Looking to hire AI engineers for your next project? As artificial intelligence and generative AI continue to transform industries, the demand for skilled AI professionals and software development experts is reaching unprecedented levels. Companies seeking to build robust AI teams and execute innovative AI projects are increasingly exploring untapped talent pools—and Latin America (LATAM) has emerged as a powerhouse for AI talent acquisition.

This comprehensive guide explores why hiring AI engineers from LATAM is a strategic advantage for companies looking to scale their AI capabilities, backed by insights into the region's thriving tech ecosystem, competitive AI talent marketplace, and proven success stories in software development and artificial intelligence implementation.

Why Hire AI Engineers from LATAM?

1. Rapidly Growing AI Talent Pool & Technical Excellence

LATAM countries have made substantial investments in STEM education and technological innovation, creating a robust ecosystem of AI developers, data scientists, and software engineers. Leading nations like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico are producing thousands of skilled professionals annually who excel in developing AI models and implementing cutting-edge solutions.

• Latest LinkedIn data (2024) reveals Brazil's thriving tech community with over 20,000 professionals specializing in AI development, machine learning, and advanced data science skills.
• According to Coursera's Global Skills Report (2023), Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia consistently outperform global averages in machine learning, data science, mathematics, and software engineering. Technical skills among AI developers in these regions are particularly strong in developing and deploying AI models. Learn more about Why Hire AI Engineers in Latin America.
• Mexico: Experienced a remarkable 95% surge in demand for AI developers, data scientists, and machine learning specialists in 2024, reflecting the growing technical expertise in the region.
• Colombia: Medellín has evolved into a thriving hub for AI project development and innovation, backed by government initiatives supporting software engineers and AI developers.
• Argentina, Chile, and Peru are cultivating exceptional AI talent through comprehensive academic programs, international partnerships, and hands-on experience in developing sophisticated AI models.

2. Cost-Effective Without Compromising Quality

One of the most compelling reasons to hire remote AI engineers and dedicated AI developers from LATAM is the exceptional value proposition - achieving significant cost optimization while maintaining the highest standards of technical expertise. When comparing the compensation packages for artificial intelligence engineers and machine learning specialists across regions, the data speaks for itself:

For organizations seeking to build robust AI teams, hiring artificial intelligence engineers from LATAM presents a strategic advantage, with potential cost savings of 60-70% compared to U.S.-based talent. This cost-effectiveness is particularly attractive for startups, scale-ups, and enterprises looking to expand their AI capabilities while optimizing their budget. Whether you're searching for machine learning engineers, computer vision specialists, or natural language processing experts, LATAM offers a diverse pool of AI talent across various job titles and specializations.

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3. Time Zone Compatibility

As a major advantage for companies seeking dedicated software engineers and AI experts, LATAM countries operate in time zones that closely align with the United States. This strategic positioning enables seamless real-time collaboration between remote engineers and your core team, unlike working with offshore developers in Asia or Eastern Europe.

When hiring skilled engineers from LATAM regions, you'll benefit from these time zone advantages:

• Mexico, Colombia, and Peru's development teams operate primarily in Central and Eastern Time Zones, making them perfectly synchronized with US business hours.
• Remote AI engineers and dedicated developers can participate in daily standups, sprint planning, and urgent troubleshooting sessions without scheduling conflicts.
• Real-time communication and collaborative problem-solving become effortless, significantly reducing project delivery timelines and improving team productivity.

This geographical advantage makes managing remote engineering teams from LATAM considerably more efficient compared to coordinating with development teams in Eastern Europe or Asia, where significant time differences can delay project progress and communication.

4. Strong English Proficiency

As organizations seek to hire AI developers and remote AI engineers, they'll be pleased to find that major LATAM tech hubs like Argentina, Costa Rica, and Chile consistently rank among the highest globally in English proficiency indices. This language proficiency, combined with extensive experience in AI technology implementation, makes LATAM software developers particularly valuable for international teams. These professionals demonstrate:

• Strong work ethic and dedication to AI project deliverables
• Natural cultural alignment with North American companies, facilitating seamless integration into existing development teams
• Exceptional eagerness to learn emerging AI technologies and grow within international software development environments
• Proven track record in remote collaboration and adaptability to diverse AI development methodologies
• Deep understanding of both traditional software development and cutting-edge AI technology frameworks

Skills You Can Expect from AI Engineers in LATAM

When hiring AI engineers and data scientists in LATAM, you'll find highly skilled professionals with computer science backgrounds who excel in modern AI algorithms and machine learning technologies. These AI experts and ML engineers demonstrate proficiency in:

• Programming Languages & Core Skills: Advanced Python development, R for statistical computing, Julia for high-performance computing, and strong foundations in computer science fundamentals
• Machine Learning & Deep Learning Frameworks: Extensive experience with TensorFlow and PyTorch for building sophisticated AI models, mastery of Scikit-learn for implementing machine learning algorithms and data processing pipelines
• AI Development Tools: Proficient use of Scikit-learn for developing and optimizing AI algorithms, particularly in predictive modeling and classification tasks
• Data Engineering & Cloud Infrastructure: Expert knowledge of data processing tools like Pandas and Apache Spark, combined with cloud platform expertise across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure for deploying scalable AI solutions
• Specialized AI Domains: Deep expertise in Computer Vision for image processing, Natural Language Processing (NLP) for text analysis, MLOps for AI deployment, and advanced Recommendation Systems

LATAM's AI talent pool consistently demonstrates practical expertise through active participation in global hackathons, Kaggle competitions, and open-source AI projects. Many professionals work as both data engineers and AI developers, bringing a comprehensive understanding of the entire machine learning pipeline from data preparation to model deployment.

