C++ Developer Hiring Trends in United Kingdom

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++ Engineer job market in the United Kingdom is characterized by a competitive environment, with an average weekly opening of 23 new positions in the last 12 weeks.
Aggregate data indicates a significant talent pool of C++ Engineers, with a jobs-to-talent pool ratio of 1:5.5, making recruitment challenging in comparison to neighboring countries.
Top hiring companies in the UK include Canonical, GRAYCE, and Arm, reflecting robust opportunities across various sectors.
London dominates the job landscape, accounting for 93% of Software C++ Engineer openings, while the median hiring duration stands at 32 days, indicating a need for agile recruitment practices.
Hiring strategies should focus on attracting Mid-Senior level Software C++ Engineers, as 66% of job opportunities cater to this experience bracket, highlighting a critical demand for skilled talent.

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

In the past 12 weeks, the Software C++ Engineer job market in the United Kingdom has demonstrated fluctuating activity. An average of 23 new positions were opened weekly, peaking at 31 in week 21, while job closures averaged 20 per week, with a notable spike of 27 closures in week 27. This dynamic suggests a competitive landscape for Software C++ Developer opportunities, which stands in contrast to other tech roles in the UK, where demand has remained more stable. When compared to similar roles across Europe, the hiring trends for Senior Software C++ Developers reflect emerging opportunities, calling for refined recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers navigating this evolving market.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	140
Bending Spoons	Italy	Information Technology & Services	2013	107
Environment Agency	null	null	null	83
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	67
GRAYCE	United Kingdom	Management Consulting	2012	45
Arm	United Kingdom	Semiconductors	1990	41
Oliver Bernard	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2010	35
e-Careers	null	null	null	31
targetjobs UK	null	null	null	31
Hunter Bond	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2014	30

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in United Kingdom

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in United Kingdom

The software C++ job market in the United Kingdom is currently exhibiting a challenging environment for hiring managers, reflected in a jobs-to-talent pool ratio of 1:5.5. In comparison, countries such as Germany and France show more favorable ratios of 1:3.5 and 1:4, respectively, indicating relatively easier recruitment conditions. Similarly, Poland's ratio of 1:6 positions it as a potential alternative for sourcing talent. As the demand for Software C++ Engineers continues to grow, particularly among CTOs and technical leads, understanding these regional disparities becomes essential for developing effective recruitment strategies. The future demand for Software C++ Engineers in the United Kingdom suggests a strategic approach will be needed to navigate this tight labor market.

Seniority distribution of C++ Engineer job openings in United Kingdom

Seniority Distribution of C++ Engineering Jobs in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom's Software C++ job market, the seniority distribution reveals critical hiring insights. Currently, 66% of available positions are for Mid-Senior level Software C++ Engineers, followed by 24% for Entry level roles, and 8% for Associate positions. This distribution highlights a significant demand for experienced talent, indicating that hiring managers and CTOs should prioritize recruitment strategies focused on attracting Mid-Senior level candidates to remain competitive in the technology sector.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom's software development landscape, the Software C++ job market reflects a clear preference for Full-time positions, which account for 91% of available roles. This is followed by Contract positions at 9%, while Part-time roles represent just 2% of the employment type distribution. Hiring managers should consider these trends when planning their recruitment strategies for C++ Engineers to align with market demand.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for Software C++ Engineers in the United Kingdom shows a notable distribution across various timeframes, with the majority of roles filled within 30 to 50 days. Specifically, the most frequent hiring period is within the 30-day range, accounting for 2575 placements. Following this, the 25-day mark reflects a substantial 1820 hires, indicating a strong demand for expedited recruitment practices. In contrast, opportunities that require a longer hiring period, specifically beyond 60 days, diminish significantly, with only 430 hires at 60 days, suggesting that hiring managers should adopt proactive recruitment strategies to stay competitive in this dynamic tech landscape. As the tech sector evolves, particularly for Senior Software C++ Developers, understanding these timeframes becomes critical for effective hiring strategies.

Expolore reports from other European Developer talent pools

Insights for hiring C++ Engineers in Stockholm

The Software C++ job market in Sweden, particularly in Stockholm, has experienced notable fluctuations in job openings over the last 12 weeks, with a peak of 16 new positions posted during week 23, followed by an average of 3 jobs per week by week 32.

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Insights for hiring PHP Engineers in Poland

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Poland is exhibiting notable fluctuations, with a peak of 188 new positions in week 21, but also a low of just 10 postings in week 25, indicating volatile demand for Software PHP Developers.

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Insights for hiring Rust Engineers in Vilnius

The Software Rust Engineers job market in Lithuania, particularly in Vilnius, is currently experiencing a net decrease in available roles, with 12 new positions opened against 40 closures over the past 12 weeks. This trend underscores the challenges in retaining Software Rust talent and suggests an adjustment in recruitment strategies may be necessary for hiring managers.

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Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

The analysis of the location distribution for Software C++ Engineer job openings in the United Kingdom reveals that London commands a significant share, accounting for 93% of the total positions. Following London, Manchester holds a modest 9% of the job market, while Leeds and Cambridge contribute 1% and 1% respectively. This data highlights London as the central hub for Software C++ Developer opportunities, which is further illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in United Kingdom for C++

Key technologies for C++ Engineers

Analysis of the most commonly used technologies within the Software C++ job market in the United Kingdom reveals a strong focus on C++ itself, which leads the frequency at 3,688 occurrences. Following closely are foundational programming languages such as C (778) and Java (1,026), which frequently accompany C++ in development environments. Additionally, the presence of Embedded systems (751) highlights the demand for specialized skills that integrate C++ with hardware. Other significant technologies include Python (2,073) and Linux (1,050), indicating a trend towards modern software development practices that leverage these platforms. This data is visually represented in the accompanying chart, providing a clear overview of technology usage trends.

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