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The Polish IT recruitment market is evolving. While demand for developers has cooled, international companies continue to invest in high-quality tech talent in Poland. Here’s what we’re seeing at Optiveum.

A Changed Market: From Surging Demand to Strategic Hiring

As the co-founder of Optiveum, an IT recruitment company operating across Europe and the Middle East, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolving dynamics of the tech talent market. And one thing is clear: the frenzied demand for developers that dominated the market in 2021–2023 has definitely cooled.

Back then, companies were desperate to hire developers, DevOps, and data engineers. Candidates were fielding multiple offers, negotiating hard, and often receiving generous counter-offers. Salaries surged, and recruiters had to move fast and creatively just to keep up. It was, in many ways, a candidate’s market.

Fast forward to 2025, and the market looks quite different. The pace has slowed. Employers are more cautious, and hiring decisions are now often tied to larger, long-term strategies rather than urgent delivery needs. But this doesn’t mean opportunity has disappeared — far from it. We’re beginning to see encouraging signs of stabilization, and in certain sectors, even growth.

Why Poland Is Still a Magnet for Global Investment

One of the reasons Poland remains attractive is its relative political and economic stability. Compared to other regions — whether it’s the uncertainty in Western economies or rising costs in Asia — Poland presents a safe, predictable, and business-friendly environment. This has not gone unnoticed by international companies.

At Optiveum, we currently work with four global clients who are actively expanding their engineering teams in Poland. Two of these clients are based in the United States. One is a Scandinavian tech firm. The fourth is a dynamic company from the Middle East. What’s fascinating is the strategic nature of these decisions — and how they reflect Poland’s growing reputation not just as a cost-effective location, but as a high-quality one.

From India to Poland: A Surprising Shift

The two US companies we work with have both made the decision to move part of their teams from India to Poland. On the surface, this might seem surprising. India has long been associated with affordable and skilled IT labor. However, both companies have shared that the quality of engineering in Poland, combined with cultural fit, strong communication skills, and time zone advantages, make it worth the higher cost. It’s a significant shift — one that signals Poland’s maturing role in global tech delivery.

New Engineering Centres and Leadership Roles

The Scandinavian company is expanding its team steadily, while the client from the Middle East is doing something even more ambitious: establishing an entirely new engineering center in Poland. The exact location is still flexible — any major Polish city is under consideration — but the goal is clear. This center will become the nucleus for a next-generation trading platform. And with that comes the need for strong leadership.

They are now looking for a Head of Engineering to lead this effort, someone with experience in building platforms in banking, crypto, or trading environments. What makes this role stand out is the opportunity it offers: the chance to build a center from the ground up, shape the team, and influence a global tech product from day one.

Meanwhile, one of the American companies is also hiring for a leadership role — a Director of Data Engineering & Analytics who will define their global data architecture and analytics strategy. These aren’t just back-office support roles; they’re strategic, business-critical positions. And they’re being placed in Poland.

The Return of Hybrid Work Models

Another trend we’re seeing is a shift away from fully remote setups. During the pandemic, remote work became the default. But now, as companies mature their delivery models, there’s a noticeable return to hybrid work. This doesn’t mean everyone’s expected back in the office five days a week — but it does mean that in-person collaboration is back on the table. Most of our clients want their Polish teams to have local leadership and to meet regularly. Especially when headquarters are in places like the US or Sweden, they recognize that a cohesive team needs a physical anchor — someone on the ground to guide culture, performance, and communication.

More Candidates, More Conversations

While demand has stabilized and clients are hiring more strategically, the supply of qualified candidates has increased significantly. Developers and engineers are more open to having conversations. Many are reflecting on their long-term career goals and are willing to consider a move — especially when the projects are ambitious, the companies are international, and the roles come with real responsibility. Compared to the overheated years of 2021–2023, the market now feels more balanced. In some ways, it has returned to the more “normal” rhythm we knew before the pandemic.

Conclusion: A More Sustainable, Strategic Market

For companies, this means there is opportunity. High-quality candidates are available, and Poland remains a competitive, stable location for building or expanding tech teams. For candidates, it means there are still exciting roles — but the process is once again about quality conversations, not rushing to beat another offer.

At Optiveum, we continue to work with clients who understand this landscape and are committed to long-term investment in people and innovation.

If you’re interested in staying on top of the latest trends in tech recruitment, leadership opportunities in Poland, and the evolution of hybrid work across international teams, we invite you to follow us on LinkedIn and check our latest Job Offers.