A software engineer designs, builds, and maintains software systems. They write clean, scalable code and collaborate with product and design to ship features that move the business forward.
A great Software Engineer does not just complete tasks. They own a function that directly frees you to grow. Here is what that looks like in a scaling business:
01Write clean, well-documented, and tested code
02Collaborate with product and design on feature development
03Review code from other engineers and provide feedback
04Debug and resolve production issues quickly
05Contribute to architectural decisions and technical standards
How this hire moves your business forward: Software engineers build the product your business runs on. The right engineer does not just write code - they build systems that scale with your growth and reduce technical debt.
Why LatAm
Why LatAm Produces Great Software Engineers.
LatAm software engineers are highly trained in modern frameworks and often have experience working with US startups and distributed engineering teams.
The timezone overlap with the US is strong. LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time, so there is no async lag, no late-night handoffs, and no communication gap.
Skills & tools
Know What a Great Software Engineer Actually Brings to the Table.
Beyond the resume, here are the skills, tools, and traits that separate strong performers from strong interviewers.
Hard Skills
Software development
Code review
Testing and debugging
System design
Technical documentation
Common Tools
GitHub
VS Code / JetBrains
Jira
Slack
AWS / GCP / Azure
Soft Skills & Traits
Problem-solver
Detail-oriented
Collaborative
Continuous learner
Intellectually honest about trade-offs
Compensation
What You Can Expect to Pay.
Based on Sur market data and regional benchmarks. Figures reflect total cash compensation.
Seniority
US Annual
LatAm Annual
You Save
Entry
$85,000
$40,000
$45,000 / yr
Mid level
$120,000
$60,000
$60,000 / yr
Senior
$198,000
$70,000
$128,000 / yr
Spot the right hire
What to Look For, and What to Watch Out For.
Green Flags
Can walk through a system they designed and explain the trade-offs they made
Writes readable, well-documented code without being asked
Comfortable giving and receiving direct code review feedback
Curious about the business problem, not just the technical one
Red Flags
Writes code that only they can understand
Defensive about code reviews
No evidence of working in a collaborative team environment
Our process
Our Process for This Role.
We do not post and wait. Every Software Engineer search we run is built from scratch around your business, your stage, your team, and your goals. And at every step, we are thinking about how this hire helps you grow.
1
Onboarding Call
We start by understanding what you actually need.
2
Role Scoping and Assessment Design
We build a precise role profile and design the custom skills assessment before we search for anyone.
3
Sourcing
We source actively across LatAm and the Caribbean and through our network.
4
Prescreening and Phone Screen
Every candidate is internally screened then put through an English phone screen.
5
Your Shortlist
3 to 5 candidates delivered early in the process with background, audio clip, and our team's recommendation.
6
Skills Assessment
Shortlisted candidates take a custom assessment built to replicate the actual work of the role.
7
Hire and Guarantee
We support the offer, help structure compensation for retention, and back every placement with a 90-day guarantee.
Common Questions About Hiring a Software Engineer.
2-3 weeks typically. Most placements are made within 21 days of the onboarding call.
Most LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time.
All Sur placements speak fluent English. We screen for language ability on every search. Moderate English acceptable depending on exposure.
A LatAm software engineer delivers the same technical quality as a US engineer at 35-50% of the cost. The best candidates are alumni of major tech companies or US-facing product teams, with portfolios that speak for themselves.
If your hire does not work out within the first 90 days for any reason, we replace them at no additional cost.
Match your existing stack. Sur can source for any language or framework - Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Go, Java, Ruby, and more. Define your stack before we start the search.
The same as any remote engineer - clear tickets, async communication, regular 1:1s, and good tooling. Timezone alignment with LatAm makes this easier than offshore alternatives.
Ready to Hire a Software Engineer Who Actually Moves the Needle?
Let us design the role together and find you the right person from LatAm.