Software Development Center in Mexico

Boosted engineering velocity, lower development costs, increased talent retention = faster time-to-market.

This is what you get with a Software Development Center in Mexico:

  • 30+ elite engineers hired in Mexico from scratch in 3 months
  • Direct team management, insourcing without buyouts
  • 50% more affordable than hiring in the US or outsourcing
  • 90% of talent stays for 2.5 years on average
  • Onboarding, payroll, compliance, and benefits included

    Step into global growth

    Get blind CVs, payscale & availability report on the first call


    Tech Companies Prefer Growing with Alcor

    Why Set Up a Software Development Center in Mexico?

    You plan to expand abroad

    but lack local representation

    • Hire your software development team in Mexico via our local infrastructure
    • Minimize legal risks & avoid fines with our compliance service
    • Delegate back-office to us and focus on development

    Outsourcers promise ease

    but take away control

    • Manage your team hired by us that stays for 2.5+ years
    • Get 1-2 tiers more skilled developers with Alcor
    • Pay real market prices with us, no more hidden markups

    EOR model delivers payroll,

    the rest is up to you

    • Scale from 10 to 100 in Mexico with us in 12 months
    • Get procurements and other ops at Alcor
    • Receive our dedicated customer support, not robotic answers

    Better Than Outsourcing, More Than EOR

    Grow with Alcor from 10 to 100 engineers in Mexico:

    • Your team from day one. Your management. Your culture.
    • Employer of Record – compliant hiring, payroll, benefits
    • Get all operations in the same place
    • 2x lower labor spending
    Book a call

    Software Development Center Delivers

    Fully established office
    in 2-3 months

    Developers that become
    your core team

    $0 setup fee,
    legal shield

    Optimized budget
    even during freezes

    Software Development Center in Mexico is
    a Single Tool for Tech Expansion

    Software R&D Center

    Contact us

    Operational Support

    • Procurement & office rent
    • Insurance provision
    • IT support
    • Employer branding
    • HR services

    Employer of Record

    • 100% compliance
    • Onboarding/offboarding
    • Payroll & accounting
    • Remitting remuneration
    • Benefits management

    Set Up Your Software Development Center in Top Talent Pools for Tech

    Key Things about a Software Development Center in Mexico

    What is software development center?
    Advantages of setting up your software development center
    Why Mexico is a top destination to start a software development Center
    Challenges of working with software development teams via SDC
    Signs a business is ready to expand with a software development center
    How to set up a software development center in Mexico
    Mistakes in buidling a software development center

    What is software development center?

    A software development center is your R&D office abroad, launched from scratch to let you focus on product development. We build a tech team in Mexico, you get skilled software engineers with 40% costs saved if compared to IT outsourcing

    For both large tech companies and startups, Alcor’s all-in-one solution allows to have your own software development center with a high-tech software development team in Mexico

    The best part? You don’t need to worry about establishing a legal entity in these regions—Alcor takes care of everything for you. From full-cycle tech recruitment to tech-focused EoR and other back-office services, all with flexible a la carte pricing, we make it seamless and straightforward. Plus, there are no buy-out fees or markups—your development team is yours from day one.

    Advantages of setting up your software development center

    • Accessing a wider tech talent pool 

    Scaling to nearshore and offshore locations opens doors to millions of skilled candidates. For example, Latin American and Eastern European regions boast over 2.8 million tech specialists who demonstrate Silicon Valley-level expertise in Java, C++, PHP, Python, JavaScript, Swift, .NET/.NET Core, and other programming languages. 

    • Slashing costs

    Hiring a development team abroad also lets you enjoy the benefits of more affordable salary rates. For example, senior software developers in Latin America earn about $62,900 per year, while those in Eastern Europe make around $68,800 annually. By comparison, their counterparts in the US charge approximately $122,000 for similar services. On top of that, setting up development centers in these regions means benefiting from business-friendly tax rates and a welcoming environment for growth. 

    • Scaling abroad 

    Setting up your software development center in a foreign country allows you to tap into new markets and build global partnerships while scaling your operations efficiently. For example, Sift expanded its team with 30 talented software engineers within just a year and later achieved unicorn status after raising $50 million in funding from Insight Partners. Other success stories include Ledger, Franki, GoTransverse, and the list doesn’t stop there!

