High-Tech in Spain

Spain has quite a few global companies and growing startups. Some are based in Madrid, a few in Malaga, but the majority are in Barcelona. A cheaper labor market compared to other European countries, Spain’s decentralized entrepreneurial geography, and its attractive lifestyle make it a very interesting startup hub.You can find many growing tech startups across different stages in areas like Biotech, Fintech, Travel, and more, but also unicorns and global companies with a local presence, such as HP, Amazon, and others.

The city with the largest high-tech presence (startups/global corporations) is Barcelona, followed by Madrid, Valencia, Bilbao, Seville, and Malaga, in that order.

Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga are characterized by companies with a more global organizational culture, employees from different countries, an international work environment, and more job opportunities in English compared to the others mentioned.

Today, there are about 11,000 active startups in Spain! This positions the major startup hubs, Barcelona and Madrid, among the top six cities with the largest startup ecosystems in Europe, alongside tech hubs like London, Paris, Berlin, and Dublin.

The Spanish government, along with various EU funds, supports, encourages, and funds technological entrepreneurship in Spain through different programs and legislation aimed at promoting growth and foreign investments.

Currently, the highest demand in Spanish high-tech is for roles in development, product management, and data. Companies are recruiting and relocating employees with relevant experience from around the world, with a clear preference for those holding a European passport (mainly due to the costs and time involved in processing a work visa, which typically takes around three months).

Many companies support and fund relocation to Spain, including the work permit process.

How to Search for a High-Tech Job in Spain?

• LinkedIn is the best platform for job searching in tech companies of all types. It’s also a good idea to stay active on Glassdoor and Indeed.

• Focus on startups and international companies with a presence in Spain, and also look for jobs at other European companies that hire remotely.

• Many people work for German, French, or other European companies while living elsewhere, as these companies have opened legal entities in Spain to legally employ workers.

Many Israelis choose to continue working for Israeli companies, getting paid in Israel while living in Spain.

Salary benchmark for high-tech in Spain:Payscale Spain

Important Tax Tip: Beckham LawSpain offers a special tax incentive for foreigners, the Beckham Law. Instead of paying a progressive income tax rate, you pay a flat rate of 24% during your eligibility period.Even if your salary in Spain is lower than in Israel, this tax benefit can result in higher net earnings.It’s crucial to apply for this as soon as you start working in Spain to be eligible.

Job Search Tips:

1. Prepare an English CV for LinkedIn applications without an Israeli address or phone number — instead, list: Barcelona, Spain and your email. Make sure your CV matches your LinkedIn profile. If you have a European passport, mention it in your CV.

2. Your LinkedIn profile is your business card: it must be updated, professional, and with a clear, good-quality profile picture.

3. If you have already moved to Spain (e.g., if you have a European passport), or are about to move soon, update your LinkedIn location to Madrid/another Spanish city to increase your visibility to local recruiters.

4. Besides submitting your resume via LinkedIn, it's recommended to reach out directly to the recruiter who posted the position or the company’s hiring manager.

5. During the relocation process, you’ll usually be managed by the HR/recruitment team. After signing the offer, an external relocation expert (usually a local law firm or a global consultancy firm) might take over to help with work permits and other procedures.

6. Know the difference: Offer letter (general job offer) vs. Employment contract (detailed job agreement). For work visa applications and other processes, you’ll need a signed employment contract, often bilingual (English/Spanish). Make sure all agreed terms from the offer are reflected in the final contract.

Good luck!

Thanks to Rinat Bieler-Hayon for the content originally posted in the Facebook group 'High-Tech Professionals in Europe' (Job market and high-tech industry in Spain).