Why Global Companies Hire DevOps Engineers from Belgium
Belgium offers distinctive advantages for companies seeking DevOps engineering talent:
- Advanced Technical Education – Belgian universities and technical institutes produce graduates with strong foundations in computer science, engineering, and modern CI/CD methodologies.
- Mature Tech Ecosystem – Belgium hosts EU institutions and numerous tech companies, creating a vibrant DevOps community with experience in complex enterprise deployments.
- Infrastructure Expertise – Belgian DevOps engineers typically excel at cloud infrastructure management and optimization, particularly with European data sovereignty requirements.
- Multilingual Capabilities – Most Belgian tech professionals speak at least three languages (Dutch, French, and English), facilitating collaboration across global development teams.
- Strategic EU Location – Belgium’s position as the de facto EU capital means many engineers have experience with international organizations and cross-border compliance requirements.
Who Should Consider Hiring Belgium DevOps Engineers
Several types of organizations stand to benefit significantly from Belgian DevOps expertise:
- Enterprise Organizations – Large companies with complex infrastructure needs seeking engineers experienced in managing multi-region deployments and enterprise-grade tools.
- FinTech and Financial Services – Companies requiring engineers familiar with strict security compliance, high-availability systems, and regulatory frameworks common in Belgium’s financial sector.
- Scale-up Companies – Growing organizations looking to establish robust infrastructure automation and deployment pipelines with European best practices.
- EU-Focused Tech Companies – Organizations with significant European operations requiring engineers familiar with EU data regulations, hosting requirements, and regional cloud providers.
- SaaS Providers – Software-as-a-service companies needing expertise in containerization, microservices architecture, and continuous deployment pipelines.
Key Skills and Specializations for DevOps Engineers
Belgian DevOps engineers typically possess a comprehensive skill set combining infrastructure management, automation, and development capabilities:
| Skill Category | Specific Competencies |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure as Code | Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible, Puppet, Chef |
| Cloud Platforms | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OVHcloud (European provider) |
| Containerization & Orchestration | Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift, container security |
| CI/CD | Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, CircleCI, ArgoCD |
| Monitoring & Observability | Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Datadog, New Relic |
| Security | DevSecOps, compliance automation, vulnerability scanning, IAM |
Many Belgian DevOps engineers also possess specialized certifications from cloud providers and container orchestration platforms that enhance their expertise.
Experience Levels of Belgium DevOps Engineers
The Belgian tech sector offers DevOps professionals at various career stages, each bringing distinct value:
Junior DevOps Engineers (0-2 years)
Recent graduates or IT professionals transitioning into DevOps roles. They typically have strong theoretical knowledge of CI/CD concepts, basic scripting abilities, and familiarity with containerization. Junior engineers often excel at tasks like pipeline configuration, basic infrastructure management, and monitoring setup. While they may need guidance on complex architectures, they bring fresh perspectives and are quick to adopt emerging technologies.
Mid-Level DevOps Engineers (3-5 years)
These professionals have developed substantial hands-on experience with infrastructure automation, deployment pipelines, and cloud platforms. They can independently design and implement CI/CD workflows, manage Kubernetes clusters, and develop Infrastructure as Code solutions. Mid-level Belgian DevOps engineers often have specialized expertise in particular domains like security automation, container orchestration, or cloud optimization. They contribute both technical implementation and architectural input.
Senior DevOps Engineers (6+ years)
Senior Belgian DevOps engineers bring strategic thinking, architectural expertise, and extensive cross-platform knowledge. They can design resilient, scalable infrastructure strategies, lead DevOps transformations, and implement complex multi-region deployments. Many have experience with high-compliance environments common in Belgian finance, healthcare, or government sectors. Their value extends beyond technical implementation to mentorship, organizational strategy, and bridging technical and business requirements.
