--- title: "Top 10 Tech Positions Companies Will Struggle to Hire for in 2025 | CoderPad" description: "We asked our panel of recruiters which positions they predict will be the most difficult to fill in 2024. Read about their top 10." canonical: "https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/top-10-tech-positions-companies-will-struggle-to-hire-for-in-2025/" last_modified: "2026-04-15 16:12:56" --- [Back to blog](https://coderpad.io/blog/) # Top 10 Tech Positions Companies Will Struggle to Hire for in 2025 January 8, 2025 4 Minute Read By Nathalie Figuière [Hiring Developers](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/) Amidst the expansion of machine learning, cloud computing, big data, software, mobile applications, social media, gaming… companies big and small are relying on highly-specialized software development experts. Indeed, for businesses wanting to keep up, finding top tech talent is a priority—and can be an uphill struggle. Many are after high-demand technical skills, from software development to data-oriented knowhow, according to our [2025 State of Tech Hiring report](https://coderpad.io/survey-reports/coderpad-and-codingame-state-of-tech-hiring-2025/). We asked our panel of recruiters which positions they predict will be the most difficult to fill in 2025. Here’s their top 10: 1. [AI/Machine Learning Specialist](#ai-machine-learning-specialist) 2. [Back-end Developer/Engineer](#back-end-developer-engineer) 3. [Full-stack Developer/Engineer](#full-stack-developer-engineer) 4. [Applications Developer](#applications-developer) 5. [DevOps](#dev-ops) 6. [Cybersecurity Engineer](#cybersecurity-engineer) 7. [Software Architect](#software-architect) 8. [Front-end Developer/Engineer](#front-end-developer-engineer) 9. [Data Scientist](#data-scientist) 10. [Cloud Engineer](#cloud-engineer) ## Psst. Are you following us on LinkedIn? Previous slide Next slide ## AI/Machine Learning Specialist Demand for machine learning and AI specialists is on the rise—and recruiters are in the hot seat! 54% are either actively learning new AI skills, or plan to do so in the near future. Indeed, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) continues to reshape industries. AI/ML specialists, with their expertise in complex algorithms and data analysis, are in growing demand (21% of recruiters are looking to hire machine learning/AI specialists, vs. 18% last year). For the first time ever, AI specialist positions have made the podium for the most difficult roles to fill. This new challenge has knocked full-stack roles down to third place, after multiple years in the top spot. Fortunately, [54% of devs plan to learning new AI skills,](https://coderpad.io/survey-reports/coderpad-and-codingame-state-of-tech-hiring-2025/#AI-toolkit) or plan to do so in the near future this year. [Maybe upskilling internal team members is the answer?](https://coderpad.io/platform/skills-mapping/) ## Back-end Developer/Engineer Back-end developers, the backbone of web and software development, play a crucial role in building and maintaining the server-side of applications. This year, demand for back-end developers remains high, reflecting the integral role they play in creating seamless user experiences. Difficulty to find talented back-end developers is essentially linked to demand. Indeed, [back-end developers are the second most sought-after developers on the market](https://coderpad.io/survey-reports/coderpad-and-codingame-state-of-tech-hiring-2024/#in-demand-positions) (behind full-stack developers). ## Full-stack Developer/Engineer Full-stack developers, adept at both front-end and back-end development, remain a coveted asset for companies looking to streamline their development processes. The demand reflects the industry’s shift towards versatile professionals who can navigate all layers of application development. ## Applications Developer Applications developers, responsible for creating and improving software applications, serve as a vital link between development teams and end-users. Organizations’ demand for applications developers underscores the importance of enhancing software functionality and user experience. > “Application engineering combines EDA knowledge with sales, technical marketing, and certain psychological qualities that make filling the position especially challenging.” Kateřina Smrckova, Senior Human Relations Specialist at Codasip ## DevOps The ability to deploy code rapidly and with fewer errors is driving companies to seek engineers with DevOps skills. However, the multidisciplinary nature of the role, covering development, operations, security, testing, and analytics, makes finding qualified DevOps professionals challenging. All in all, DevOps are tricky to find, expensive to employ and hard to keep. ## Cybersecurity Engineer Cybersecurity engineers, tasked with designing and implementing security systems, play a critical role in safeguarding organizational networks. Demand for cybersecurity engineers persists in 2025 due to the increasing threat landscape, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the diverse skill set required for the role. > “Demand for Cybersecurity engineers is much higher than supply: cyber training courses are still fairly limited and very recent, so there are few experienced professionals compared to the growing demand (ever increasing threat, regulatory framework that’s starting to develop). And companies don’t tend to shine much light on the role, so it doesn’t attract many people. Moreover it requires a very large range of skills: (very) good technical knowledge in various IT areas, risk management, methodology, legal grasp, communication & popularization skills, budget management etc.).” Frédéric Thirard, Head of Cybersecurity at CoderPad ## Software Architect Software architects, responsible for defining system components and their interactions, are crucial in bridging the gap between business needs and technological solutions, translating organizational goals into effective technical strategies. Software architects are in high demand due to the increasing complexity of software systems, where their expertise is crucial for designing scalable and maintainable solutions. > “These positions (architect engineers) are hard to fill because they require expertise with legacy systems and expertise with new cutting-edge technologies […] They are increasingly in demand but are not a combination of skills that you can necessarily pick up with the same ease you would with some of the new coding languages like Python.” Emma Liebmann, Head of Talent Acquisition at Collage.com, in an interview with TechRepublic ## Front-end Developer/Engineer Front-end developers shape the user interface and experience, addressing the growing expectations of today’s users for faster and more exciting web interactions. The demand for front-end developers reflects the ongoing need for visually appealing and user-friendly websites. ## Data