If you’ve ever wondered why the best VP of Engineering or CTO roles never seem to reach LinkedIn, here’s the truth: they rarely do.
For senior technology leadership positions in Europe, most searches are run confidentially through retained executive search firms and trusted networks. Multiple industry analyses show that 60–80% of executive roles are never publicly advertised, and referrals remain one of the most reliable paths to landing an offer. Only a small fraction of €200–500k-level positions ever appear on job boards.
Across Europe, there are roughly 40,000–50,000 active CTO/VP Engineering roles, and about 10–15% turnover each year, meaning around 4,000–6,000 executive transitions annually. But the majority of these moves happen behind the scenes, not through job postings.
At CareerCrackers, we’ve helped dozens of technology leaders land new positions by getting them into these invisible conversations.
If you want a deeper overview of how this works, download our free Playbook PDF.
It breaks down the strategies and real-world examples behind landing €250–500k+ roles without ever applying online.
1. The Real Market: Who’s Hiring and Where
Europe’s tech leadership landscape continues to expand rapidly across both established enterprises and AI-driven scale-ups.
Top hiring countries: 🇬🇧 UK, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, and 🇵🇱 Poland
Hot cities: London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, Zurich
Industries on the rise:
FinTech and AI/ML in the UK and DACH
SaaS and productivity tools across the Nordics and the Netherlands
ClimateTech, Energy, and Mobility in Germany and France
HealthTech in Switzerland and Scandinavia
If you want to compete in this market, you don’t need to send more CVs.
You need visibility and insider access to decision-makers.
Book an intro call with our team, and we’ll show you how to map the 100 companies most likely to hire someone like you.
2. Why You Don’t See These Jobs Online
Companies rarely publish their senior tech openings because:
they don’t want competitors or investors to panic,
they don’t want internal teams to know too early, and
they don’t want to sift through hundreds of irrelevant applications.
Instead, they rely on retained recruiters, private introductions, and quiet outreach through trusted networks.
That’s why your relationships and positioning matter more than your résumé.
A recruiter scanning LinkedIn doesn’t look for “potential.” They filter for authority, relevance, and clarity of value.
We’ve seen VPs of Engineering go from 400 profile views per year to three recruiter messages per week and multiple interview offers, without applying once.
3. The 2025 Hiring Wave — Insights from the AI Job Opportunity Scanner
To help clients stay ahead of hidden opportunities, CareerCrackers developed the AI Job Opportunity Scanner. It’s a live system that tracks company signals across Europe, including funding rounds, leadership changes, expansion plans, and new engineering hubs.
Here’s a recent snapshot (Q4 2025) of 20 European companies currently showing VP of Engineering or CTO-level hiring signals:
List of companies, part 1
List of companies, part 2
These companies were surfaced by AI signal analysis. Our system monitors funding, expansion, product launches, and leadership movements to alert clients when senior hiring is likely to start.
The crazy thing is that the same system doesn’t stop there! It also automatically identifies the decision-makers inside those target companies (founders, CTOs, CEOs, or HR leaders) and suggests short personalized intro emails so you can start genuine conversations and build relationships BEFORE roles are even announced.
Our clients at CareerCrackers get private access to this dashboard, updated weekly. You’ll know which companies are gearing up to hire before a single job post goes live. If you’d like access, book your intro call today.
4. What Companies Are Looking for in 2025
Different organizations are searching for different types of leaders:
Builder VPs: Hands-on leaders for AI-native or fast-moving Series A companies
Transformation VPs: Experts in scaling post–Series B and private-equity-backed firms
Delivery VPs: Process-driven leaders to stabilize engineering in growth phases
Fractional or Interim CTOs: Experienced specialists for spin-offs or innovation units
The average tenure for technology executives is around 3–5 years, so the leadership carousel keeps turning. Positioning yourself strategically is what gets you noticed when that next opportunity appears.
Book an intro call and we’ll help you identify where your skills, timing, and visibility align best.
5. The AI + Human System That Opens Hidden Doors
CareerCrackers gives every client access to an integrated ecosystem of AI career agents and 1-on-1 expert guidance that accelerates results:
🤖 AI Job Opportunity Scanner
Detects when target companies are likely to hire, based on funding, expansion, and leadership signals.
💬 AI Networking Agent
Automatically identifies and messages key decision-makers in your target employers.
🧠 AI Content Agent
Posts curated industry insights and updates under your name — keeping you visible without lifting a finger.
🎯 AI Interview Coach
Simulates executive interview scenarios and provides instant feedback.
🚀 AI Career Positioning Engine
Refines your professional narrative and LinkedIn presence to match what headhunters actually search for.
And on top of that, real, human guidance. Our experts help you shape your story, open the right doors, and stay accountable until you land the role you want.
Final Thought
The European VP of Engineering market isn’t broken, it’s just hidden. The leaders who understand how it really works don’t wait for job posts. They build visibility, trust, and a network that brings opportunities to them.
If you’re serious about your next €150–300k+ move, let’s talk. CareerCrackers helps technology leaders across Europe make that leap. Strategically, quietly, and successfully.
Book your Career Strategy Intro Call now and make sure the right people know your name before the next opening even goes live.