Discovering Tech Jobs in Germany: A How-To Information for Internationals

Because it transitions from its legacy place because the engineering powerhouse of Europe to a pacesetter in digital tech, Germany is attempting onerous to draw expert overseas employees—particularly in tech.

And never simply engineers: employees are wanted in advertising and marketing, knowledge analytics, design, and different fields. Talking German will not be essentially a prerequisite, as many corporations with worldwide clients communicate English within the workplace.

Germany provides vibrant tech hubs in its main cities, together with Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt. Tech jobs in Germany sometimes pay comparatively nicely, too, and as a bonus, the Germans have their work-life stability in good order!

An instance: we’re CareerFoundry. We’re based mostly in Berlin, however our working language is English. We’ve skilled hundreds of English-speaking internationals to search out tech jobs in Germany, Europe, the U.S., and past. So we all know it’s attainable! (Try our free 5-day brief programs in UX, product design, knowledge analytics, and extra right here.)

Whether or not you reside right here already or are contemplating relocating, let’s navigate the particulars of tech jobs in Germany, together with:

Learn how to discover a tech job in Germany
Tech jobs in Germany’s largest cities
- Berlin
- Hamburg
- Munich
- Frankfurt
High 10 tech jobs in Germany
Closing ideas

Able to dive in? Let’s learn on.

1. Learn how to discover a tech job in Germany

Right here’s our step-by-step information to discovering tech jobs in Germany.

Step 1: Outline your space of experience

For those who’re not but working within the tech trade, it’s time to brush up in your expertise. From software program improvement and IT safety to knowledge evaluation and machine studying, your choices are numerous.

We suggest testing free on-line tutorials (on YouTube, for instance) to get a really feel for the completely different areas. You can even take a tech profession quiz to slim your choices.

Desirous about UX? Try our information to UX in Berlin.

Right here at CareerFoundry, we provide top-rated certifications in a number of tech fields. We’re based mostly in Berlin, so our community in Germany is huge. Try our programs right here.

Step 2: Contemplate the practicalities of relocating

Some tech jobs in Germany are distant, however it’s extra of an journey to maneuver someplace new! In fact, this comes with extra issues.

Happily, many corporations provide relocation help for the best-paid roles. When making use of for jobs, be ready to barter a relocation bundle.

Don’t neglect to issue the various value of dwelling in any wage negotiations. Tech salaries in Germany could not stack as much as these in San Francisco, for instance, however they might be a lot larger than tech jobs in different places. Instruments like Numbeo or Expatistan will help examine dwelling prices in German cities.

Step 3: Discover your visa choices

For those who’re not an EU citizen and transferring particularly for work, corporations will most certainly must sponsor your visa. Properly-resourced startups and bigger organizations will do that for you for those who’re employed—and care for the paperwork!—so it’s value remembering this whenever you’re making use of for jobs.

The Blue Card visa comes with essentially the most privileges, so for those who can, you may need to attempt to negotiate the required wage to qualify for this one!

For those who’re severe about transferring to Germany, you may have a number of choices relying in your circumstances:

Basic work allow: For those who’ve discovered a job in Germany that may’t be stuffed by an EU nationwide, apply for this allow. No particular expertise are required, however you’ll have to be certified for the job. Examples embrace specialised technical roles, language-specific positions, or jobs with particular native market data.
Extremely-skilled employee allow: That is the best choice for extremely skilled professionals with a excessive earnings. Examples may embrace senior software program engineers, medical specialists, analysis scientists, or company executives with distinctive experience.
EU Blue Card for Germany: In case your annual wage might be at the least €56,400 (or €43,992 for occupations the place there’s a nationwide scarcity, comparable to engineers, IT specialists, and sure expert trades) that is the choice for you.
Work allow for freelancers: Freelancers can apply for this allow, however you’ll must display that you’ve got a possible consumer base in Germany.
Freedom of motion (EU Residents): For those who’re already an EU nationwide, you’re coated by freedom of motion and gained’t want a visa. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless want to finish sure administrative duties, comparable to registering your residence, acquiring a residence certificates and medical health insurance, and complying with different relevant laws.

You can begin the visa software course of by visiting the German embassy in your house nation and offering the required paperwork. Study extra from the German Embassy web site.

Step 4: Enhance your language expertise

Many tech corporations in Germany function in English, which means you don’t essentially must study German to thrive. Generally, although, German language proficiency will improve your job prospects and enhance development alternatives.

