Nearshore Software Development Romania: What Every Founder and CTO Needs to Know

Hiring developers in Western Europe often becomes slow, pricey, and unpredictable for tech leaders. That’s why more companies choose nearshoring to build teams faster, keep them close for real-time collaboration, and significantly reduce costs.

Romania offers a well-developed IT market and a work culture that aligns well with teams in Western Europe and the US. Add to that the time-zone convenience and competitive rates, and it’s no surprise more companies are choosing Romania for long-term development partnerships.

In this guide, we’ll explain why Romania attracts businesses looking for nearshore development teams. You’ll learn about the country’s top tech hubs, in-demand skills, typical salaries, and the engagement models for remote developers. We’ll also recommend how to choose the right nearshore partner and avoid common pitfalls.

Before we go deeper, let’s briefly recall what the nearshore software development model is.

Understanding Nearshore Software Development

Nearshore software development is a collaboration model where businesses work with engineering teams in geographically close countries, sharing similar time zones, cultural habits, and working rhythms.

Let’s compare nearshoring with the two other common models:

• Onshore means hiring software engineers within your own country, which is familiar and easy, but often the most expensive and slowest option.
• Offshore refers to partnering with teams much farther away, often with significant time-zone gaps. Here, costs are lower, but real-time collaboration can suffer.
• Nearshore, in contrast, places your engineering team geographically “next door.” In the nearshore vs offshore context, Romania would be a nearshore destination for a Western European company, while for the US, nearshore might mean Latin America.

Nearshoring allows your product team in Berlin or Amsterdam to jump on a morning standup with developers in Bucharest without anyone having to wake up at 5 am. They won’t have asynchronous delays, long travel times, or cultural confusion. Instead, they’ll experience straightforward, day-to-day collaboration at a cost far more manageable than hiring in-house.

This is why tech leaders switch to nearshoring: you get the cost advantage of an offshore, paired with the communication ease and time-zone alignment of onshore teams. 

Nearshore software development can take two forms:

• nearshore outsourcing, where you delegate software development to a vendor, and 
• nearshore outstaffing, where you hire tech experts through a provider, but they work as part of your organization.

The first format assumes your partner is fully responsible for the software delivery, including team setup, its management, and results. An outstaffing provider helps you find and hire developers, while you control their workload and project outcomes. 

Why Romania Stands Out as a Nearshore Location  

Romania nearshore software development often appears on the shortlist of European founders or CTOs, not only due to the lower costs. Its strength lies in a combination of factors that make collaboration feel effective and natural:

• Workday-friendly location. Since Romania is an EU member, its time zone closely matches most of Western Europe. For teams in Germany, the Netherlands, France, or the UK, for instance, that means no additional scheduling is required. Morning standups, afternoon syncs, and urgent fixes all happen in real time.
• High-quality tech education. Romania has a reputation as a country with strong technical universities and engineering programs. When business owners talk about Romanian tech talent, they refer to developers with exceptional analytical thinking, problem-solving, and clean, structured development practices.

• English proficiency of developers. Romania ranks 11th in the CEE’s Global Ranking of Countries and Regions 2025. So most Romanian developers communicate fluently, making collaboration straightforward and minimizing the misunderstandings often seen with distant offshore teams.
• Lower development costs. While Romanian engineers maintain quality level on par with Western Europe, their rates remain significantly lower. This is a crucial advantage for startups and companies that need budget-friendly scaling.
• Large talent pool. The tech talent Romania exceeds 200,000 IT specialists and is constantly growing. Romania’s strong tech talent pool makes it easy for companies to hire qualified, hard-to-find experts and scale without dealing with time-consuming hiring processes.

This mix of proximity, skill, communication, and cost is what makes nearshore Romania a reliable choice for founders searching for stable, high-quality development teams.

Top Nearshore Software Development Cities in Romania

Romania’s tech ecosystem spreads across several cities that have grown into vibrant engineering hubs, each with its own strengths, talent pool, and industry focus. This diversity is one of the reasons IT recruitment in Romania works so well for global companies.

Bucharest

Bucharest is Romania’s largest tech hub with thousands of skilled software engineers, top universities, and global enterprises such as Microsoft, IBM, Google, Adobe, and others. The nearshore developers Bucharest bring solid expertise across Java, .NET, cloud, cybersecurity, and mobile development.