Hiring Models to Choose From
When bringing Belgian DevOps talent into your organization, several engagement models are available, each with distinct advantages:
| Hiring Model | Best For | Advantages | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Employment | Long-term infrastructure and platform engineering | Deep knowledge retention, commitment to systems, team integration | Higher commitment, Belgian employment regulations, benefits requirements |
| Contract/Freelance | Project-based implementations, specialized DevOps initiatives | Flexibility, specialized expertise, defined project scope | Knowledge transfer challenges, potential misclassification risks |
| Staff Augmentation | Team extension, specialized skill gaps, scaling DevOps capabilities | Quick access to vetted talent, scalability, minimal management overhead | Premium rates, integration with internal teams, IP considerations |
| Managed DevOps Services | Full infrastructure management, platform operation | Comprehensive solution, SLA guarantees, 24/7 coverage | Less direct control, potential lock-in to specific tooling |
| Employer of Record (EOR) | Companies without Belgian entity seeking compliant employment | Full compliance, simplified administration, faster onboarding | Service fees, indirect employment relationship |
Organizations looking for flexible scaling options often find staff augmentation companies in Belgium to be valuable partners, especially when specific DevOps specializations are required.
How to Legally Hire DevOps Engineers in Belgium
Employing DevOps talent in Belgium requires navigating the country’s comprehensive employment framework. Two primary approaches exist:
| Aspect | Legal Entity Setup | Employer of Record (EOR) |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Implementation | 3-6 months (entity registration + hiring process) | 2-3 weeks (immediate compliance solution) |
| Initial Investment | €50,000+ (legal fees, registration, office space) | No setup costs beyond employee salary |
| Ongoing Administration | Substantial (legal, accounting, HR, payroll, compliance) | Minimal (handled by EOR provider) |
| Compliance Responsibility | Full company liability | Primarily managed by EOR partner |
| Scaling Flexibility | Fixed overhead regardless of team size | Proportional to headcount (per-employee pricing) |
| Exit Strategy | Complex entity dissolution process | Simple contract termination |
For companies hiring DevOps engineers without established presence in Belgium, Asanify’s Employer of Record solution eliminates compliance risks while maintaining full work direction. Our platform handles all employment complexities including contracts, benefits administration, payroll, and regulatory compliance.
Organizations looking for broader hiring options might also consider working with staffing agencies in Belgium that specialize in technical recruitment.
Step-by-Step Guide to Hiring DevOps Engineers in Belgium
Follow this structured approach to successfully bring Belgian DevOps talent into your organization:
Step 1: Define Clear Requirements
Begin by developing a comprehensive profile of your ideal DevOps engineer. Consider required technical skills (specific cloud platforms, CI/CD tools, programming languages), experience level, industry background, and specialized knowledge areas (e.g., Kubernetes, security automation, specific monitoring tools). Define the scope of responsibilities, reporting structure, and key success metrics for the role.
Step 2: Select Your Hiring Model
Based on your business needs, determine whether direct employment, contract work, staff augmentation, or an Employer of Record arrangement best suits your requirements. Consider factors like hiring timeline, budget constraints, flexibility needs, and your organization’s existing presence in Belgium. For companies without a Belgian entity, the EOR model offers the fastest path to compliant hiring.
Step 3: Source Quality Candidates
Leverage multiple channels to find qualified Belgian DevOps engineers:
- Specialized tech recruitment agencies
- DevOps-focused job boards and LinkedIn
- Belgian tech communities and meetup groups
- GitHub and open-source contribution networks
- Technical conferences and events in Belgium
Step 4: Evaluate Technical and Cultural Fit
Implement a thorough assessment process:
- Resume screening for relevant experience and certifications
- Technical screening calls to validate core competencies
- Practical assessments (infrastructure coding tasks, system design challenges)
- Panel interviews with engineering leadership
- Cultural fit assessment for alignment with team dynamics
Step 5: Compliant Onboarding
Once you’ve selected your ideal candidate, implement a structured onboarding process. This includes generating Belgian-compliant employment contracts, registering with relevant authorities, setting up payroll, and ensuring all local employment requirements are met. Asanify streamlines this entire process for companies using our Employer of Record solution, ensuring all compliance requirements are handled while you focus on integrating your new DevOps engineer into your technical team.