Contemplate taking a German language course. You can begin with free on-line sources or language studying apps like Duolingo or Babbel (based mostly in Berlin!). Bear in mind that Germany provides so-called “Integrationskurse” (integration programs) partially funded by the state, so there’s no purpose to not enhance your German!

Step 5: Analysis tech job boards and web sites

Now we’ve coated the sensible “transferring to a different nation” stuff, let’s search for actual tech jobs in Germany!

Germany has many jobseeking platforms, together with well-known websites like LinkedIn, Totaljobs, Glassdoor, and Certainly. StepStone is one other common jobseeking web site in Germany.

Nonetheless, if you recognize what position you’re on the lookout for, lots of the smaller, extra focused websites, comparable to GermanTechJobs, Touchdown.Jobs, Relocate.me, and Jobtensor focus particularly on tech roles. Whereas they sometimes have fewer listings, they do make it simpler to search out related alternatives.

Step 6: Give attention to large cities

You’ll discover the biggest focus of tech jobs in Germany within the capital, Berlin. You’ll additionally discover alternatives in bigger cities like Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt.

Briefly, whereas there are tech jobs in Germany’s smaller cities, remember that the bulk can be found in bigger metropolitan areas.

Step 7: Community

For those who’re already dwelling in Germany, attending conferences or networking occasions is one strategy to reduce via the digital noise of on-line job-seeking. At these occasions, you possibly can join with employers and tech professionals and even spot job alternatives earlier than they go browsing.

By no means underestimate the ability of group connections. Whereas not each contact will result in a job, hold these contacts heat, and also you by no means know the place they’ll lead.

For those who haven’t made it to Germany but, LinkedIn and Xing (Germany’s reply to LinkedIn) are nice alternate options for connecting with potential employers.

Step 8: Apply to startups and recruitment businesses

It’s straightforward to search out jobs listed on-line. However it’s straightforward for everybody else, too!

Slender the hole between you and the competitors by making use of to corporations straight. Make an inventory of startups in your chosen space and attain out.

Specialist tech recruitment businesses are additionally an possibility and could be nice for matching you with appropriate job alternatives. Acelr8, Headmatch, and Skipsearch are simply three you may need to discover, however attempt researching businesses in your most well-liked location, too.

Step 9: Construct a web based presence

Construct your on-line presence by way of social media, enterprise networking websites, or tech-specific communities like GitHub or Stack Overflow.

A portfolio that highlights your greatest work will help. Relying in your ability space, that is perhaps a UX design venture, an app you’ve developed, content material you’ve written, or web sites you’ve created.

No matter your achievements, that is your probability to showcase them. Use this chance to level out your language expertise, too. Or—for those who don’t communicate German but—spotlight any expertise you may have working in cross-cultural or multilingual environments.

Step 10: Interview prep!

Hopefully, by this stage, you’ll have landed an interview or two! That’s nice, however your work isn’t completed!

Analysis the corporate, and its services or products, and be prepared to debate how your previous experiences make you splendid for the position you’re making use of for. You may additionally be requested about your motivation for transferring to Germany, so have a transparent reply ready.

Lastly, relying on the position, be prepared for technical interviews and assessments. Many tech jobs use “whiteboard duties” or coding challenges to check your expertise, so that you’ll have to be well-versed. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to apply for technical interviews.

Associated studying: 35 job interview questions (and solutions!)

2. Tech jobs in Germany’s largest cities

Every of Germany’s largest cities has its personal distinctive ecosystem and trade focus.

One factor to remember: whereas the instance tech jobs coated on this part pay nicely in comparison with many careers in Germany, they in all probability can’t compete with salaries in main Western tech hubs like San Francisco, New York Metropolis, or London. Nonetheless, for a lot of, the trade-off is value it for the distinctive expertise of working in a unique nation with a decrease value of dwelling (in comparison with these hubs), discovering an thrilling new tradition, and having fun with a greater work-life stability. First, let’s pay a go to to…

Berlin

In current a long time, Berlin, Germany’s capital and largest metropolis, has remodeled from a logo of Chilly Battle division to a thriving metropolis and tech hub. The primary startups sprung up right here within the late 2000s, and the town has since attracted tech innovators in droves.

In addition to startups, Berlin can also be house to famend tech giants, together with SAP, Siemens, and Deutsche Telekom, to call just a few. Many industries right here additionally revolve round fintech and e-commerce, so that you’ll discover no scarcity of tech jobs.

There’s a purpose that Berlin’s unofficial motto is “poor however horny”—the price of dwelling has been traditionally low and continues to be low in comparison with many different Western capitals, so hold this in thoughts when trying on the salaries. However that is quickly altering, and housing is more durable and more durable to search out, so get in whilst you can.