Cluj-Napoca

Cluj-Napoca, often called Romania’s “Silicon Valley,” blends strong technical education with a vibrant startup culture. It’s a popular choice for companies focused on AI, product development, and cloud solutions looking to build lasting nearshore partnerships.

Timișoara

Timișoara, which is located near Romania’s western border, has built close collaboration with German and Austrian companies. Its developers are especially skilled in embedded systems, automotive software, and enterprise tech. With its multicultural feel, active tech scene, and deep R&D roots, the city offers a solid base for long-term nearshore teams.

Iași

Iași is quickly emerging as a major tech and academic hub in eastern Romania. Its universities prepare skilled graduates in computer science, math, and telecom, fueling a growing IT sector. The city attracts global companies in fintech, enterprise software, and mobile development, drawn by reliable delivery and cost-efficient talent.

Brașov

Brașov offers a great mix of quality of life and professional opportunities, which makes it appealing to both tech talent and employers. With skilled specialists in frontend, backend, and QA, and with growing IT parks and active tech communities, the city is steadily becoming a sought-after nearshore location.

Together, these cities create one of Eastern Europe’s most dynamic IT landscapes, which is full of skilled, talented tech experts and ideal conditions for companies opting for software development outsourcing Romania.

In-Demand Tech Skills & Roles in Romania

Companies opting for partnering with Romanian developers gain access to strong expertise across multiple engineering stacks, from backend platforms powering global enterprises to frontend frameworks used in fast-moving SaaS products. 

Here are the key skills international companies look for when building a software development team Romania.

Java

Romania offers a highly experienced Java talent pool thanks to long-standing enterprise projects in banking, telecom, and e-commerce. Local engineers work confidently with Spring Boot, microservices, and cloud-native systems, helping companies build secure, scalable backends.

.NET

Romanian .NET developers have strong enterprise experience and work confidently with ASP.NET Core, microservices, Azure, and modern APIs. Their background in complex corporate systems makes them ideal for modernizing legacy platforms and building secure, data-driven applications.

React

React is widely used by Romanian startups, product teams, and R&D centers. Local developers typically work with TypeScript, Redux Toolkit, and modern UI frameworks, building clean, modular frontends with reusable components and fast, responsive interfaces for SaaS and consumer apps.

Ruby on Rails

Businesses nearshore Ruby on Rails development Romania, thanks to its engineers’ strong backend architecture skills, clean coding standards, and fast delivery. Romanian RoR developers often support startups and SaaS teams, building scalable APIs, payment flows, dashboards, and high-load services. 

Python

Python developers in Romania have strong skills in machine learning, automation, backend systems, and data engineering. They work confidently with Django, FastAPI, Pandas, NumPy, and cloud data pipelines, which makes them a reliable resource for AI products, data-heavy apps, and projects requiring strong algorithmic thinking.

DevOps

DevOps engineers skilled in AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, and CI/CD automation are in high demand in Romania. Local specialists help companies streamline deployments, scale cloud infrastructure, and build reliable pipelines that support continuous releases and high uptime.

QA

Romanian QA engineers excel at both manual and automated testing, using tools like Cypress, Playwright, Selenium, and Postman. They ensure stable coverage, reliable regression automation, and quality gates that integrate smoothly into modern CI/CD pipelines and fast-paced development cycles.

Typical Tech Roles Companies Hire in Romania

• Backend Developers (Java, .NET, Python)
• Frontend Developers (React, Angular)
• Full-Stack Developers
• QA Engineers (Manual & Automation)
• DevOps & Cloud Engineers
• Project Managers
• Business Analysts
• UI/UX Designers

With so many skills and roles available, the next step is to understand how companies actually structure their collaborations with Romanian development teams. That brings us to the main nearshore engagement models used in Romania.

Nearshore Romania: Cooperation Formats

Choosing the right collaboration model is as important as choosing the country. Below are the four models companies rely on most when they hire developers in Romania.

• Dedicated Development Team

A dedicated team works exclusively on your product full-time. You set the roadmap, priorities, and communication style, while the provider manages hiring, HR, and retention. This model is ideal for long-term development, continuous feature delivery, and companies seeking a stable, scalable extension of their tech organization.

• Staff Augmentation / Team Extension

With staff augmentation, individual Romanian developers join your existing tech team hourly or full-time to fill skill gaps or accelerate delivery. You remain responsible for management, planning, and workflows, while the talent provider covers back-office tasks. This model works well for companies with strong internal processes that need more hands or niche technical expertise without long hiring cycles.

