Brazil is one of the most strategic countries in South America to hire software developers and software engineers, especially for companies looking for skilled Brazilian developers and engineers. With the largest tech talent pool in the region, strong engineering education, growing English proficiency, and excellent time-zone alignment with North America, Brazil offers global companies a rare combination of scale, quality, and cost efficiency.

This guide explains how to hire software developers in Brazil, including Brazilian software engineers working in software development, salary benchmarks, tech stacks, universities, employment models under Brazilian labor law, and remote, hybrid, and on-site hiring options. It is designed for U.S., Canadian, and European companies building distributed or nearshore engineering teams.

Why Hire Software Developers and Engineers in Brazil

Companies hire software developers and software engineers in Brazil because the country offers a unique mix of technical depth, global readiness, and a mature tech ecosystem:

• The largest software engineering workforce in Latin America
• Strong public universities and applied tech education
• A mature startup and enterprise technology ecosystem
• Cultural alignment with North American and European teams
• Minimal time-zone overlap challenges
• A workforce increasingly experienced in remote and hybrid work

For global employers, Brazil is not a low-cost outsourcing destination. It is a nearshore engineering market capable of delivering at international product standards.

Brazil’s Software Developer and Engineer Talent Pool

Brazil’s software developers and Brazilian engineers work across a wide range of roles and industries, from junior candidates to senior developers:

• Frontend, backend, and full-stack development
• Mobile application development (native and cross-platform)
• Cloud infrastructure, DevOps, and platform engineering
• Data engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence
• Fintech, cybersecurity, and enterprise software

A significant segment of Brazilian developers and Brazilian software engineers has experience working with international companies, communicating in English, and collaborating as remote developers or remote engineers in distributed teams.

Common Technology Stacks Used by Brazilian Developers and Engineers

Brazilian software developers commonly work with modern, globally adopted technologies.

Frontend

• JavaScript, TypeScript
• React, Angular, Vue

Backend

• Java (Spring), Python (Django, FastAPI)
• Node.js, .NET (C#)
• REST and GraphQL APIs

Cloud and DevOps

• AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
• Docker, Kubernetes
• CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code

Data and AI

• Python, SQL, Spark
• Machine learning, analytics, data pipelines

These stacks align well with the needs of SaaS companies, startups, and enterprise product teams.

Brazil’s Software Engineering Ecosystem: Universities and Companies

Top Universities Producing Software Developers

Brazil’s public universities play a major role in shaping its engineering talent.

• University of São Paulo (USP)
• State University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
• Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA)
• Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
• Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Graduates from these institutions are widely recruited by Brazilian unicorns and global tech companies.

Private Universities and Applied-Tech Institutions

Several private institutions are known for producing developers with strong business and product skills:

• PUC-Rio
• Insper
• Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV)

Coding Bootcamps and Alternative Talent Pipelines

Brazil has a mature bootcamp ecosystem that complements formal education:

• Trybe
• Alura
• Rocketseat
• Digital Innovation One (DIO)

Many globally hired developers combine university education with bootcamp specialization or portfolio-driven experience.

Companies That Shape Brazilian Software Developers

Brazilian Tech Companies and Unicorns

Engineers often gain experience at companies such as:

• Nubank
• iFood
• Stone
• TOTVS
• VTEX

These organizations expose developers to scalable systems, cloud-native architectures, and product-led development.

Global Companies Hiring Developers in Brazil

Many multinational companies maintain engineering teams in Brazil, including:

• Google
• Microsoft
• IBM
• Amazon
• SAP

Experience at these companies is a strong indicator of English proficiency, engineering rigor, and readiness for global teams.

Software Developer and Engineer Salaries in Brazil: Local vs Global Market

When you hire software developers or hire software engineers in Brazil, it is essential to understand that two salary markets coexist.

Local Brazilian Market (Portuguese-First)

The comparison below highlights a critical distinction when hiring developers in Brazil: domestic-market salaries versus global-market compensation. Many public salary reports focus only on local employment, which can lead to underestimating budgets for international hiring.

