Hire Top developers in Costa Rica

Scale your software development capacity with Costa Rica's elite engineers. Exact skill match, natural team dynamics, aligned product vision. We handle sourcing, vetting, and onboarding of tech talent so you ship faster.

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Global organizations that trust in us:
The Costa Rica advantage

Costa Rica's Developer Hub: Premium Nearshore Talent

Tap into Central America's premier tech destination where world-class technical universities meet democratic stability, proven innovation capacity, and perfect time zone alignment for accelerated scaling.

Costa Rica's Growing Tech Workforce

20K+ IT professionals with advanced tech skills power operations for Intel, Amazon, and Microsoft with proven expertise.

Specialized Technical Strengths, Smart Economics

Strong tech skills in cybersecurity, cloud, and enterprise software. 30-50% cost savings versus US rates.

Real-Time Collaboration for Optimal Output

CST/EST alignment enables real-time standups, instant feedback, and agile sprint execution.

Proven Cultural Alignment That Works

High English Proficiency Index (EF Index score: 534) and Western business culture ensure seamless North American integration.

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Costa Rica's Premier
Tech Hubs

Costa Rica powers Central America's tech ecosystem through San José's enterprise hubs and Heredia's innovation zones, driving excellence in cybersecurity, fintech, cloud infrastructure, and data science for US companies.

San Jose

  • 350+ multinationals: Microsoft, IBM, Intel
  • 300+ startups, $3.8B tech exports
  • #3 Americas' Cities FDI strategy 2021

Heredia

  • Amazon, Cisco, HP operations hub
  • Free Trade Zone tech infrastructure
  • Leading engineering talent pipeline

Escazu

  • Premium business & startup district
  • Growing IT consulting presence
  • Urban tech professional community

Santa Ana

  • Fast-growing nearshore destination
  • Modern infrastructure & connectivity
  • Skilled development talent emerging

Cartago

  • ITCR produces 1,200 engineers yearly
  • IBM, Accenture, DHL operations
  • Software development specialization

Success stories from our clients

Dozens of companies are building outstanding teams in Costa Rica, the Lupa Way. Meet them:

"Over the course of 2024, we successfully hired 9 exceptional team members through Lupa, spanning mid-level to senior roles. The quality of talent has been outstanding, and we’ve been able to achieve payroll cost savings while bringing great professionals onto our team. We're very happy with the consultation and attention they've provided us."

RaeAnn Daly
Vice President of Customer Success, Blazeo

“We needed to scale a new team quickly - with top talent. Lupa helped us build a great process, delivered great candidates quickly, and had impeccable service”

Phillip Gutheim
Head of Product, Rappi Bank

“With Lupa, we rebuilt our entire tech team in less than a month. We’re spending half as much on talent. Ten out of ten”

Dan Berzansky
CEO, Oneteam 360

“We scaled our first tech team at record speed with Lupa. We couldn’t be happier with the service and the candidates we were sent.”

Mateo Albarracin
CEO, Bacu

"Recruiting used to be a challenge, but Lupa transformed everything. Their professional, agile team delivers top-quality candidates, understands our needs, and provides exceptional personalized service. Highly recommended!"

Rogerio Arguello
Accounting and Finance Director, Pasos al Éxito

“Lupa has become more than just a provider; it’s a true ally for Pirani in recruitment processes. The team is always available to support and deliver the best service. Additionally, I believe they offer highly competitive rates and service within the market.”

Tania Oquendo Henao
Head of People, Pirani

"Highly professional, patient with our changes, and always maintaining clear communication with candidates. We look forward to continuing to work with you on all our future roles."

Alberto Andrade Chiquete
VP of Revenue, Komet Sales

“Lupa has been an exceptional partner this year, deeply committed to understanding our unique needs and staying flexible to support us. We're excited to continue our collaboration into 2025.”

John Vanko
CTO, GymOwners

"What I love about Lupa is their approach to sharing small, carefully selected batches of candidates. They focus on sending only the three most qualified individuals, which has already helped us successfully fill 7 roles.”

Daniel Ruiz
Head of Engineering, Fuse Finance

"We hired 2 of our key initial developers with Lupa. The consultation was very helpful, the candidates were great and the process has been super fluid. We're already planning to do our next batch of hiring with Lupa. 5 stars."

Joaquin Oliva
Co-Founder, EBI

"Working with Lupa for LatAm hiring has been fantastic. They found us a highly skilled candidate at a better rate than our previous staffing company. The fit is perfect, and we’re excited to collaborate on more roles."

Kim Heger
Chief Talent Officer, Hakkoda

"We compared Lupa with another LatAm headhunter we found through Google, and Lupa delivered a far superior experience. Their consultative approach stood out, and the quality of their candidates was superior. I've hired through Lupa for both of my companies and look forward to building more of my LatAm team with their support."

Josh Berzansky
CEO, Proven Promotions & Vorgee USA

“We’ve worked with Lupa on multiple roles, and they’ve delivered time and again. From sourcing an incredible Senior FullStack Developer to supporting our broader hiring needs, their team has been proactive, kind, and incredibly easy to work with. It really feels like we’ve gained a trusted partner in hiring.”

Jeannine LeBeau
Director of People and Operations, Intevity

Working with Lupa was a great experience. We struggled to find software engineers with a specific skill set in the US, but Lupa helped us refine the role and articulate our needs. Their strategic approach made all the difference in finding the right person. Highly recommend!

Mike Bohlander
CTO and Co-Founder, Outgo

Lupa goes beyond typical headhunters. They helped me craft the role, refine the interview process, and even navigate international payroll. I felt truly supported—and I’m thrilled with the person I hired. What stood out most was their responsiveness and the thoughtful, consultative approach they brought.

