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Direct Hire Software Engineers

You need a software engineer who's on your team permanently -- not a contractor, not a temp-to-perm experiment. DirecStaff places full-time software engineers at mid-market tech companies. Shortlist in 72 hours. Most placements close in 30 days or less.

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72hr

Shortlist Delivery

30 Days

Avg. Placement Time

30-Day

Replacement Guarantee

What Direct Hire Means -- and When You Need It

Direct hire is simple: the candidate joins your payroll as a full-time employee on day one. No contractor agreement, no conversion clause, no evaluation window. Your hire.

Here's when direct hire is the right call over contract or contract-to-hire:

The role owns something long-term. If you're hiring someone to own a backend service, lead a platform migration, or carry a product area through the next two years, you want a full-time employee with full-time buy-in. Contractors don't think about Q3 roadmaps the same way permanent team members do.

Security clearance or sensitive data access is required. Many organizations can't route contractors through the same access levels as employees. Direct hire removes that classification problem entirely.

Team morale is a factor. Adding a permanent team member signals stability. Adding another contractor signals uncertainty. On teams that have seen a lot of turnover, that signal matters more than most managers realize.

You've already decided this is a core hire. If the answer to "is this role ending in 18 months?" is "absolutely not," contract-to-hire is just delay. Start the direct hire search now.

Disciplines

Roles We Place

DirecStaff places software engineers at the IC and senior IC level across these disciplines.

Backend Engineers

Full-Stack Engineers

Frontend Engineers

Mobile Engineers

DevOps & Platform Engineers

Cloud Architects

Data Engineers

ML & AI Engineers

QA Automation Engineers

Solutions Architects

Don't see your stack? Reach out and tell us the role.

How It Works

Our Direct Hire Process

Four steps. No wasted motion.

1

Intake Call

30 minutes. We learn the role in detail -- tech stack, team structure, comp range, culture requirements.

2

Targeted Sourcing

48-72 hours. Active candidate network built since 1999. Screened before you see a single name.

3

Shortlist Presentation

3-5 candidates with written summaries explaining why each matches your specific role.

4

Hire + Guarantee

Offer support through close. 30-day replacement guarantee if the hire doesn't work out.

Why Hiring Managers Choose DirecStaff

We screen for depth before you see anyone. Every candidate has been through a recruiter conversation that goes beyond resume review. We verify that they understand the technologies they claim to know.

We verify before we present. Employment history and references are checked before candidates reach your desk. You won't spend an hour interviewing someone who misrepresented their experience.

Fewer candidates, better matches. You'll see a shortlist of 3 to 5 candidates worth your time -- not 20 resumes hoping something sticks.

You work with a senior recruiter. At DirecStaff, you're not passed to a coordinator after the sales call. The recruiter who ran the intake is the one running the search.

Industries We Place Software Engineers In

DirecStaff has placed software engineers across verticals where mid-market tech teams are most active:

If your vertical isn't listed, ask. Our software engineer candidate network spans industries.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does direct hire placement take?

DirecStaff presents a shortlist within 72 hours of role intake. Most placements close within 30 days. Senior and highly specialized roles can take longer -- we'll give you an honest estimate during intake.

What's the fee structure for direct hire software engineers?

DirecStaff works on contingency for direct hire. You pay nothing until the hire is made. Fee is a percentage of first-year base salary. We discuss specifics during intake so there are no surprises after the placement.

What's the difference between direct hire and contract-to-hire?

Direct hire means the engineer joins your payroll as a full-time employee on day one. Contract-to-hire starts them as a contractor for 90 to 180 days, then converts. Direct hire is the right model when you're already sure about the role. If you want to evaluate before committing, contract-to-hire through our contract staffing practice makes sense.

Do you offer a placement guarantee?

Yes. 30-day replacement guarantee on all direct hire placements. If the candidate leaves or doesn't work out within the first 30 days, we replace them at no additional fee.

Can you place remote software engineers?

Yes. We source nationally for remote and hybrid roles with specific time zone requirements. Primary in-person markets are Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York.

What seniority levels do you cover?

Mid-level through Staff and Principal. That's roughly 3 years of experience through senior individual contributor. For VP, CTO, or Director of Engineering roles, talk to us and we'll assess fit honestly.

Ready to Make Your Next Permanent Hire?

Tell us about the role and we'll send a shortlist within 72 hours.

Get a Shortlist Schedule a Call

Not sure if direct hire or contract is right? See the full IT staffing options for software teams or read about the best IT staffing agencies in 2026.