The chart contrasts developers working for Brazilian companies under traditional employment models with bilingual Brazilian software engineers who collaborate with global teams and international companies.

Important: International employers should benchmark compensation using the global/bilingual market, not domestic averages.

‍

How to read this chart:

• Local Brazilian Market reflects Portuguese-first roles at domestic companies.
• Global / Bilingual Market reflects remote developers and engineers working with U.S., Canadian, or European teams.
• Global-ready engineers typically earn 20–50% more due to English proficiency, international experience, and reduced execution risk.

Even at global-market rates, Brazilian software engineers remain significantly more cost-effective than comparable talent in the U.S. or Western Europe.

‍

Salary Bands by Role (Global Market)

Backend Developers

• Mid-level: $3,000 – $4,500
• Senior: $5,000 – $7,500

Browse Backend Developer candidates

Frontend Developers

• Mid-level: $2,800 – $4,200
• Senior: $4,800 – $7,000

Browse  Frontend Developer candidates

Full-Stack Developers

• Mid-level: $3,200 – $4,800
• Senior: $5,500 – $8,000

Browse Full-Stack Developer candidates

Mobile Developers

• Mid-level: $3,000 – $4,500
• Senior: $5,000 – $7,500

Browse Mobile Developer candidates

DevOps / Cloud Engineers

• Mid-level: $4,000 – $6,000
• Senior: $6,500 – $9,000+

Browse Cloud Engineers candidates

Data and AI Engineers

• Mid-level: $4,000 – $6,000
• Senior: $6,500 – $9,500+

Browse Data Engineers candidates

Employment Models and Brazilian Labor Law Considerations

CLT (Traditional Employment)

• 13th salary
• 30 days paid vacation plus bonus
• FGTS severance fund
• Strong employee protections

Best suited for long-term, stable hires but with higher total employment cost.

Contractor / PJ Model

• Higher monthly compensation
• No mandatory benefits
• Common for international remote hiring

Many globally hired developers prefer this model for flexibility and income potential.

Remote, Hybrid, and On-Site Hiring Developers in Brazil

Remote Hiring

• Most common for international companies
• Strong productivity and candidate interest
• Excellent time-zone overlap with North America

Hybrid Hiring

• Common for companies with local offices
• Typically 2–3 days on-site per week

On-Site Hiring

• Concentrated in São Paulo and major tech hubs
• Requires a local entity or Employer of Record

Key Takeaways for Companies Hiring in Brazil

Hiring software developers and engineers in Brazil gives global companies access to:

• One of the deepest engineering talent pools in Latin America
• Developers capable of operating at international product standards
• Meaningful cost savings compared to U.S. and European markets

Success depends on understanding the local vs global salary distinction, choosing the right employment model, aligning with Brazilian labor law, and hiring developers through Brazil’s mature tech ecosystem.

Brazil is not just an alternative hiring destination—it is a long-term strategic market for global software teams.

‍

How BetterWay Devs supports hiring in Brazil: At BetterWay Devs, we work with an extensive, continuous  portfolio of Brazilian software developers and engineers, spanning junior to senior and staff-level roles. Our candidate pool includes bilingual Brazilian engineers with proven experience working with U.S. and European companies across modern stacks, remote delivery models, and long-term engagements. This allows us to quickly match companies with candidates who already meet both technical and communication requirements for global teams.  Contact us to learn more. or browse our roles directory to explore our database.

‍

Paula Tellez

BetterWay Devs Inbound Marketing Manager

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

Suggested Readings

1. Stack Overflow – Developer Survey (Brazil data)
   https://survey.stackoverflow.co/
2. GitHub – Octoverse (Brazil developer activity)
   https://octoverse.github.com/
3. Glassdoor – Software Engineer Salaries in Brazil
   https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/brazil-software-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN36_KO7,24.htm
4. Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment (Official)
   https://www.gov.br/trabalho-e-emprego
5. World Bank – Jobs & Digital Work in Latin America
   https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/jobs

‍

‍