Complete guide

How to find software developers in Bogotá

Bogotá
February 22, 2023
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Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia, located in the center of the country. It is an important cultural, political, and economic hub, and home to over 8 million people. Its wide array of attractions and activities make it a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike. It is known for its vibrant culture, excellent restaurants, and diverse neighborhoods. With its beautiful colonial architecture, world-class museums, and exciting nightlife, Bogotá is a city that is sure to delight any traveler. Bogotá is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Bogotá are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Bogotá you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Bogotá, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Bogotá is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Bogotá

Bogotá is a rapidly growing hub for tech talent in Latin America. The city boasts a rapidly expanding tech talent pool of over 75,000 professionals, with a high concentration of software engineers, data analysts, UX/UI designers, project managers, and developers. The city's tech ecosystem is bolstered by a thriving startup scene, with over 1,000 startups in the city as of 2020. Bogotá also has a number of educational institutions providing tech-focused programs, as well as a variety of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces. The cost of living is relatively low compared to other Latin American cities, and the city has a vibrant cultural scene, making it an attractive option for tech talent.

The tech ecosystem in Bogotá

The tech ecosystem in Bogotá is vibrant and growing. In recent years, the city has seen an influx of startups, venture capitalists, tech incubators, and accelerators, as well as an increasing number of tech-focused coworking spaces. The city has become a hub for Latin American tech entrepreneurs, with many international companies setting up offices in the city. Bogotá is home to the largest tech cluster in Latin America, with more than 500 companies and over 10,000 professionals. The city also boasts a thriving tech talent pool, with graduates from universities such as the National University of Colombia and Universidad de los Andes leading the way. In addition to traditional tech industries, Bogotá is also home to a growing number of blockchain and cryptocurrency companies. The government has implemented several initiatives to support the tech ecosystem, such as the Bogotá Digital Plan, which is aimed at creating an environment that encourages tech innovation and entrepreneurship.

Best tech meetups in Bogotá

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Bogotá Tech Meetup
2. Bogotá Dev Meetup
3. Bogotá Startup Meetup
4. Bogotá Blockchain Meetup
5. Bogotá Machine Learning Meetup
6. Bogotá UX Design Meetup
7. Bogotá Product Management Meetup
8. Bogotá Cloud Computing Meetup
9. Bogotá Big Data Meetup
10. Bogotá AR/VR Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Bogotá

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Use job boards: Post job ads on popular job boards such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed. You can also post ads on local job boards like CompuTrabajo or Computrabajo Colombia.

2. Networking: Leverage your personal and professional network to source software developers in Bogotá. You can also attend local tech meetups and conferences to network with potential candidates.

3. Use recruitment agencies: Use a recruitment agency to help you find the right software developers in Bogotá. They know the local talent market and can provide you with qualified candidates.

4. Referrals: Ask your current software developers for referrals. They may know someone who is looking for a job or who may be a great fit for the position.

5. Use freelancer platforms: Post a job on freelancer platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to find software developers in Bogotá. These platforms can help you find experienced and qualified developers quickly.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Bogotá is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Bogotá

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Bumeran
3. Konzerta
4. Glassdoor
5. CompuTrabajo
6. Empleo.com
7. Computrabajo Colombia
8. Indeed
9. Jobomas
10. Jobatus

Best remote job boards to find developers in Bogotá

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Workana
2. FlexJobs
3. Jobbatical
4. Upwork
5. Guru
6. Freelancer
7. Toptal
8. Craigslist
9. LinkedIn
10. Glassdoor

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Bogotá

The average salary for a junior developer in Bogotá is approximately $1,560,000 Colombian pesos per year ($440 USD per month). This salary can vary greatly depending on experience and qualifications as well as the company, with salaries ranging from $1,000,000 to $2,500,000 Colombian pesos per year ($277 - $705 USD per month). Junior developers are typically entry-level software engineers responsible for writing code and developing applications. They may also be responsible for debugging and testing code, as well as providing technical support.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Bogotá

The average salary for a Senior Developer in Bogotá, Colombia is around COP$ 3,972,913 per year. This is equivalent to approximately US$1,094 per month. Senior Developers in Bogotá typically work in larger organizations and have more experience than junior developers. They are responsible for designing, coding, testing, and maintaining software applications. They are also responsible for developing software architectures and providing technical direction to team members. A Senior Developer in Bogotá is expected to have a deep understanding of software engineering principles, industry best practices, and cutting-edge technologies. As such, they are highly sought after and are well rewarded for their expertise.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Bogotá. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Bogotá. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Bogotá.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service provider that acts as the legal employer of a company’s employees in a foreign country. This type of service is especially useful for companies that want to hire employees in Bogotá, Colombia, but do not have an established presence in the country.

Here is how to use an EOR in Bogotá:

1. Select an EOR: Choose a reputable EOR with a proven track record of success in Bogotá. Ask for references and check their online reviews.

2. Negotiate the terms: Negotiate the terms of the arrangement, such as the fees and services provided.

3. Hire employees: Once the terms have been agreed upon, the EOR will handle all aspects of the hiring process, including job postings, background checks, and onboarding.

4. Provide payroll: The EOR will handle payroll and make sure the employees receive their wages on time.

5. Settle taxes: The EOR will take care of tax payments and other legal requirements.

6. Monitor performance: The EOR will provide regular updates on the employees’ performance and any changes in labor laws.

Using an EOR in Bogotá is an effective way for companies to hire local employees without having to establish a presence in the country. It is important to select a reputable provider with a proven track record of success and negotiate the terms of the arrangement to ensure a smooth hiring process.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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