Salary Benchmarks
Belgian DevOps engineers’ compensation varies based on experience, specialization, and location. The following benchmarks reflect typical annual gross salaries (excluding benefits):
| Experience Level | Annual Gross Salary Range (EUR) | Additional Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (0-2 years) | €45,000 – €60,000 | Meal vouchers, transportation allowance, occasional bonuses |
| Mid-Level (3-5 years) | €60,000 – €85,000 | Performance bonuses (5-15%), meal vouchers, company car/allowance, pension contributions |
| Senior (6+ years) | €85,000 – €110,000 | Performance bonuses (10-20%), company car, comprehensive benefits package, sometimes equity |
| Lead/Architect | €100,000 – €130,000+ | Significant bonuses, equity options, executive benefits |
Note that positions in Brussels typically command higher salaries than other Belgian regions, and specialized expertise in areas like Kubernetes, security automation, or multi-cloud architecture often warrants premium compensation.
For comparison, you can also explore the costs to hire DevOps engineers in India, which may be significantly different from Belgian compensation levels.
What Skills to Look for When Hiring DevOps Engineers
When evaluating Belgian DevOps engineers, consider both technical competencies and soft skills that indicate long-term success:
Essential Technical Skills
- Infrastructure Automation – Proficiency with tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or Pulumi for implementing infrastructure as code
- CI/CD Implementation – Experience building and optimizing continuous integration and deployment pipelines
- Container Orchestration – Knowledge of Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, or similar technologies for managing containerized applications
- Cloud Platform Expertise – Hands-on experience with major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their native DevOps services
- Monitoring and Observability – Skills implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack, etc.)
- Scripting and Automation – Proficiency in languages like Python, Bash, or Go for automation and tooling development
Valuable Soft Skills
- Problem-Solving – Ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure and deployment issues
- Communication – Clear, effective communication with development teams, operations, and management
- Collaboration – Capacity to work effectively across departments and foster DevOps culture
- Documentation – Willingness to create and maintain thorough technical documentation
- Continuous Learning – Demonstrated commitment to staying current with rapidly evolving DevOps practices and tools
- Incident Response – Calm, methodical approach to handling production incidents and outages
Valuable Certifications
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
- Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer
- Google Cloud Professional DevOps Engineer
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Terraform Certified Associate
- Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration
Legal and Compliance Considerations
Employing DevOps engineers in Belgium requires understanding several key compliance areas:
Employment Contracts
Belgian law requires detailed written employment contracts that specify working conditions, compensation, and termination terms. For DevOps roles, contracts often include specific provisions about on-call duties, intellectual property rights, and confidentiality regarding infrastructure and security configurations.
Working Time Regulations
The standard workweek is 38 hours, though IT roles often have flexibility. DevOps positions frequently involve on-call rotations and incident response outside regular hours, which must be structured in compliance with Belgian labor laws regarding rest periods and overtime compensation.
Mandatory Benefits
Employers must provide several statutory benefits including:
- Minimum 20 days of paid vacation annually
- Sick leave provisions
- 13th month salary (year-end premium)
- Double holiday pay
- Meal vouchers (common in the tech sector)
IP and Data Security
DevOps engineers handle sensitive systems and data. Contracts must clearly address intellectual property ownership, data protection responsibilities, and compliance with GDPR when handling infrastructure that processes personal data.
Remote Work Regulations
Belgium has specific requirements for remote work arrangements, including equipment provision, expense reimbursement, and monitoring limitations. These are particularly relevant for DevOps roles that can often be performed remotely.
Asanify’s Employer of Record service manages these complex compliance requirements, ensuring your DevOps hiring remains fully compliant with all Belgian regulations while eliminating administrative burden for your organization.
Common Challenges Global Employers Face
Companies hiring DevOps engineers in Belgium frequently encounter several obstacles:
Competitive Tech Market
Belgium has a growing tech ecosystem with strong demand for DevOps talent, particularly in Brussels and Antwerp. Companies often face competition from both Belgian firms and international organizations with local offices.
Salary Expectations
Belgian DevOps engineers command premium compensation packages including substantial benefits. Foreign employers sometimes face sticker shock compared to other markets, especially when factoring in mandatory employer contributions.
Work Authorization
For non-EU DevOps candidates, navigating Belgian work permit requirements can be complex and time-consuming, potentially delaying critical infrastructure projects.
On-Call and Overtime Regulations
Belgian labor law has specific requirements regarding on-call time, incident response, and work outside regular hours – all common in DevOps roles. Structuring these arrangements compliantly can be challenging for foreign employers.
