Hiring outlook, remote working rates, and which companies are actively recruiting.
C/C++ demand is stable and high-value. The language is irreplaceable in systems programming, embedded, and performance-critical domains, and the supply of experienced C++ developers is structurally low relative to demand.
of UK C/C++ Developer roles advertise remote or hybrid working
Year-on-year salary movement in UK. Positive movement signals active market competition.
Strongest in: Low-latency trading, embedded systems, and telecommunications demand with structurally thin supply
C/C++ demand is stable and high-value. The language is irreplaceable in systems programming, embedded, and performance-critical domains, and the supply of experienced C++ developers is structurally low relative to demand.
Who companies hire: Computer science graduates specialising in systems programming, embedded systems engineers, C developers adding modern C++ skills, and software engineers from adjacent systems languages (Rust, Ada).
Salary premium over the UK median for C/C++ Developers who list these skills.
Companies with consistent or active C/C++ Developer hiring in UK.
Yes, consistently in demand. The supply of experienced C++ developers is structurally lower than demand, which keeps salaries high and time-to-fill long for employers. Financial trading firms, telecommunications companies (Ericsson, Nokia), embedded systems companies, and the gaming industry all rely on C++ and cannot easily substitute other languages.
Ericsson Ireland is one of the largest hirers of C++ developers in Dublin, particularly for 5G and network systems work. Stripe hires C++ engineers for performance-critical backend infrastructure. Intel Ireland, Trend Micro, and Workday also hire C++ developers. The financial services sector hires for trading platform and risk system development, often via smaller quantitative finance firms or the Irish offices of global trading firms.
Low-latency programming and understanding of CPU architecture, cache behaviour, and memory alignment command the highest premiums. RTOS and embedded Linux expertise is valuable in automotive and telecommunications. C++20 proficiency, multithreading and concurrency patterns, and experience with lock-free data structures are strongly valued. Domain expertise in financial markets or telecommunications adds further salary premium beyond the core language skills.
Around 70 percent hybrid. Application-level C++ developers work remotely with few constraints. Embedded systems developers who work with physical hardware have less remote flexibility. Financial trading firms tend to have stricter office attendance requirements due to the sensitivity of their systems and the collaborative nature of quantitative development. Most Irish C++ developer roles offer at least 3 days remote per week.