    Why Mexico is a top destination to start a software development Center

    • 800,000+ tech gems, plus 124,000 yearly STEM graduates. Mexican software developers are #1 in LATAM for skills in JavaScript, Python, SQL, C#, React.js, and Angular.
    • 44% lower salaries than in the US. In Mexico, senior software engineers earn, on average, $69,000 a year, while in the US, this number reaches $122,000. 
    • Ideal time zone alignment. Mexico has only a one-hour difference with the US West Coast and two hours from the East Coast.
    • #1 nearshoring location in LATAM. Mexico stands out thanks to its financial attractiveness, people skills, and business environment. 

    Challenges of working with software development teams via SDC

    • Navigating local legislation

    You’d want to set up a software development center abroad with full legal compliance. For one, tackling the paperwork to open your legal entity from scratch could take months. For two, overlooking critical legal requirements or missing deadlines could result in hefty penalties, fines, or even severe harm to your business operations and reputation. 

    Solution: Partner with a reliable local vendor to skip the red tape. They handle all the legal nuances and setup, letting you build your tech team without hassle.

    • Ensuring top tech expertise

    Hiring software engineers demands in-depth research into the local labor scene and well-structured tech recruitment. On top of that, finding that perfect candidate who not only fits your technical needs but also blends seamlessly with your company culture adds an extra layer of complexity. 

    Solution: Save your time and money by letting an experienced provider build you software development teams in Mexico.

    • Choosing a reliable provider   

    If your provider of software development center services makes mistakes, like presenting unsuitable candidates, missing deadlines, mismanaging payroll & taxes, or simply failing to deliver, you may have to juggle multiple vendors.  

    Solution: Look for a trustworthy partner with top-notch tech recruitment and legal expertise. 

    Alcor has successfully set up software development centers for ThredUp, People.ai, Gotransverse, and more. On Clutch, one of our clients noted, “Alcor’s expertise and implementations have enabled us to run our company in the way and at the level we want.”

    Signs a business is ready to expand with a software development center

    • You want to scale  

    Building a software development center is a game-changer for tech companies looking to scale and explore new markets. That’s why leading global tech firms like Ledger, People.ai, and Sift have turned to us to build their development centers abroad. Result? They’ve turbocharged their products while also gaining ground in the foreign markets.

    • You aim to save costs 

    Setting up a software development center with an engineering team in the US may cost you millions of dollars, while a software development center in Latin America or Eastern Europe can save you up to 60% on developers’ salaries. You’ll also save on technical equipment, office lease, and maintenance and be able to reinvest in your business according to your current needs.

    • You intend to focus on your product  

    Tech companies choose the software development center solution because it enables them to focus on what truly counts—advancing their core product. While a professional service provider takes care of tech recruitment, EOR, and operational support, you manage your offshore team and drive your company’s growth.

    How to set up a software development center in Mexico

    Alcor’s software development center as a service process runs like clockwork:  

    • We kick things off with full-cycle tech recruitment in Mexico. Our team of 40 seasoned headhunters can find elite software engineers in just 2-6 weeks! 
    • Our EOR service handles accounting, HR, payroll, and legal – including managing salary payments and transferring funds between your R&D unit and headquarters, and handling health insurance and leave policies. Plus, we offer comprehensive legal and compliance support, including real estate negotiations, contract drafting (SLAs, NDAs, B2B agreements), and support with labor laws, visas, and M&A. 
    • If you need your own physical office, we handle everything from location selection and parking to security systems, office layout, seating, and equipment. Additionally, we’ll assist with procuring computers and setting up software security systems and servers.  

    Voilà, your turnkey software development center is up and running within just 2-3 months!

    Mistakes in buidling a software development center

    • Working with multiple service providers  

    Some companies opt for outsourcing the software development center setup to multiple service providers for different tasks: tech recruitment, employer of record, legal compliance, office lease, procurements, and so on. 

    While this might seem efficient, this approach often backfires, leading to miscoordination, delays, and, ultimately, higher costs and disappointing results.  

    Instead, consider teaming up with a local software development center provider that can manage all back-office functions in one place.

    • Overlooking employer branding 

    In a new job market, prime candidates often reject offers from expanding companies. In fact, 60% of job seekers decide against accepting a position due to a company’s poor employer brand. This typically occurs when candidates are unfamiliar with the company’s values, culture, and growth opportunities, leading them to choose other options instead. 