Remote Work Compliance
While DevOps roles are often suitable for remote work, Belgian regulations impose specific requirements on remote work arrangements that employers must navigate carefully.
Asanify eliminates these challenges through our comprehensive Employer of Record solution. We manage all employment compliance, payroll, and HR administration, allowing you to focus on the technical value your Belgian DevOps engineers bring to your organization rather than administrative complexities.
Best Practices for Managing Remote DevOps Engineers in Belgium
Maximizing productivity and engagement with Belgian DevOps talent requires thoughtful management practices:
Establish Clear On-Call Expectations
Define precise protocols for incident response, escalation procedures, and on-call rotations. Belgian professionals appreciate structured approaches that respect work-life boundaries while ensuring critical systems remain supported.
Implement Robust Access Management
Ensure your Belgian DevOps engineers have secure, reliable access to necessary infrastructure, repositories, and management tools. Consider security requirements under GDPR and implement proper access controls, VPNs, and multi-factor authentication.
Create Documentation Standards
Establish clear expectations for infrastructure documentation, runbooks, and knowledge sharing. Belgian DevOps professionals typically value thorough documentation practices that facilitate knowledge transfer across distributed teams.
Define SLAs and Success Metrics
Implement clear service level agreements for infrastructure performance, deployment frequency, incident response times, and other key DevOps metrics. Transparent performance expectations help remote engineers prioritize effectively.
Establish Regular Synchronization
Schedule consistent team meetings that accommodate time zones, focusing on sprint planning, architecture decisions, and retrospectives. Supplement with asynchronous communication channels for day-to-day collaboration.
Invest in Career Development
Support ongoing learning in emerging technologies, cloud certifications, and specialized DevOps domains. Belgian tech professionals typically value employers who invest in expanding their technical capabilities and career advancement.
Why Use Asanify to Hire DevOps Engineers in Belgium
Asanify’s comprehensive Employer of Record solution offers significant advantages for companies hiring Belgian DevOps talent:
Rapid Deployment
Hire Belgian DevOps engineers in days rather than months. Our streamlined process eliminates entity setup and bureaucratic delays while ensuring every compliance requirement is met from day one.
Complete Compliance Management
We handle all aspects of Belgian employment compliance, from generating locally compliant contracts to managing complex payroll requirements, on-call compensation structures, and tax withholding. Our team stays current with all regulatory changes affecting tech employment.
Tech-Specific Expertise
Our specialists understand the unique requirements of DevOps roles, including appropriate compensation structures, on-call arrangements, remote work setups, and industry-standard benefits packages that attract top talent.
Seamless Onboarding
We provide a smooth, professional experience for your new DevOps engineers, handling all administrative aspects while you focus on technical onboarding and integration with your infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines.
Risk Mitigation
Our legal experts ensure your DevOps relationships remain compliant with all Belgian regulations, protecting your organization from misclassification risks, labor disputes, or compliance penalties.
Competitive Benefits Administration
We help structure attractive benefits packages that appeal to Belgian tech talent, including meal vouchers, mobility options, and professional development allowances common in the local market.
FAQs: Hiring DevOps Engineer in Belgium
What qualifications should I look for in a Belgian DevOps engineer?
Look for candidates with computer science or engineering degrees from respected Belgian institutions, hands-on experience with modern cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), proficiency in infrastructure automation (Terraform, Ansible), and container orchestration (Kubernetes). Valuable certifications include cloud provider credentials (AWS/Azure/GCP DevOps certifications), Kubernetes administration (CKA/CKAD), and security certifications.
How much does it cost to hire a DevOps engineer in Belgium?
Total employment costs typically range from €65,000-€170,000 annually depending on seniority. This includes gross salary (€45,000-€130,000), employer social security contributions (approximately 25%), mandatory benefits, and tech-sector perks like meal vouchers and mobility allowances. On-call compensation may add additional costs.
What are the mandatory benefits for DevOps engineers in Belgium?
Required benefits include health insurance contributions, minimum 20 vacation days, year-end premium (13th month), double holiday pay, and parental leave provisions. Tech employers typically also provide meal vouchers (€8-11 daily), eco-vouchers, mobility budget or company car, and supplemental pension plans to remain competitive.
