Shauli Zacks
Published on: October 5, 2025
SafetyDetectives recently interviewed Paul Azorin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner for Europe at BairesDev, a leading software development company known for connecting top-tier tech talent with global enterprises. In this conversation, Azorin discusses BairesDev’s unique approach to sourcing the top 1% of developers, how the company leverages AI-driven talent matching to maintain quality, and the strategic role of nearshoring in delivering secure, scalable, and future-ready solutions. He also shares insights on adapting to evolving technologies like AI and cybersecurity, the challenges of cross-industry scalability, and his vision for BairesDev’s next phase of innovation and global growth.
Can you tell us about your background?
My background is in engineering and tech strategy. I’ve spent most of my career at the intersection of innovation and execution, helping businesses use technology not just to grow, but to transform. As a co-founder of BairesDev, I wanted to implement a bold vision: connecting the world’s best tech talent with companies ready to scale.
It was important to me and my team that BairesDev doesn’t follow trends—it helps set them. By focusing on hiring the top 1% of talent and using a nearshore model that prioritizes quality, responsiveness, and cultural alignment, we made it clear that we wouldn’t be just another outsourcing firm. We’re a true innovation partner.
How does BairesDev ensure that the “top 1%” of tech talent claim isn’t just marketing? What’s your hiring and vetting process, and how do you keep quality high once developers are on board?
That’s a great question, and one we often receive. When we say “top 1%,” we really mean it. Our vetting process is extremely rigorous—only about one in every hundred applicants makes it through. We assess candidates across multiple dimensions, including technical expertise, problem-solving, communication, and cultural fit. It’s a multi-step evaluation involving coding challenges, behavioral interviews, and real-world project simulations.
But talent isn’t just about how well someone codes. It’s about adaptability, learning speed, and collaboration. Once hired, engineers are constantly upskilled through internal programs, certifications, and hands-on experience with cutting-edge projects. We also use ongoing performance reviews, peer feedback, and client satisfaction metrics to ensure continuous improvement.
A unique part of our process is our proprietary AI-powered talent management platform, which identifies and places top talent by analyzing thousands of data points. It ensures the best match between engineers and client needs, helps anticipate skill gaps, recommends learning paths, and drives long-term engagement.
According to our latest Dev Barometer, a quarterly survey of more than 1,100 senior developers and 50 project managers worldwide, only 6% of tech professionals feel their current roles fully utilize their capabilities. That highlights a major disconnect in how talent is matched with opportunity. Our platform directly addresses this by aligning engineers with projects that match their strengths and ambitions.
The real magic, though, is that our engineers aren’t just workers—they’re problem solvers. They challenge assumptions, propose solutions, and act as true extensions of our clients’ teams.
With so many companies outsourcing or using staff augmentation, what differentiates BairesDev’s nearshore model, especially in terms of responsiveness, security, and alignment with client expectations?
Nearshoring is about more than geography—it’s about real-time collaboration. Our teams work in the same or overlapping time zones as our clients, so there’s no waiting 24 hours for a response or dealing with time-zone miscommunications.
From a security standpoint, we adhere to international standards like ISO 27001 and GDPR, and we often exceed client expectations with custom protocols tailored to their industry. Whether it’s secure development environments, data governance, or background checks, clients know they can trust us with mission-critical work.
And perhaps most importantly: alignment. Cultural fit, communication fluency, and shared work ethics make our teams feel like an extension of our clients—not a distant vendor. That’s a major differentiator in today’s fast-paced tech environment.
Technology is always shifting—AI, new security threats, compliance requirements. How does BairesDev stay ahead in terms of tech trends and ensure clients are safe and future-proofed?
At BairesDev, we’ve built internal R&D hubs focused on emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, blockchain, edge computing, and quantum-ready infrastructure. Our teams constantly experiment, learn, and apply these technologies in real client scenarios.
Our Dev Barometer shows that AI and cybersecurity are the top two investment priorities for developers and tech leaders heading into next year. That’s reflected in how we’re evolving—integrating AI into core processes and enhancing cybersecurity services to proactively address threats.
We take a secure-by-design approach. Our security teams collaborate with clients to implement preventive strategies, monitor emerging threats, and ensure compliance with standards such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and SOC 2.
Future-proofing isn’t just about technology—it’s about strategy. We guide clients in building scalable architectures, ensuring data resilience, and developing AI adoption roadmaps. Whether you’re undergoing digital transformation or launching a new product, we make sure you’re not just ready for today, but built for tomorrow.
What are the biggest challenges you face when scaling projects across different industries, especially when requirements, regulations, or tech stacks vary so much?
Scaling across industries brings complexity—but also opportunity. Every sector has its own regulations, user behavior, and legacy infrastructure, so a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.
One of our greatest strengths is adaptability. We’ve built cross-functional teams with deep domain knowledge in industries like finance, healthcare, retail, and logistics. That allows us to spin up teams that understand not only your tech stack but your business language.
The biggest challenge is integrating modern technology into legacy systems without disrupting operations. That’s where our architecture experts excel, designing hybrid solutions that are both forward-looking and stable.
Compliance and data sensitivity are also top of mind. Our teams receive specialized training on industry regulations and collaborate closely with clients to ensure each milestone meets technical and legal standards.
Looking forward, where do you see BairesDev going in the next 3–5 years? Are there new services, markets, or innovations you’re especially excited about?
The next 3–5 years will be transformational—not just for BairesDev but for the software development industry as a whole.
We’re expanding our footprint in AI and data science services, not as support functions but as core business drivers. Think AI-native applications, real-time analytics, and predictive modeling embedded directly into client products.
We’re also investing in vertical-specific solutions that allow for faster onboarding, more tailored offerings, and deeper insights. Geographically, we’re expanding into new regions for 24/7 global delivery while doubling down on LATAM as a hub for nearshore innovation.
What excites me most is the human potential. We’re not just building a company—we’re building a platform where top global talent can thrive, grow, and help shape the next generation of digital experiences. And that mission is only just beginning.
