Complete guide

How to find software developers in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur
March 1, 2023
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Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city of Malaysia. It is a vibrant and exciting city, filled with culture and history. With its unique blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, it offers a wide variety of attractions, from its iconic Petronas Twin Towers to its bustling night markets and vibrant street food scene. With its mix of modern and traditional architecture, Kuala Lumpur is a great destination for visitors looking for a memorable time. Kuala Lumpur is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Kuala Lumpur is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Kuala Lumpur

• According to the latest statistics, Kuala Lumpur is the third largest tech talent hub in Southeast Asia. • It has over 200,000 tech professionals, with a majority of them coming from India, China and Malaysia itself. • Kuala Lumpur also has the largest pool of software developers in Southeast Asia, with over 34,000 professionals. • The city is also home to some of the region's largest tech companies, such as Grab, Lazada and AirAsia. • The city's tech talent pool is growing at a rate of 10% year-on-year. • The average salary for tech professionals in Kuala Lumpur is around RM7,500 per month.

The tech ecosystem in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the tech hub of Malaysia, with a vibrant and rapidly growing technology ecosystem. The city has a strong and diversified tech ecosystem, from startups to large corporations. The city is home to a wide range of tech companies, from software development, to cloud computing, to internet-of-things and more. There are a number of accelerators and incubators to help startups grow, as well as venture capital firms and angel investors to provide funding. Kuala Lumpur is also home to a vibrant startup community, with events such as Startup Weekend, Startup Grind, and more. The city also has a number of government initiatives to promote and support the tech industry, such as the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and the Malaysia Technology Development Corporation.

Best tech meetups in Kuala Lumpur

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. Kuala Lumpur JavaScript Meetup
2. Kuala Lumpur Artificial Intelligence Meetup
3. Kuala Lumpur Web Design & Development Meetup
4. Kuala Lumpur DevOps Meetup
5. Kuala Lumpur Cloud Computing Meetup
6. Kuala Lumpur Data Science Meetup
7. Kuala Lumpur Blockchain Meetup
8. Kuala Lumpur Mobile Apps & Web Development Meetup
9. Kuala Lumpur Internet of Things Meetup
10. Kuala Lumpur Start-up Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Kuala Lumpur

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



1. Online job portals: Job portals such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed are the best places to source software development talent in Kuala Lumpur. You can post job openings and review resumes of potential candidates.

2. Professional networks: You can join professional networks such as Stack Overflow and GitHub and network with software developers in the area.

3. Social media: You can reach out to potential candidates through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

4. Hackathons and coding competitions: You can sponsor hackathons and coding competitions to source software developers in Kuala Lumpur.

5. Referrals: You can ask your existing software developers for referrals.

6. Freelance platforms: You can use freelance platforms such as Upwork and Freelancer to find software developers in Kuala Lumpur.

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 Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur

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. JobStreet
3. Jora
4. iHire
5. Glassdoor
6. Indeed
7. Facebook Groups
8. Craigslist
9. MYStarjob
10. MYJobs.com

Best remote job boards to find developers in Kuala Lumpur

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. LinkedIn
2. Upwork
3. Freelancer
4. Fiverr
5. JobStreet
6. AngelList
7. WeWorkRemotely
8. PeoplePerHour
9. Indeed
10. FlexJobs

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 Kuala Lumpur

The average salary for a junior developer in Kuala Lumpur is around 6,000 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) per month. This salary range is based on the type of position and experience of the developer. For entry-level positions, the salary range starts at around 4,000 MYR, while for more experienced and specialized positions, the salary range can reach up to 8,000 MYR per month. In addition to the base salary, many junior developers in Kuala Lumpur may also receive bonuses or other incentives from their employer.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Kuala Lumpur

The average salary for a senior developer in Kuala Lumpur is RM 7,726 per month. This figure includes base salary, bonuses, and other forms of compensation such as stock options, health insurance, retirement plans, and other forms of benefits. Senior developers in Kuala Lumpur typically earn more than the average software developer, and their salaries can range from RM 5,000 to RM 10,000 per month. Most senior developers in Kuala Lumpur specialize in either web development or mobile application development, and they can expect to earn a higher salary than developers in other areas.

Employing software developers (remotely)

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



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a business entity that acts as an intermediary between an employer and its employees in Kuala Lumpur. It is a service that is typically used by companies when they need to hire employees in a different jurisdiction. The EOR will take on the responsibility of hiring, managing, and paying employees on behalf of the employer.

Here are some steps you can follow to use an Employer of Record (EOR) in Kuala Lumpur:

1. Find an EOR: The first step to using an EOR in Kuala Lumpur is to find an experienced and reputable service provider. Research your options, compare services and fees, and make sure to read customer reviews before making your final decision.

2. Understand Employment Regulations: Before hiring an EOR, it is important to understand the local employment laws and regulations of Kuala Lumpur. This will ensure that you are compliant with the local laws and that you do not violate any labor codes.

3. Sign a Contract: Once you have chosen an EOR, you will need to sign a contract with them that outlines the scope of services and fees. This will ensure that both parties understand the terms of the agreement.

4. Hire Employees: Once the contract is signed, the EOR will handle the process of hiring and onboarding employees. They will also take care of payroll, taxes, benefits, and other administrative tasks.

5. Monitor Progress: Finally, it is important to monitor the progress of the EOR and the employees to ensure that everything is running smoothly. This will help ensure that the relationship between the employer and the employees is successful.

By following these steps, you can use an Employer of Record (EOR) in Kuala Lumpur to help manage your hiring and employment needs.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
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