Can I hire Belgian DevOps engineers as independent contractors?
With caution. Belgium has strict criteria for legitimate independent contractor relationships. DevOps engineers performing core infrastructure functions with regular hours and management oversight typically qualify as employees under Belgian law. Misclassification penalties are severe. For flexibility without compliance risk, Asanify’s EOR solution provides a better alternative.
How long does it take to hire a DevOps engineer in Belgium?
The hiring timeline spans 4-8 weeks for direct recruitment, including interview cycles and notice periods (typically 1-3 months for experienced DevOps professionals). Entity setup, if required, adds 2-4 months. Using Asanify’s EOR solution eliminates entity setup time and streamlines onboarding to 1-2 weeks after candidate selection.
What technical stack is common among Belgian DevOps engineers?
Belgian DevOps professionals typically work with AWS or Azure as primary cloud platforms, Terraform for infrastructure as code, Kubernetes for container orchestration, and GitLab CI or GitHub Actions for CI/CD pipelines. Many also have experience with monitoring stacks like Prometheus/Grafana and ELK. Python is the most common automation language, with Bash and Go also widely used.
How should on-call duties be structured for Belgian DevOps engineers?
Belgian labor law requires proper compensation for on-call time. Best practices include rotating schedules (typically no more than one week in four), clear escalation procedures, standby compensation even when not actively resolving incidents, and time-off consideration following major incidents. Asanify helps structure compliant on-call arrangements that balance business needs with employee wellbeing.
What language requirements exist for DevOps engineers in Belgium?
English proficiency is essential. Depending on team location, Dutch (Flanders) or French (Wallonia) may be beneficial but are often not strict requirements for technical roles. In Brussels, multilingual capabilities are common but international tech teams frequently operate in English. Documentation is typically maintained in English regardless of local language.
How do Belgian DevOps engineers approach work-life balance?
Belgian work culture values clear boundaries between professional and personal time. DevOps teams typically implement structured on-call rotations, incident response protocols, and escalation paths to distribute responsibility. While responsive to critical issues, Belgian engineers expect compensation or time-off for after-hours work and sustainable on-call patterns.
Can I hire a DevOps engineer in Belgium without establishing a legal entity?
Yes, through an Employer of Record service like Asanify. We legally employ the DevOps engineer on your behalf, managing all compliance, payroll, and HR administration while you maintain day-to-day technical direction and work assignments.
What termination rules apply for DevOps engineers in Belgium?
Belgium has protective termination regulations. Notice periods are based on seniority and can range from several weeks to several months for experienced engineers. Termination requires justification, proper documentation, and often involves severance calculations. Technical roles may have additional intellectual property and system access considerations during offboarding.
How can I ensure proper knowledge transfer with remote Belgian DevOps engineers?
Implement structured documentation requirements for infrastructure, establish collaborative repositories for runbooks and processes, conduct regular pair programming or shadowing sessions, and leverage video recordings for complex system explanations. Belgian engineers typically respond well to clear documentation expectations and defined knowledge sharing processes.
Conclusion
Hiring DevOps engineers in Belgium offers organizations access to highly skilled technical talent with strong infrastructure automation capabilities, cloud expertise, and experience working in complex enterprise environments. The Belgian DevOps community provides exceptional value for companies seeking to establish robust CI/CD pipelines, implement infrastructure as code, and build reliable, scalable technical operations.
While navigating Belgium’s employment regulations presents challenges, these are far outweighed by the technical advantages Belgian DevOps professionals bring to global organizations. By selecting the appropriate hiring model and ensuring proper compliance management, companies can successfully integrate these valuable team members into their technical operations.
For organizations seeking to hire Belgian DevOps engineers without establishing a legal entity, Asanify’s Employer of Record solution provides the ideal balance of compliance, simplicity, and control. Our comprehensive platform eliminates administrative complexities while ensuring your DevOps team can focus on building and maintaining your critical infrastructure from day one.
Not to be considered as tax, legal, financial or HR advice. Regulations change over time so please consult a lawyer, accountant or Labour Law expert for specific guidance.