    To turn this around, Alcos kicks off an engaging employer branding campaign by crafting a compelling employee value proposition (EVP), building your company’s strong presence in local developer communities and tech media, and running impactful social media and PR campaigns.

    For example, we created a video featuring Sift’s Hiring Manager that highlighted the company’s values and team culture. Promoted across social media, the video led to a 15% increase in response and offer acceptance rates.

    Software Development Center in Mexico vs IT Outsourcing

    Software R&D Center

    1. Silicon Valley-caliber talent We recruit 30+ elite senior developers in 3 months. All decisions regarding the team are up to you.
    2. Transparent pricing Detailed invoices help you be in control of your finances. Plus, your tech R&D team is x2 more affordable than an external one.
    3. Your team & branding You get a tech team with shared values for innovation and growth – 90% retention rate & an average tenure of 2.5 years.
    4. No setup & buyout fees No setup fee is needed to start building your software R&D team. Plus, there is no buyout process – your team now, free insourcing after.
    5. Intellectual property under control With direct agreements, you fully own your product and its source code, keeping unique expertise in-house.

    IT Outsourcing

    1. Junior/middle-level talent You can’t control the quality of talent. Plus, with planned moves to new customers after 1 year, your A-players will be snatched away.
    2. High markups Some providers charge up to 50% of talent compensation to earn more without the client knowing about it.
    3. Not your brand & practices Developers work under your provider’s brand. Thus, there’s no room for your corporate culture, policies, and direct oversight.
    4. High setup & buyout fees Most vendors require contractual & financial obligations first. Then, you pay 20% of a developer’s annual compensation in buy-out fees.
    5. Intellectual property risks IP rights over your product initially belong to developers of your provider. You get minimum security and a tedious transfer process.

    1. What services does a software development center in Mexico include?

    Alcor’s software development center comprises tech recruitment from start to finish—crafting the ideal candidate profile and EVP, sourcing and pre-screening candidates, conducting HR interviews, and working with offers/counteroffers. 

    We also cover EOR essentials, such as compliant developer employment, monthly payroll, accounting, legal issues, and benefits.

    Finally, Alcor provides operational support like office leasing, hardware procurement, and visa management to keep your offshore software development center running like clockwork.

    2. How fast can you set up a software development center in Mexico?

    We can establish a fully equipped software R&D office within 2 months, like we did for Franki in Mexico. 

    The time it takes to hire software developers depends on the specific roles and numbers you need. However, we guarantee that 5 senior software developers will be hired within 2-6 weeks.

    3. How do you assess the tech expertise of software developers?

    When building software development teams in Mexico, we assign dedicated tech recruiters and leverage our network of 253,000+ pre-vetted candidates with elite tech expertise. 

    Here’s how it works step by step. Our recruiters help you design an ideal candidate profile, craft your employer value proposition, and match the shiniest tech gems with your product.  

    Alcor’s track record is solid and secure: just 8 CVs for 1 accepted offer, 98% probation period pass rate, and 2.5 years of average hire tenure.

    4. How is the management of a software development team established within the SDC model?



    When you build a software development team in Mexico with Alcor, it’s yours from day one. No intermediaries—only direct management. You can freely choose your development methodology and incorporate your company culture and best practices with no third-party interference.

    5. How fast can you hire C-level management in Mexico for a software development center?

    Alcor’s team of 40 tech recruiters can headhunt lead and C-level specialists just as fast as senior programmers for your software development teams in Mexico. On average, it takes us 2-6 weeks to headhunt a C-level manager who perfectly matches our client’s needs and requirements.

    6. What do I need to start a software development center in Mexico with Alcor?

    First, define the type and number of developers you need for your software product. The Alcor team can prepare availability and salary reports for you to have a better understanding of the local market. 

    Then, do you require a physical office and additional operational support for your software development team in Mexico? If so, Alcor can easily cover all those for your software development center to run smoothly. If you don’t have a legal entity abroad, no worries—Alcor’s Employer of Record handles compliant onboarding and offboarding of your developers as well as payroll, accounting, and benefits management.

    All that considered, you can sign an agreement with us, and your software development center will be on the way!