• Managed Delivery Format

In this model, your nearshore partner oversees the technical execution of the project, while you focus on high-level priorities rather than daily engineering tasks. The outsourcing vendor manages team composition, processes, and delivery methods. This is a fit for companies that want predictable output, structured reporting, and less involvement in day-to-day engineering decisions.

• Project-Based Cooperation

Project-based collaboration works best when the scope, timeline, and budget are clearly defined. The nearshore partner takes ownership of the entire delivery, usually following their own methods and frameworks. This type of nearshore outsourcing Romania fits short-term projects, MVPs, or modernization efforts where goals are stable and fast, reliable results are key.

These models let you choose how much control, collaboration, and cost-efficiency you need. The right setup depends on your in-house capacity, technical goals, and how closely you want nearshore engineers to work with your core team.

Average Rates for Nearshore Developers Romania

Understanding developer rates is essential for planning a nearshore partnership in Romania. Below are typical mid-to-senior salary ranges across key specializations that will help you estimate how affordable nearshore developers in Romania are.

These compensations show why Romania remains one of Europe’s most cost-efficient nearshore destinations. Companies gain access to skilled engineers at rates significantly lower than in Western Europe, without compromising code quality or collaboration standards. 

With predictable monthly costs and strong talent availability, Romania offers a balanced, budget-friendly way to scale software development teams long term.

How to Nearshore in Romania: Finding a Reliable Talent Provider

Setting up a nearshore partnership in Romania is simple if you take it one step at a time. 

Here’s a clear path founders and CTOs can follow to find a nearshoring partner Romania.

Step 1: Define Your Needs

First, define what you need: tech stack, developer experience, team size, and how you want to collaborate. A clear roadmap and workload estimate help avoid confusion later. The more specific you are, the faster and easier it is to find the right people.

Step 2: Select the Right Partner

Look into each provider’s track record: have they built teams in your industry before? Check their client history and how well they understand tech hiring. The right partner is open, realistic, and helps you navigate the market without overpromising.

Step 3: Run Technical Interviews

Checking hard skills is key; it’s vital not just to test technical know-how, but to see how developers think, communicate, and fit into your workflow. Good nearshore providers support coding tests, live interviews, and even pair programming to get that full picture.

Step 4: Contracting & Onboarding

After you’ve picked your candidates, it’s time to lock things in with contracts, NDAs, and clear security rules. A solid staffing partner will take care of all the legal, HR, and payroll tasks. During onboarding, get everyone on the same page with tools, communication habits, and sprint setup, so your Romanian team can hit the ground running and work smoothly with your in-house crew.

Tips for Successful Collaboration with Nearshoring Companies Romania

Tip 1: Keep Communication Open and Structured

Daily check-ins, sprint reviews, and shared docs help everyone stay aligned. When priorities are clear and communication is steady, nearshore developers can move with confidence. A connected team always delivers better results and does it faster.

Tip 2: Treat the Nearshore Team as Part of Your Company

Bring your remote engineers into planning, demos, and retros. Keep them in team chats too. When people feel included, they care more and contribute more. The best nearshore teams act like they’re already on your payroll.

Tip 3: Establish Clear KPIs and Delivery Expectations

Agree on goals, responsibilities, and progress tracking, as when expectations are clear from day one, your nearshore partnership runs smoother and lasts longer. Metrics like speed, quality, and responsiveness keep everyone on the same page.

Benefits of Nearshore Software Development Romania

Nearshoring to Romania isn’t just about lowering costs; it’s about building stable, collaborative teams with clear communication and strong engineering skills.

Here are the core reasons why more companies are choosing Romania for lasting, high-quality software development partnerships.

Lower Development Costs

Romania offers Western-grade engineering talent at far lower rates than in France, Germany, the UK, or the Nordics. Lower living costs help cut salaries, recruitment, and overhead. For companies needing reliable talent without breaking the budget, Romania strikes the right balance between cost and quality.

Transparent Communication

Romanian developers communicate clearly, directly, and with structure. They’re fluent in English and familiar with Western workflows, making collaboration smooth and efficient. Fewer cultural gaps mean faster decisions, fewer misunderstandings, and stronger alignment between your product goals and the team delivering them.

EU-Level Legal Protection

Romania’s EU membership provides companies with a clear legal framework to operate within. GDPR compliance, standardized NDAs, and IP protection reduce risk and simplify cooperation. Compared to non-EU outsourcing, nearshoring Romania feels more secure, transparent, and aligned with how most European and Western companies already operate.