Scientist Data scientists, with expertise in handling and analyzing large datasets, are integral to organizations seeking insights and automation through data-driven decision-making. Demand for data scientists highlights the growing recognition of the need to harness valuable data for strategic purposes.Such data is usually highly sensitive, which makes it especially important to have skilled workers who can process valuable data without jeopardizing the company. ## Cloud Engineer The shift towards cloud computing has elevated the importance of cloud engineers, who manage server administration, networking, and application deployment on virtual and physical platforms. Demand for cloud engineers reflects the widespread adoption of cloud services in modern IT infrastructure. ## Subscribe for more CoderPad insights ## Trending Articles Previous slide Next slide [Interviewing ## 2 Top-Shelf Interview Questions to Ask Your Senior Front-End Engineering Candidates Selecting the right interview questions can be challenging, especially for senior engineering candidates. This article lists two top-shelf interview questions for your next senior front-end engineering candidates. Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/interviewing/interview-questions-senior-front-end-engineering/) [Data Science ## 8 Red Flags To Watch Out For When Hiring Data Scientists Don't let these warning signs pass you by. Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/data-science/8-red-flags-to-watch-out-for-when-hiring-data-scientists/) [Hiring Developers ## A Complete Guide to Back-End Developer Job Description This is everything you need to know about the responsibilities, skills, and career prospects of back-end developers. Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/back-end-developer-job-description/) [Hiring Developers ## How to Hire for AI Fluency Now That It’s a Critical Skill Based on the CoderPad webinar featuring Bayo Ojuri (CoderPad), Bonnie Dilber (Zapier), and Melany Austin (GoDaddy). “AI fluency” has quietly become a line item in nearly every technical job description. The problem: most teams added the requirement long before they had a reliable way to assess it. You can ask a candidate whether they use […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/how-to-hire-for-ai-fluency-now-that-its-a-critical-skill/) [Hiring Developers ## Hot Takes on Hiring: “AI Fluency” Is a Myth Our CEO, Amanda Richardson, and our Head of Product, Frank Hauben, can’t agree on anything else. We put Amanda and Frank on camera, handed them five spicy hot takes about AI in hiring, and told them not to sit on the fence. They sat on the fence anyway. Here’s what they actually fought about. Amanda […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/hot-takes-on-hiring-ai-fluency-is-a-myth/) [Hiring Developers ## 5 Unfiltered Takes on AI That Engineering Leaders Actually Believe We put a room full of senior engineering leaders together, took away the slides, added beer, and asked them to say the thing they’d never put in a LinkedIn post. No PR-approved talking points, no vendor gloss, just people who ship for a living telling the truth about what AI is doing inside their orgs […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/5-unfiltered-takes-on-ai-that-engineering-leaders-actually-believe/) [Hiring Developers ## Your Developer Interview Loop Is a Year Old. Is It Still Finding Your Best Candidates? A YC-backed founder called me last week with some good questions. His 20-person startup hadn’t hired an engineer in over a year. Now they’re opening reqs again, and instead of just dusting off the old loop, he wanted to understand how interviews had changed and if candidates were ready for AI interviews. His process — […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/your-developer-interview-loop-is-a-year-old-is-it-still-finding-your-best-candidates/) [Hiring Developers ## AI Fluency Is the New Technical Skill. Is Your Hiring Process Ready? Artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed software development. Developers are no longer working in isolation, writing every line of code from memory. AI has become part of the engineering workflow, helping developers brainstorm approaches, generate boilerplate code, and debug complex issues. The question isn’t whether engineers are using AI. It’s how effectively they’re using it. Hiring […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/ai-fluency-is-the-new-technical-skill-is-your-hiring-process-ready/) [Hiring Developers ## AI Didn’t Kill Entry Level Hiring. Bad Screening Did. For the last two years, the narrative has been loud, confident, and mostly wrong: AI is coming for entry level engineering jobs. The story goes something like this: If AI can write code, summarize docs, generate tests, and debug basic issues, why would companies still hire junior engineers? It sounds logical. It is also incomplete. […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/ai-didnt-kill-entry-level-hiring-bad-screening-did/) [Hiring Developers ## The Resume Is Dead. Most Teams Just Haven’t Admitted It Yet. Resumes made sense when applying for a job took real effort. That era is over. AI lets candidates apply to hundreds of roles in the time it once took to write a single cover letter. Employer-side AI systems process the flood. The result is a hiring funnel built almost entirely on artificial signals, where the […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/the-resume-is-dead-most-teams-just-havent-admitted-it-yet/) [Hiring Developers ## Is Your Technical Hiring Process Screening Out Great Engineers? The short answer: Many technical hiring processes are doing the latter. High-friction interview loops, live coding under observation, and AI-restrictive assessments are measuring interview performance, not job performance. The fix isn’t rebuilding from scratch — it’s auditing whether your process measures engineering capability or something else entirely. If you attended our recent webinar with CoderPad […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/is-your-technical-hiring-process-screening-out-great-engineers/) [Hiring Developers ## Junior Developers Are Your Strategic Advantage—If You Can Actually Evaluate Them Campus recruiting season arrives the same way every year: hundreds of applications, a narrow window, and a process that was never designed for this much volume or this much pressure. Meanwhile, the definition of “technical skill” is actively shifting—AI-polished resumes have made traditional screening nearly meaningless, and the skills that predict junior developer success look […] Read the post](https://coderpad.io/blog/hiring-developers/junior-developers-are-your-strategic-advantage-if-you-can-actually-evaluate-them/) ## Hire with confidence. See why engineering teams trust CoderPad to evaluate developers with realistic, AI-ready hiring workflows. [Request a demo](https://coderpad.io/sales/)