Case Studies: Companies Leveraging LATAM AI Talent

Several successful companies already leverage AI engineers from Latin America:

1. BairesDev: Empowering Global Enterprises with LATAM Talent

BairesDev, a leading software outsourcing company specializing in hiring developers, has been instrumental in connecting skilled AI engineers from LATAM with global enterprises seeking AI integration expertise. Notable AI application collaborations include:

• Associated Press (AP): BairesDev's skilled AI engineers assisted AP in migrating its vast content management system, which handles over 1.2 million photos and 80,000 videos annually, ensuring seamless AI integration for delivery to its 1.5 million app users and 56 million social media followers.
• SiriusXM: The company's AI developers created a scalable infrastructure for SiriusXM, implementing advanced AI applications that led to a significant increase in net subscribers.
• Univision: Through AI integration, BairesDev enhanced Univision's digital platforms by improving UX design, adding new AI-powered functionalities, and optimizing content management systems, thereby enriching the experience for over 100 million Spanish-speaking users.
• Rolls-Royce: Skilled AI engineers collaborated on developing innovative applications and systems, integrating AI and machine learning to drive digital transformation.

2. Laboratoria: Bridging the Gender Gap in Tech

Laboratoria is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering women in Latin America through intensive bootcamps focused on technical and life skills, preparing them for careers as AI developers, machine learning engineers, and software engineers. Since its inception in 2014, Laboratoria has been at the forefront of AI research and remote engineering education:

• Graduated over 3,500 women as web developers, software engineers, and remote AI engineers, equipping them with cutting-edge skills in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• Achieved a 79% job placement rate, with alumni securing positions as AI developers and machine learning engineers in over 1,100 companies across various industries.

By offering remote-first programs and comprehensive AI research opportunities, Laboratoria has expanded its reach to aspiring software engineers and AI developers in countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, fostering a more inclusive digital economy.

3. CI&T: Pioneering AI Development and Digital Transformation

CI&T, a leading Brazilian software development and AI consulting company, has established itself as a premier destination to hire artificial intelligence engineers. With dedicated developers serving clients across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., CI&T demonstrates how LATAM-based software engineers can drive global innovation:

• Launched /FLOW, an enterprise-grade AI platform developed by their dedicated software engineering team to enhance productivity and streamline digital development workflows for artificial intelligence solutions.
• Serves diverse industry clients through their skilled AI engineers and dedicated developers, delivering innovative solutions across automotive, finance, healthcare, and retail sectors, while providing comprehensive AI consulting services.

4. Torre.ai: Revolutionizing Remote AI Engineer Recruitment

Founded by Colombian-American entrepreneur Alexander Torrenegra, Torre.ai is transforming how companies find dedicated developers and project managers by:

• Automating over 90% of the recruitment process using AI, helping match remote AI engineers with job titles three times faster and 50% more cost-effective than traditional hiring.
• Revolutionizing talent assessment by replacing traditional resumes with AI-driven evaluations to match dedicated developers and project managers with suitable roles based on their actual skills.

With over 1 million users across 180 countries, Torre.ai demonstrates how AI can transform the way companies connect with remote AI engineering talent and fill specialized job titles efficiently.

5. Mercado Libre's AI Innovation

LATAM engineers at Mercado Libre developed sophisticated AI solutions that showcase their expertise:

• Built GenAds, an advanced AI system that automates ad creation, improving click-through rates by 25%
• Engineered an AI-powered credit assessment system that led to 50% growth in their fintech division
• Developed machine learning solutions handling 0.9 million daily translations for cross-border commerce

6. Rappi's AI Engineering Success

Engineers at Colombian startup Rappi demonstrated exceptional AI development skills through:

• Creating the Rappi Personalization Engine (RPE), an advanced AI recommendation system
• Building automated marketing systems capable of generating thousands of localized campaigns
• Developing AI-powered financial services that processed over 1 million credit applications

These examples prove that hiring AI engineers in LATAM isn’t just a theory—it’s already fueling innovation.  Companies benefit from a rich talent pool, cost-effective solutions, and professionals adept in cutting-edge technologies.

Challenges to Consider

Before you hire AI engineers from LATAM, it's important to prepare for:

• High demand: As the global market taps into LATAM talent, competition is growing.
• Retention: Career growth, training, and inclusion in global projects help retain top engineers.
• Hiring Compliance: Consider using an Employer of Record (EoR) or PEO solution to handle contracts and legal frameworks.
• Internet infrastructure: Some rural areas may lack robust connectivity.

Best Practices for Hiring AI Engineers in LATAM

If you’re ready to hire AI engineers from LATAM, here’s how to do it right:

1. Use specialized recruitment partners: Agencies like BetterWay Devs or Near can help find top bilingual engineers.
2. Offer benefits beyond salary: Include flexible work hours, PTO, and access to training resources.
3. Conduct technical assessments: Use platforms like HackerRank or Codility to ensure skill alignment.
4. Understand tax and legal frameworks: Work with compliance partners or hire via an Employer of Record (EOR).

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Final Thoughts

The global race for AI talent is accelerating, and Latin America is quickly becoming a top destination to hire AI engineers. With a growing pool of skilled professionals, time zone alignment, and cost efficiency, LATAM offers a unique strategic advantage.

Whether you're a startup looking to build your first AI product or an enterprise scaling your machine learning operations, hiring AI engineers in LATAM can give you the edge you need.

Want help finding top-tier AI engineers in LATAM?

BetterWay Devs specializes in connecting companies with exceptional AI engineering talent across Latin America. Our recruiting and staffing services streamline the hiring process, ensure full compliance, and provide access to a pre-vetted pool of skilled engineers. Contact us to learn how we can help you build your AI team in LATAM.

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Paula Tellez

BetterWay Devs Inbound Marketing Manager‍

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-tellez/

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