Rapid Team Scaling

Romanian nearshore partners can ramp up teams fast thanks to strong talent pools and efficient recruiting. Most roles are filled within weeks, not months. As product needs change, companies can easily scale teams up or down without the long delays of local hiring.

Well-Developed Tech Landscape

Romania’s tech talent stems from strong universities, local developer communities, and the presence of global players such as Microsoft and Amazon. This mix keeps the ecosystem innovative and stable, with engineers who stay sharp on modern tools, frameworks, and development best practices.

With these strengths, it’s no surprise that more and more companies are turning to Romania for nearshore software development. To show what this looks like in action, here’s a real-world example from one of our long-term client collaborations.

Case Study: Mobilunity Provides Tech Experts in Romania

A fast-growing European fintech company contacted Mobilunity to expand its development team with three backend experts in building high-load financial systems and a QA specialist. 

The organization needed to expand its engineering capacity but struggled with slow hiring processes and high salary expectations in its home country. Additionally, the client’s platform was growing rapidly, so they needed to hire English-speaking tech professionals within several weeks. 

We agreed that Romania was the best option in terms of cost-efficiency, English proficiency, overlapping business hours, and cultural alignment.

Within the first week, our tech recruiters started sourcing pre-screened Romanian candidates who matched the required tech stack and company values. They were from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, and Timișoara. 

Our client run tech interviews directly and approved four specialists:

• 1 Java Developer
• 2 Python Developers
• 1 QA Specialist

The entire hiring process, from initial request to signed contracts, took just five weeks. Mobilunity handled HR, legal compliance, onboarding, and retention planning, ensuring a smooth start.

As a result, the nearshore model allowed our client to get skilled developers faster and cut development costs by more than 30% compared to local hiring, while maintaining the same engineering quality. 

Why Mobilunity Is a Reliable Partner for Nearshoring in Romania

To help businesses make the most of nearshore development in Romania, Mobilunity offers trusted, long-term staffing backed by years of hiring expertise. Our focus on quality, transparency, and consistency lays the groundwork for strong and lasting engineering partnerships. 

Below are the key reasons why many of our clients call us one of the best nearshoring companies Romania.

97% of Our Hires Pass Probation

Our screening and pre-vetting process matches each candidate to your technical needs and team culture. This way, new hires integrate faster, contribute from day one, and stay focused on your long-term product goals with minimal ramp-up time.

40+ Active Customers in 15+ Countries

Mobilunity works with startups and global enterprises alike, gaining insight into a wide range of engineering needs. This experience helps us solve tech talent staffing challenges across industries, company sizes, and technical environments with flexibility and precision.

15+ Years of Acquiring Tech Talent

With over a decade in the industry, we’ve developed proven tech talent sourcing strategies, regional candidate networks, and efficient hiring pipelines. This allows our clients to fill roles faster, find the right talent more reliably, and maintain consistent quality across projects.

4.2 Years of Average Client Partnership Duration

Long-term partnerships are part of our 3R Philosophy. Clients stay for years because we build stable, motivated teams and focus on retention from day one. Developers feel supported, engaged, and aligned with your goals, which keeps projects moving forward smoothly.

2.5 Interviews on Average to Close a Vacancy

We focus on targeted sourcing and careful pre-screening, so clients usually meet just a few strong candidates before making a hire. This speeds up recruitment and helps teams grow without delays, keeping your product development on track.

To meet different business goals through software nearshoring Romania, Mobilunity offers flexible cooperation models designed for reliable outcomes.

Mobilunity Cooperation Models

Wrapping Up

Nearshoring software development Romania offers a smart, low-friction way to scale your engineering capabilities. With its skilled talent, time zone proximity, and strong work culture, Romania helps businesses grow faster without the cost or coordination struggles of distant outsourcing. 

With the right partner, nearshoring software Romania feels less like a risk and more like the logical next chapter in building great digital products.

FAQ About Nearshore Development in Romania

Written by:

Anastasia Stefanuk

Market Researcher

Disclaimer: All salaries and prices mentioned within the article are approximate numbers based on the research done by our in-house Marketing Research Team. Please use these numbers as a reference for comparison only. Feel free to use the contact form to inquire on the specific cost of the talent according to your vacancy requirements and chosen model of engagement.