We’ve used the wage comparability software, PayScale, to get a really feel for a way a lot you can earn for various tech jobs in Berlin. Clearly we are able to’t record all of the accessible roles, however we’ve handpicked a choose few that you may examine throughout Germany’s completely different cities.

Listed below are the common annual salaries you possibly can anticipate for the next roles:

Software program engineer: €58,000
UX designer: €40,000
UI designer: €38,000
Information analyst: €47,000
Full-stack net developer: €50,000
Digital advertising and marketing supervisor: €42,000

Bear in mind, these are simply the median salaries, too, so you may have the potential to earn rather more!

Need to do some tech job networking in Berlin? Try:

The Berlin Entrepreneur and Startup Community
Tech Open Air Berlin

Hamburg

Germany’s second-largest metropolis, Hamburg, is nicknamed the “Gateway to the World” as a result of its historic and current position as a significant worldwide port. However this shouldn’t diminish Hamburg’s rising tech presence, particularly within the logistics trade.

As soon as once more, we are able to flip to Payscale to get a really feel for the common tech salaries in Hamburg. Though different roles can be found, to make a simple comparability with Berlin, listed below are the median salaries for a similar roles we checked out in Berlin:

Software program engineer: €55,000
UX designer: €40,000
Information analyst: €46,000
Full-stack net developer: €50,000
Digital advertising and marketing supervisor: €48,000

As you possibly can see, Hamburg’s salaries are fairly similar to Berlin’s, however in fact, it is going to rely upon which tech roles are highest in demand in your trade.

When networking in Hamburg, hold an eye fixed out for:

Hamburg IT Professionals Meetup Group
Hamburg Excessive Tech occasions on Eventbrite

Munich

Shifting additional south, we discover ourselves in Munich, maybe greatest recognized for the world-famous Oktoberfest. For these within the know, it’s additionally famend for its deal with industries together with mobility and automotive know-how. Munich can also be house to the Huge 5 tech giants—Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta all have workplaces right here—and plenty of startups.

In keeping with Payscale, listed below are the common salaries for the next tech jobs in Munich:

Software program engineer: €54,000
UX designer: €41,000
UI designer: €49,000
Information analyst: €54,000
Full-stack net developer: €51,000
Digital advertising and marketing supervisor: €59,000

For those who’re on the lookout for tech jobs in Munich, some alternatives to think about embrace:

Munich Tech Job Truthful
Bits & Pretzels Founders Competition

Frankfurt

Final however not least, the smallest metropolis on our record: Frankfurt. However don’t let its measurement mislead you! As Germany’s monetary capital and one of many largest monetary hubs in Europe, Frankfurt is house to a booming fintech sector. It hosts quite a few consultancy providers together with Capgemini and Tata, for which tech lies on the coronary heart of their enterprise fashions.

In keeping with Payscale, these are the median salaries for the next roles in Frankfurt:

Software program engineer: €53,000
UX designer: €49,000
UI designer: €45,000
Information analyst: €50,000
Full-stack net developer: €52,000
Digital advertising and marketing supervisor: €70,000

Bear in mind: being a monetary hub, fintech jobs are large enterprise right here and plenty of corporations will provide seductive efficiency bonuses on prime of your base wage.

Some tech occasions you may need to attend in Frankfurt embrace:

Tech&Discuss Frankfurt
Frankfurt Tech Job Truthful

3. High 10 tech jobs in Germany

We’ve pored via quite a few tech job listings on websites like Certainly, together with German-specific trade sources like tech-careers.de and Jobtensor to get a way of essentially the most in-demand IT and tech roles accessible in Germany.

Right here’s our handpicked prime ten accessible tech jobs in Germany:

1. Internet developer

Internet builders, typically often called front-end or back-end builders, or full-stack builders, are chargeable for coding and sustaining web sites. They sometimes work with numerous programming languages—whether or not JavaScript, Python, or one other language solely—and their related frameworks. Most builders are additionally concerned in cell and net app improvement, too, creating apps for iOS, Android, and different platforms.

For those who’re thinking about a profession in net improvement, think about testing CareerFoundry’s Full-Stack Internet Improvement Program.

2. DevOps Engineer

DevOps engineers, or DevOps specialists, work on the intersection of software program improvement and IT operations (therefore the identify!) On this position, you’ll assist streamline software program improvement, deployment, and upkeep, making certain that software program merchandise are delivered rapidly and at prime quality.

