Field Notes
Salary data, market intelligence, and honest advice for engineers and companies navigating the DACH and US tech hiring landscape.
After two years of placing engineers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, I've built up a clear picture of what companies are actually paying — not what they advertise. Here's the breakdown by role, seniority, and city.
Demand for AI engineers in Germany and Switzerland has outpaced supply for two years running. This is what I'm seeing on the ground and what companies can actually do about it.
I look at hundreds of developer profiles every week. These are the five things that cause me — and most other technical recruiters — to move on in under 10 seconds.
Three months notice is standard. Six months is common at senior levels. If you're used to US or UK hiring timelines, DACH will blindside you. Here's how to plan around it.
Most developers leave money on the table. German hiring culture around negotiation is different to the US — here's exactly what to say, when to say it, and how much room you usually have.