 days, hiring managers should anticipate that swift recruitment strategies could enhance their competitiveness in the software Java job market in Portugal. Additionally, the gradual decline in counts for longer hiring periods illustrates the decreasing availability of suitable candidates as time extends. This trend underscores the necessity for proactive recruitment strategies for CTOs and engineering managers aiming to attract top talent in Portugal's tech sector.

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Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

In the Portuguese Software Java Engineers job market, Lisbon stands out as the leading city, accounting for 70% of the total job openings. Porto follows with a significant presence, representing 18% of opportunities. The aggregated job openings across other cities such as Braga and Lisboa comprise only 7% and 4% respectively, highlighting Lisbon's dominance in the Software Java job market in Portugal.

Most sought after technologies in Portugal for Java

Key technologies for Java Engineers

In the Software Java job market in Portugal, several key technologies consistently emerge as prevalent choices among employers. Java itself leads the way with a frequency of 7,003 mentions, underscoring its dominance in the sector. Spring and Spring Boot are also significant, with frequencies of 1,596 and 1,740 respectively, reflecting their vital roles in modern application development. In addition, Microservices practices are highlighted with a frequency of 1,766, showcasing the industry's shift towards modular architectures. As depicted in the accompanying chart, the utilization of these technologies provides vital insights for hiring managers looking to align with current market demands.

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