Complete guide

How to find software developers in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu
March 1, 2023
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Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia. Located on the northwest tip of the island of Borneo, Kota Kinabalu is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches, lush tropical forests, and vibrant cultural heritage. It is a great base for exploring the neighbouring islands and is home to a number of attractions, including the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Waterfront Esplanade, and the Sabah State Museum. From diving and snorkelling to shopping and dining, Kota Kinabalu has something for everyone. Kota Kinabalu is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Kota Kinabalu are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Kota Kinabalu you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Kota Kinabalu, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Kota Kinabalu is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, Malaysia and one of the fastest growing cities in the region. The city is home to a rapidly growing tech talent pool, with an increasing number of students and professionals choosing to pursue a career in the tech industry. According to recent statistics, over 7,000 tech professionals are currently employed in Kota Kinabalu, with the majority of them coming from the software development and IT sectors. Additionally, there are over 200 tech startups in the city and the number is steadily growing. The city also offers a variety of educational institutions, such as universities and technical schools, that offer courses in areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, and data science. With a vibrant tech community and increasingly attractive incentives, Kota Kinabalu is well positioned to become a major hub for tech talent in the region.

The tech ecosystem in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is home to a vibrant tech ecosystem. The city is home to a growing number of tech startups, accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces. There are also a number of venture capital funds and angel investors that have recently set up shop in the city. The city is also home to several universities, including Universiti Malaysia Sabah, which offers a range of degree programs in tech-related fields. Additionally, the city hosts several tech events and conferences throughout the year, such as the Kota Kinabalu TechFest. Finally, Kota Kinabalu boasts a vibrant tech community, with several meetup groups and hackathons taking place throughout the year.

Best tech meetups in Kota Kinabalu

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. KK Open Source Meetup
2. Sabah Coding Meetup
3. KK Tech Meetup
4. Sabah Digital Innovation Meetup
5. KK Entrepreneurs Meetup
6. KK JavaScript Meetup
7. KK Agile Software Development Meetup
8. KK DevOps Meetup
9. KK Women in Technology Meetup
10. KK Cloud Computing Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Kota Kinabalu

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Post job openings online: Posting job openings online on sites like Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor will help you reach a wider audience of potential software developers in Kota Kinabalu.

2. Use recruitment agencies: Recruitment agencies specialize in sourcing software developers and can help you find the best talent for your team.

3. Tap into local networks: Reach out to local networks such as coding and tech meetups in Kota Kinabalu to source software developers.

4. Post on social media: Post job openings on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to reach more potential candidates.

5. Attend local job fairs: Attend local job fairs and events to meet potential software developers in Kota Kinabalu.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Kota Kinabalu is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Kota Kinabalu

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Indeed
3. Glassdoor
4. Jobstreet
5. Monster
6. Careerbuilder
7. Sabahjobs
8. Facebook
9. Instagram
10. Twitter

Best remote job boards to find developers in Kota Kinabalu

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Upwork
2. Freelancer
3. Guru
4. LinkedIn
5. Fiverr
6. PeoplePerHour
7. Toptal
8. FlexJobs
9. Remote.co
10. We Work Remotely

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Kota Kinabalu

The average salary for a junior developer in Kota Kinabalu is RM2,500-RM3,500 per month. This salary range is dependent upon the experience and skill level of the developer. Junior developers typically have 0-2 years of experience and are responsible for creating software applications, maintaining existing systems, and providing technical support. Additionally, they may be responsible for developing databases, user interfaces, and software packages. Depending on the organization, they may also provide assistance in the development of web applications, mobile applications, and other specialized software.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Kota Kinabalu

The average salary for a senior developer in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, is approximately RM 8,500 per month. This equates to approximately USD 2,000 per month. Senior developers in Kota Kinabalu typically have five or more years of experience in software development, and are responsible for designing, coding, and testing software applications. They are also responsible for providing technical support and guidance to other developers, as well as managing and troubleshooting software applications.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Kota Kinabalu. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Kota Kinabalu. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Kota Kinabalu.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a professional service provider that helps employers manage their workforce in Kota Kinabalu. It acts as the employer responsible for payroll, tax, benefits, and other employment-related matters in compliance with local laws and regulations. With an EOR, employers can outsource the complexities of hiring and managing employees in Kota Kinabalu without having to establish a legal entity in the city.

Here’s how to use an EOR in Kota Kinabalu:

1. Choose an EOR. Research and select a reliable EOR in Kota Kinabalu to help manage your workforce. Compare services, costs, and reviews to make the right choice.

2. Outline your requirements. Provide the EOR with a job description and other details related to the roles they will hire and manage on your behalf.

3. Sign the agreement. Make sure you understand the terms of the agreement with the EOR before signing.

4. Hire employees. The EOR will help you recruit talent in Kota Kinabalu and manage the hiring process on your behalf.

5. Manage payroll. The EOR will handle payroll, taxes, and other compliance-related matters for the employees they recruit and manage.

6. Monitor performance. The EOR will provide regular reports to help you track employee performance and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.

By using an EOR in Kota Kinabalu, you can streamline the process of hiring and managing employees without having to establish a legal entity in the city.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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