Top In-Demand Roles in VC-Backed Scale-Ups by Olivi Growth
The first quarter of 2025 closed with a clear message for VC-backed scale-ups across Europe: invest in your tech teams, or risk falling behind. At Olivi Growth, we’ve seen firsthand where the market is moving, and which roles are leading the charge in growth-focused organisations.
From our recent placements, a pattern has emerged that reflects not only the evolution of technology but the strategic priorities of ambitious scale-ups. Whether it’s in green energy, SaaS, data consultancy, or next-gen retail, these businesses are investing heavily in engineering, architecture, security, and leadership.
Here’s what we’re seeing in Q2 2025.
Engineering & Architecture Leadership
As scale-ups mature, the demand for senior technology leaders who can build and scale complex systems is soaring. We recently placed a Head of Engineering & Architecture at a Greentech scale-up and multiple Solution Architects within multinational FMCG and retail companies in the Netherlands and Portugal. These roles are key to aligning product vision with technical execution.
Industry Insight:
According to Atomico’s latest State of European Tech report, 62% of scale-ups identified “scaling infrastructure and systems” as a top priority for 2025.
Product Management & Ownership
Product-led growth remains a dominant theme. We placed multiple Product Owners and a Lead Product Manager in ISP and SaaS scale-ups, where the ability to deliver customer centric innovation at speed is business-critical.
Trend Tip:
Strong PMs are expected to come with not only technical know-how but a growth mindset, able to work cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and engineering teams.
Security & DevOps
With growing regulatory pressure and increased attack surfaces, Global IT Security Managers and DevOps Engineers are no longer “nice to have” hires, they’re essential. We’ve seen strong demand in FMCG and tech scale-ups, especially those expanding into new markets or undergoing digital transformation.
Stat to Watch:
Cybersecurity Ventures predicts global cybercrime costs will reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, prompting scale-ups to invest in securing their IP and customer data early.
Software Engineers & Developers
The engine room of every scale-up. From Full Stack Engineers in Greentech to iOS Developers and Backend Developers in Dutch ISPs, demand is relentless. What’s shifted is the expectation: developers now need to understand business impact, not just write clean code.
Note:
We’ve seen particularly strong uptake in hybrid and remote engineering roles, suggesting talent is still dictating terms on flexibility in 2025.
Executive & Ops Leadership
With growth comes the need for structure. We’ve placed a COO and CTO (a.i.) into high growth SaaS environments and recently supported a Managing Director hire in a mobility scale-up expanding across Belgium.
What This Means:
VCs are backing experienced operators to deliver on scale. These roles require a blend of startup grit and enterprise polish.
People & Culture
Talent density is becoming a competitive advantage. Our placement of a Head of People in a data consultancy scale-up reflects the shift in mindset, these businesses know that culture and retention aren’t just buzzwords; they’re vital to valuation and long-term success.
Regional Focus: Netherlands Still Dominates
The Netherlands continues to be a magnet for tech scale-ups. Whether it’s retail giants or climate-tech newcomers, this ecosystem combines top-tier talent with an international outlook. It’s no coincidence that the majority of our placements this quarter were across Dutch-based businesses.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect in Q2/Q3
- AI/ML and Data Engineering roles will surge as companies look to monetise insights faster.
- Platform Engineering and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) expertise will grow as
- businesses seek scale and automation.
- Fractional C-Level roles (CTO/CPO) will rise, especially in early-stage scale-ups needing leadership without full-time cost.
If you’re hiring, get in touch here & view our most recent placements here
