Software Developer Hiring Trends in Barcelona, Spain

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 engineers job market trends in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, indicate a competitive hiring landscape characterized by a talent pool ratio of 3.5 candidates per job opening.
In the past 12 weeks, job openings for Software Engineers in Barcelona peaked at 306, revealing dynamic recruitment activity in Spain's technology sector.
The median time to hire for Software Engineers in Spain stands at 32 days, suggesting that companies are actively seeking to onboard talent quickly to meet evolving demands.
Full-time positions dominate the job offerings, comprising 97% of the software engineering market, reflecting a strong preference among employers for dedicated professionals.
Top hiring companies in Barcelona's software sector include Bending Spoons, Spain Internship, and Secture, underscoring the diverse opportunities available for skilled software engineers.

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

In recent weeks, the software engineering job market in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, has exhibited notable fluctuations. Over the last 12 weeks, job openings have peaked at 306 in week 21, while the lowest point recorded was 65 in week 31. Notably, the average number of jobs closed per week has remained high, with a significant increase reaching 157 closures in week 24. This underscores an ongoing challenge for recruitment strategies for CTOs in Spain Barcelona's tech sector, as the difference between jobs posted and closed indicates a competitive landscape. Compared to other European countries, these trends suggest a more volatile hiring environment, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies to secure top talent in Barcelona's burgeoning technology sector.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Spain:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Bending Spoons	Italy	Information Technology & Services	2013	180
Spain Internship	Spain	Government Administration	2010	100
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	66
Secture	Spain	Information Technology & Services	2017	63
Plexus Tech	Spain	Information Technology & Services	2000	63
Mindrift	United States	Information Technology & Services	null	46
knowmad mood	Spain	Information Technology & Services	1994	42
AD4 Octógono	Spain	Information Technology & Services	null	35
SlashMobility	Spain	Information Technology & Services	2010	31
MediaMarkt España	Spain	Retail	1999	31

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Spain

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Spain

The software engineers job market trends in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, indicate a competitive atmosphere for hiring tech talent. With a ratio of 3.5 talent pool members per job opening, Spain reveals a challenging landscape for CTOs and recruitment managers seeking qualified software engineers. In comparison, countries like Germany, with a ratio of 1.8, and France at 2.2, show a tighter job market, while Poland, exhibiting a more favorable ratio of 4.0, suggests easier recruitment conditions. This disparity highlights the necessity for strategic recruitment strategies for CTOs in Spain's thriving tech sector, especially in the context of future demand for software engineers in this prominent hub.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Barcelona

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Barcelona

In the vibrant software job market in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, the distribution of software engineering roles reveals significant trends. Mid-Senior level positions account for 53% of available jobs, highlighting a strong demand for experienced professionals. Entry level roles make up 23%, reflecting the ongoing influx of new talent into the industry. Additionally, Associate positions represent 15% of the market, indicating a balanced need for both seasoned developers and those beginning their careers.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Spain

In the Spanish software engineering job market, the distribution of employment types reveals significant trends. Full-time positions dominate, comprising 97% of the job market, while contract roles account for 3%. Part-time jobs represent a minimal 2% of the total employment opportunities, highlighting the strong preference for full-time engagement among software professionals in Spain.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Spain

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for Software Engineer positions in Spain showcases a significant distribution pattern that hiring managers should consider. A majority of candidates, specifically 1,861, are hired within a 30-day period, indicating an expedited hiring process prevalent in the Spanish software job market. Interestingly, 1,333 candidates found roles in the 25-day bracket, emphasizing a strong pool of talent that can be onboarded relatively quickly. Conversely, there are fewer candidates hired as the time to hire extends, with only 28 securing opportunities after 100 days. This data illustrates the urgency and competitive nature of the software job market in Spain, particularly in cities like Barcelona, where demand for software engineers is continuously rising. Hiring managers and CTOs should adopt innovative recruitment strategies that capitalize on this accelerated hiring landscape to attract top talent efficiently.

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Most popular cities in Spain to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Spain to hire Software Engineers

The location distribution for Software Engineer job openings in Spain reveals that Madrid leads the market with a significant 47% of the total positions. Barcelona follows with a notable 27%, highlighting its critical role in the software job market in Spain. Other cities, such as Valencia and Málaga, account for 5% and 5%, respectively, emphasizing the concentration of opportunities in these key urban centers, particularly in the capital.

Most sought after technologies in Barcelona for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the competitive software job market in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, several technologies stand out based on their usage frequency. JavaScript leads as the most utilized technology, with a significant frequency of 8,134, reflecting its popularity among employers seeking skilled Software Engineers. Following closely is Java, recorded at 10,323, which continues to play a vital role in enterprise applications. Python shows a strong presence with varying frequencies, peaking at 10,075, indicating its growing demand in data science and web development. Other notable mentions include PHP at 5,384, TypeScript at 5,019, and SQL at 4,889, all of which are critical for various software development projects. The accompanying chart illustrates these technology trends, serving as a guide for hiring managers in shaping their recruitment strategies.

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