Matt Clifford
Founder, Matt B. Clifford Consulting

The Lupa Difference

Traditional recruitment agencies treat people like numbers. We built something different, a consultative approach where quality beats quantity.

Curated Quality Over Volume

We personally vet every tech professional and send just 3–4 top talent matches per role, no resume floods, just pre-vetted excellence.

Speed Without Compromise

Hire software engineers in 7 days and complete full onboarding in 21. Our local talent networks deliver precise, fast recruitment.

97% Talent Retention Rate

Our strategic matching ensures lasting success. 97% of our tech placements remain after one year, outperforming regional averages.

True Partnership Approach

We support your teams beyond placement, from compliance and local labor laws to retention, we’re your software development partner.

Results that matter

40
%
Less Spent

On hiring in Costa Rica with Lupa compared to doing it yourself

+
300
Global Clients

Trust Lupa to simplify hiring and deliver top Costa Rican talent

+
1,000
Candidates Hired

Empowering businesses to grow, scale, thrive, and succeed

95% of our clients return for a 2nd hire!
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The Lupa Way

We identified why the traditional recruiting process was failing and crafted a process that fills those gaps. Unlike traditional recruiting, we see exceptional talent as our product and placements as the first of many results.

A proven process for building exceptional teams in Latin America.
Deep consultation

Deep Consultation

We take time to understand your business, your team, and the bigger picture behind the hire. That first conversation lays the groundwork for a real partnership and makes sure we’re working toward the same definition of success.

Pre-Search Research

Pre-Search Research

Before we start searching, we dive into your company, your market, and the role itself. We map out where the right talent might be, build sample profiles, and prepare smart questions so we can hit the ground running.

Kickoff Meeting

Kickoff Meeting

We kick things off with a focused meeting where we narrow down the essentials. Together, we talk through must-haves, cultural fit, salary expectations, and make sure we’re all on the same page about the role and how the search will run.

Precision Search

Precision Search

We start contacting candidates right away, but we don’t rush it. Every candidate is carefully reviewed, with our team collaborating and double-checking each profile to make sure we’re finding the best possible matches.

Candidate Assessment

Candidate Assessment

We personally interview every candidate, digging into their skills, motivations, past results, and how they’d fit into your team. Our assessments go deeper than resumes so we truly understand each person’s story and what they can bring to your business.

Presentation

Presentation

You’ll get a curated shortlist of 3–4 top candidates, each with a clear summary showing how their skills and experience match what you’re looking for. We make it easy for you to decide with confidence. And if none are quite right, we use your feedback to refine our search and bring you candidates who are even better aligned.

Offer Support

Offer Support

When it’s time to make an offer, we help move the conversation to get everyone aligned and close the deal smoothly. After that, we stay involved to handle contracts, onboarding, and making sure your new hire integrates well into the team.

Ongoing Partnership

Ongoing Partnership

For us, the hire is just the beginning. We stay connected, sharing market insights, checking in on how your team’s doing, and supporting you as your Latin American operations keep growing.

Hire Costa Rican Software Developers Across Every Role

Connect with English-fluent software engineers spanning 80+ specialized roles, from cloud architects to cybersecurity experts, thoroughly screened and integration-ready.

3 Ways to Hire Software Developers in Costa Rica

From direct hires to full-cycle recruitment, we handle every aspect of hiring nearshore engineers: expert matching, compliance, and ongoing support.

Recruiting

We handpick talent that fits your culture and salary rates, delivering pre-vetted candidates within a week through our proven process.

Staffing

Everything in recruiting plus employment contracts and payroll cycle management. Navigate Costa Rica's tax system seamlessly, compliantly, and stress-free.

RPO Solutions

We embed our recruiters within your team for precise hiring at optimized hourly rates, building long-term partnerships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Costa Rica a top nearshore software development location for US companies?

Costa Rica offers 20K+ tech talent in CST time zone, enabling real-time collaboration with US companies. The country hosts Fortune 500 R&D centers, has strong STEM education from top universities, and provides 30-50% cost savings. San José ranks among top Americas cities for IT services and software engineering excellence.

How does Costa Rica's talent pool compare to other Latin America nearshore locations?

Costa Rica's Software Developer workforce excels in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and enterprise software. With higher English proficiency than most nearshore locations, strong tech infrastructure, and 75+ years of democratic stability, it's ideal for IT Staff Augmentation requiring advanced communication skills and reliability.

What are typical salary rates for hiring remote tech talent in Costa Rica?

Software engineering salary rates in Costa Rica range from $25-60K annually depending on seniority, offering 30-50% savings versus US rates. Junior developers cost $25-35K, mid-level $35-45K, and senior engineers $45-60K. These competitive rates combined with CST time zone alignment maximize ROI for agile methodologies.

Which Costa Rican cities offer the best tech talent for nearshore software development?

San José leads with Microsoft, IBM, and 300+ startups. Heredia hosts the American Free Zone with Amazon and Intel operations. Escazú offers premium IT services firms, while Cartago provides fresh STEM education graduates from top universities. All cities support digital transformation initiatives.

Why do Fortune 500 companies choose Costa Rica for IT Staff Augmentation?

Fortune 500 firms leverage Costa Rica's proven IT sector stability, government incentives, and mature tech infrastructure. The country's R&D centers deliver enterprise-grade cloud computing solutions, while bilingual tech talent ensures seamless communication. Democratic stability and IP protections reduce operational risks.

How does Costa Rica support agile methodologies for remote software development teams?

CST time zone enables daily standups and real-time sprint planning with US companies. Costa Rica's tech talent brings experience from digital transformation projects at multinational R&D centers. Strong internet infrastructure and proven communication skills ensure effective agile collaboration across distributed teams.