It is a position that’s in excessive demand in Germany, the place the massive scarcity of expert IT employees is impacting the supply of software program options in quite a few industries together with know-how, and digital media.

3. Community engineer / system adminstrator

Community engineers, also referred to as community or system directors, preserve the pc methods that may underpin a corporation’s whole operation. As many German corporations modernize their tech infrastructure, that is one other position that’s in excessive demand.

Community engineers work with numerous networking applied sciences, comparable to routers, switches, and firewalls, to make sure their networks are steady and safe. They discover employment in most sectors, however tech and finance, specifically, depend on efficient community engineers.

4. Information analyst/ knowledge engineer

Information analysts or knowledge engineers, variably often called enterprise intelligence analysts or knowledge viz specialists (amongst different titles), acquire, course of, and interpret knowledge and construct methods to handle dataflows.

Information analysts work in numerous industries, from advertising and marketing to finance and even sports activities. Nonetheless, they’re most frequently employed by corporations seeking to optimize their operations or determine income alternatives.

Desirous about a profession in knowledge evaluation? Try CareerFoundry’s Information Analytics Program, which covers all of the instruments and methods it’s essential to get began.

Or watch this video about whether or not a profession in knowledge analytics is best for you:

5. Cloud architect

Cloud architects, cloud engineers, or options architects, design, develop, and handle cloud-based platforms. On this position, you’ll work with cloud-based instruments like Amazon Internet Providers (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud to create options to large-scale knowledge administration issues.

Since most corporations in Germany use a number of cloud suppliers, the demand for tech professionals who handle these buildings is barely rising. Most cloud architects are employed in industries like manufacturing, monetary providers, automotive, logistics, and provide chain administration.

6. Product supervisor

Not all product managers work within the tech trade, however those that do are often chargeable for guiding the event of software program services.

As a product supervisor, you may not get hands-on in improvement duties, however you’ll work carefully with cross-functional groups of engineers, builders, designers, and entrepreneurs to make sure merchandise are delivered on time and that they meet consumer wants.

If product administration sounds best for you, CareerFoundry’s Product Administration Program will upskill you in all the pieces from wireframing to roadmapping and folks administration.

7. UX/UI designer

Person expertise (UX) and consumer interface (UI) designers play a significant position in creating user-friendly and visually interesting digital merchandise.

On this position, you’ll work carefully with product groups to make sure that web sites, apps, and different interfaces are simply navigable and meet customers’ wants.

Whereas UX and UI design are barely completely different roles, there’s loads of overlap, and the 2 usually collaborate.

For those who’re thinking about pursuing a profession in UX/UI design, think about the CareerFoundry UX Design Program or UI Design Program.

8. Cybersecurity analyst

Cybersecurity analysts, typically often called data safety analysts, defend data methods from cyber threats—a rising drawback in Germany and past. Cybersecurity consultants sometimes monitor networks, methods, and apps for safety points, alongside investigating exterior threats and knowledge breaches.

Cybersecurity analysts are very important for any trade working with confidential knowledge. As you possibly can think about, there’s no scarcity of labor to be discovered right here!

9. Synthetic intelligence/ machine studying engineer

Unsurprisingly, synthetic intelligence (AI) and machine studying (ML) engineers are in sizzling demand in Germany proper now, because of the huge and world development in AI. Accountable for designing, creating, and implementing AI and ML algorithms, you’ll end up fixing complicated issues and enhancing decision-making on this position.

Industries from automotive and healthcare to finance and manufacturing all make use of AI and ML engineers. You may end up engaged on something from creating software program for self-driving vehicles to enhancing medical diagnostics or enhancing monetary danger evaluation fashions.

10. Video games developer

Good for individuals who need to mix tech with creativity, sport improvement is on the rise in Germany. In 2019, the German federal authorities launched a pc video games funding program, providing as much as 50 million euros a 12 months to help the nation’s video games sector.

Video games builders sometimes create video games for numerous platforms, from proprietary consoles to computer systems and cell gadgets. The position can contain all elements of the sport creation course of, from design to coding and testing.

Associated studying: The very best entry-level tech jobs (you will get with no expertise)

Closing ideas

Whereas Germany’s main cities—from Berlin to Hamburg and Munich—are house to the largest tech giants, we suggest discovering your first job with a startup if attainable. Startup jobs are sometimes simpler to come back by, and as a result of their fast-paced, hands-on nature, you’ll get extra expertise in a wider vary of areas, serving to you construct expertise and acquire insights into which areas curiosity you. However that’s not a tough rule!

Need to discover out extra about altering to a profession in tech? Learn the next guides: