Finding great engineers has never been harder. Demand is high, the talent pool feels small, and if you’re an SMB owner, it can feel like recruiters are more interested in chasing enterprise contracts.
The good news? There are firms — both offshore and domestic — that specialize in matching growing businesses with exceptional offshore engineering talent, fast.
We’ve broken down the Top 7 Engineering Search Firms of 2025 into three categories:
- Offshore & SMB-Focused
- SMB-Focused (Domestic)
- Executive-Level
Best Engineering Search Firms At A Glance
| Company | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pavago | Offshore & SMB | SMBs wanting top engineers without high local costs |
| Lupa | Offshore & SMB | Quick-scaling SMBs needing vetted LatAm talent |
| TurnKey Tech Staffing | Offshore & SMB | SMBs needing elite devs + operations handled |
| 180 Engineering | SMB (Domestic) | SMBs wanting high-touch domestic recruitment |
| Peak Technical | SMB (Domestic) | SMBs needing technical staff on flexible terms |
| Korn Ferry | Executive-Level | Companies seeking senior technical leaders |
| Egon Zehnder | Executive-Level | Orgs needing globally experienced engineering execs |
Before getting into the details, let’s talk about the roles engineering search firms can help you fill.
Engineering Roles You Can Offshore
Offshoring isn’t just for customer service or admin tasks anymore — engineering teams are one of the fastest-growing offshore categories.
With the right engineering recruiting company, you can hire highly skilled engineers across a wide range of disciplines, often with experience working in U.S. or European product environments.
Here are the most common engineering roles SMBs successfully offshore:
- Full-Stack Developers
- Front-End Developers
- Back-End Developers
- DevOps Engineers
- QA Engineers
- System Analysts
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Cybersecurity Engineers
Top 7 Engineering Search Firms for This Year
1. Pavago
What we do: Pavago helps SMBs hire A-player engineers from around the globe — the kind of people who could compete for roles at top U.S. companies — without the inflated local salaries.
We combine a rigorous five-step vetting process (technical assessments, work samples, cultural fit interviews, and reference checks) with a membership model that makes high-caliber talent accessible to smaller budgets.
Why we stand out: Unlike traditional recruiters charging 25–35% of a candidate’s first-year salary, Pavago’s pricing starts at $500/year + $329/month per hire. That means you can secure elite engineering talent for 50–70% less than local market rates — without compromising on skill, drive, or professionalism.
Our average hire time is under 21 days, and they handle payroll, compliance, onboarding, and provide a lifetime replacement guarantee.
Best for: SMBs that want top-tier engineering talent without the budget burn of local hiring.
Ready to build a top-tier engineering team at a price you never thought was possible?
2. Lupa
What they do: Lupa connects you with pre-vetted engineering talent across Latin America.
Why they stand out: Speed. You can have your new engineer onboarded in as little as 21 days. Plus, candidates are aligned to U.S. time zones and come with a built-in replacement guarantee.
Best for: SMBs that need quick, reliable, and culturally aligned nearshore software talent.
3. TurnKey Tech Staffing
What they do: TurnKey sources the top 3% of offshore engineering talent from Eastern Europe and Latin America, with end-to-end operational support.
Why they stand out: They manage everything — recruitment, Employer of Record, HR, compliance — so you can focus on building your product instead of worrying about back-office headaches.
Best for: SMBs needing senior engineers or offshore dedicated teams without operational risk.
4. 180 Engineering
What they do: 180 Engineering is a boutique U.S. engineering recruiter that treats each search like a technical project.
Why they stand out: They use a proprietary scorecard system, have a 96% one-year retention rate, and average just 45 days from search to hire for senior roles.
Best for: SMBs wanting a meticulous, data-driven approach to domestic engineering hires.
5. Peak Technical Staffing
What they do: Peak Technical Staffing offers engineering recruitment services, specializing in contract, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire technical placements.
Why they stand out: Their cultural alignment screening ensures not only technical fit, but also long-term team cohesion.
Best for: SMBs needing flexible hiring arrangements for specialized engineering roles.
6. Korn Ferry
What they do: One of the largest global executive search firms, Korn Ferry has a dedicated engineering and technology leadership practice.
Why they stand out: Massive reach, deep industry connections, and a track record of placing senior leaders at top companies worldwide. Executive search revenue grew 15% year-over-year in late 2024.
Best for: Companies seeking CTOs, VPs of Engineering, or senior technical leadership.
7. Egon Zehnder
What they do: Egon Zehnder is one of the world’s largest privately held executive engineering search firms, with offices in 36+ countries and services spanning leadership advisory and board consulting.
Why they stand out: They’re known for a holistic approach to leadership placement — evaluating long-term cultural impact alongside technical credentials.
Best for: Organizations looking for transformational engineering leaders with global experience.
How to Choose the Right Engineering Search Firm for Your Business
All the engineering search firms listed above can deliver top-tier talent, but the ultimate choice depends on your requirements.
- Define Your Hiring Needs – Are you looking for an individual contributor, a full team, or senior leadership? This determines whether you need an SMB-focused recruiter or an executive search firm.
- Decide on Offshore vs. Domestic – Offshore can save costs and widen the talent pool, but domestic may ease time-zone and compliance issues.
- Prioritize Speed vs. Depth – Some firms specialize in ultra-fast placements, while others run longer, more thorough searches for highly specialized roles.
- Check for Support Services – Payroll, compliance, onboarding, and replacement guarantees can be game-changers for SMBs without a big HR function.
- Review Past Performance – Ask about retention rates, time-to-fill, and industry-specific success stories.
If speed, affordability, and top-tier engineering talent are on your wishlist, Pavago delivers all three.
Get in touch today to start your search for A-player engineers — without the inflated fees or hiring headaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrapping It Up
Hiring the right engineers isn’t about casting the widest net — it’s about finding proven A-players who can deliver results from day one.
Whether you choose an offshore partner like Pavago, a domestic boutique like 180 Engineering, or an executive search powerhouse like Korn Ferry, the key is aligning the engineering search firms strengths with your hiring goals.
If you’re an SMB that wants the same top-tier engineering talent your biggest competitors hire— without paying inflated local salaries — Pavago is built for you.
We’ll connect you with rigorously vetted global A-players in under 21 days, handle payroll and compliance, and save you up to 70% compared to traditional hiring.
