All important you should know to hire Ukrainian software engineers, product managers, marketing managers and team leaders in 2023

This note is based on our 13 years of experience in hiring Ukrainian specialists in US and European product companies and open surveys that we conduct quarterly.

If you are just considering the option of hiring experienced specialists from Ukraine, here are three essential facts about specialists that you should know: 

  1. You have an opportunity to find engineers who have been working in one specific industry for years, or those who have experience in working with a variety of industries. 
  2. Most Ukrainian engineers and managers have ever worked in international teams and cross-cultural teams. And with absolutely all possible nationalities. You do not have to be afraid of how a person will adapt in your team - with a 90% probability this specialist has already worked in a similar team and will feel comfortable.
  3. Everyone is talking about this, but we cannot but point it out - Ukrainian engineers have a high level of technological expertise. First of all, due to direct work with world-famous products and with the latest technologies. And also, due to constant personal and professional development, the desire to grow and develop in technology and thanks to strong mathematical schools and universities in Ukraine, active practice, mentoring from the very first years of the university, a strong technical community that holds the best technology, hackathons.

If you have already planned to hire Ukrainian specialists, this is a brief and fresh portrait of specialists, the most important thing you need to make a decision. We can advise you free of charge on this market through online coffee. Just write to our Ira: is@vpteam.com.ua. We will be happy to help with all questions!

Whom you can hire:

Cloud Solution Engineer, Data Engineer, Data Scientist, DBA (Database administrator), Deep Learning Research Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Director of Engineering, Director Site operations, Engineering Manager, Head of IT Department, Network Engineer, QA Automation, QA manual/Software testing engineer, Security Engineer, Software Developer, Software Engineer, Solution Architect, System Analyst, etc.

Tech stack:

Python, JavaScript, AWS, DigitalOcean, Django, Docker, Flask, Heroku, MySQL, Other, Pandas, PowerShell, Java, Kotlin, SQL, SQLite, Bash/Shell, PostgreSQL, Rust, Google Cloud Platform, Scala, Elasticsearch, FastAPI, Keras, NumPy, TensorFlow, Torch/PyTorch, Kubernetes, Databricks, Lakehouse, Platform, IBM SPSS Modeler, MATLAB, Apache Spark, IBM Watson, Microsoft Azure, MongoDB, Plotly, HTML and CSS, Node.js, React.js, TypeScript, Express, jQuery, Laravel, React Native, Angular, Redis, Apache Kafka, PHP, Symfony, Data Lakes, DynamoDB, Spring, Clojure, Elixir, Riak KV, Flutter.

Average salary:

Level 2 (middle): 4100$–6000$

Level 3 (senior): 6100$–8000$

Level 4 (lead): 8100$–10000$

Level 5 (chief): >10000$

Level 6 (architect): >10000$

Average age:

Level 2 (middle): 25-34

Level 3 (senior):25-34

Level 4 (lead): 25-34

Level 5 (chief): 35-44

Level 6 (architect): 35-44

TOP 10 industries in which they currently work:

  1. FinTech 
  2. SAAS 
  3. Data Storage & Security
  4. Automotive 
  5. Application & Data Integration
  6. Accounting & Finance
  7. Cybersecurity
  8. E-learning
  9. Gamedev
  10. IoT (Internet of Things)

What is essential for specialists in the workplace?

  1. Professional development and growth
  2. Remote work 
  3. Salary 
  4. Company reputation and stability 
  5. Team and colleagues

What soft skills are specialists constantly improving?

  1. Leadership
  2. Communication
  3. Time management
  4. Decision making 
  5. Problem-solving 
  6. Critical thinking 
  7. Teamwork 
  8. Attention to detail 
  9. Conflict management
  10. Interpersonal skills

How do they see their next career step?

  1. Tech Lead Role 
  2. Team Lead Role 
  3. Other tech roles
  4. Other non-tech roles
  5. C-Level Role

Whom you can hire:

Agile Project Manager/Scrum Master, BI Consultant, Business Analyst, CEO, CFO, CHRO, CIO, CISO, CMO, COO, CSO, CTO, Delivery Manager, Development Director, Development Manager, Digital Marketing Manager, Financial Manager, Global Recruitment Director, Head of Analytics, Head of Communications, Head of Customer Success, Head of Legal Head of Support, HR Manager\HRBP, Marketing Communication Manager, Marketing Manager, Motion Designer, Practice Head, Producer, Product Manager, Product Marketing Manager, Product Owner, Production Designer, Program Manager, Project Manager, Recruiter\Talent Acquisition manager\Recruitment coordinator, Sales, SEO Manager, Team lead, UI/UX Designer, User Acquisition Manager / Mobile Marketing, VP Delivery.

Average salary:

Level 2 (middle): 2100$–4000$ 

Level 3 (senior): 4100$–6000$

Level 4 (lead): 4100$–6000$ 

Level 5 (chief): 6100$–8000$

Average age:

Level 2 (middle): 25-34

Level 3 (senior): 25-34

Level 4 (lead): 25-34

Level 5 (chief): 35-44

TOP 10 industries in which they currently work:

  1. FinTech 
  2. HR & Workforce Management
  3. SAAS 
  4. E-commerce
  5. Blockchain\Crypto\Web 3.0
  6. Customer Relationship Management
  7. Cybersecurity
  8. Entertainment
  9. Provider
  10. ERP-systems

What is essential for specialists in the workplace?

  1. Salary
  2. Remote work
  3. Team and colleagues
  4. Professional development and growth
  5. Interesting project

What soft skills are specialists constantly improving?

  1. Leadership
  2. Conflict management 
  3. Decision making 
  4. Interpersonal skills 
  5. Time management
  6. Problem-solving
  7. Persuasion
  8. Openness to criticism
  9. Teamwork
  10. Critical thinking

How do they see their next career step?

  1. C-Level Role 
  2. Team Lead Role 
  3. Other tech roles
  4. Tech Lead Role
  5. Other non-tech roles


Download the full report: “Q4 2022 Report of Salaries of Senior, C-level Ukrainian specialists”