Hire Remote Software Engineers in the UK
Hiring software engineers in the UK is slow and expensive. OSCABE gives UK companies dedicated, fully-managed software engineers from India and the Middle East from £2,200 per month, typically around 52% below the local cost of a comparable in-house hire. OSCABE vets, employs, manages and pays each software engineer under one UK contract, so you get a dedicated team member without opening an overseas entity.
What does it cost to hire software engineers in the UK?
A tight, expensive talent market with long time-to-hire across UK tech hubs. The table below compares the indicative local cost of an in-house hire with a dedicated, fully-managed OSCABE professional. Figures are indicative estimates in GBP; OSCABE bills monthly in GBP or EUR.
| Seniority | Local in-house (per year) | OSCABE managed | Indicative annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level | £55,000 | £2,200/mo | £28,600 |
| Senior | £85,000 | £4,200/mo | £34,600 |
Local figures are salary only and exclude employer taxes, recruitment fees, equipment and overheads, which typically add 20-40% on top.
Why hire software engineers through OSCABE?
Around 52% lower cost
A dedicated OSCABE software engineer starts at £2,200 per month, with no recruitment fees and no overseas entity to run.
Start in days, not months
Skip the long the UK hiring cycle. OSCABE shortlists pre-vetted software engineers and your chosen hire can start within days.
Compliant and managed
Because OSCABE provides a managed B2B service with the professional employed and working wholly overseas, your UK company stays outside the off-payroll (IR35) rules and avoids the cost of an overseas entity. OSCABE is UK GDPR compliant and ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Dedicated, not freelance
Your software engineer works only for you, in your hours and tools, fully managed by OSCABE. Not a marketplace or a rotating contractor.
Skills our software engineers bring
Full-stack and product engineers who ship features end to end. Every OSCABE software engineer passes a five-step vetting process before they reach your shortlist.
What to look for when you hire software engineers
Whether you hire locally in the UK or through OSCABE, these are the things that separate a strong software engineer from an average one. Our senior specialist interview checks every one before you see a shortlist.
Ask for a code sample and a system design
A real pull request and a short architecture walk-through tell you far more than a CV. Our senior interview captures both, with the recording and notes.
Check testing and delivery discipline
Look for engineers who write tests, review pull requests and ship behind CI, not just write features. We assess this directly in the technical interview.
Match your exact stack
React, Node, Python, .NET and Go each take years to master. We shortlist on your specific stack, not a generic full-stack label.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a software engineer in the UK?
A mid-level software engineer in the UK typically costs around £55,000 per year in salary alone, before employer taxes, recruitment and overheads. A dedicated, fully-managed OSCABE software engineer starts at £2,200 per month (about 52% less), with no recruitment fees and no overseas entity required.
How quickly can OSCABE provide a software engineer?
OSCABE shortlists pre-vetted software engineers from its India and Middle East talent network, and a chosen software engineer can typically start within days, not the months a local hire in the UK usually takes.
Is it legal and compliant for a company in the United Kingdom to hire an offshore software engineer?
Because OSCABE provides a managed B2B service with the professional employed and working wholly overseas, your UK company stays outside the off-payroll (IR35) rules and avoids the cost of an overseas entity. OSCABE is UK GDPR compliant and ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Will the software engineer work in my time zone?
Yes. Full working-day overlap with UK hours. OSCABE software engineers work your business hours, join your stand-ups and use your tools, just like an in-house team member.
Hire software engineers elsewhere
Other roles in the UK
Further reading: offshore vs nearshore vs managed team, the true cost of hiring, and how managed remote employees work.
Ready to hire software engineers for the United Kingdom?
Tell us the role and we will shortlist vetted, dedicated software engineers and send a monthly cost breakdown. From £2,200 per month, one UK contract.
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