LatAm developer talent is experiencing a surge in demand from American tech giants as they seek skilled engineers to support the complex post-training phase of large language models (LLMs). Despite the broader tech industry’s pivot back to in-office operations, Latin America has emerged as a critical talent hub, especially for AI-driven development needs.
Revelo, a prominent hiring platform specializing in Latin American developers, is seeing a significant uptick in requests from U.S. companies, according to its CEO and co-founder, Lucas Mendes. With a network of over 400,000 vetted engineers and end-to-end hiring infrastructure, Revelo is becoming a go-to partner for firms advancing LLM applications.
Mendes attributes the recent growth to the increasing need for expert human input to enhance AI model performance. “There’s a new race underway—not just for data, but for highly qualified human feedback that can fine-tune LLMs for specialized coding tasks,” Mendes explained. “Coding is at the forefront of these tasks, and demand is rising for engineers who can serve as both practitioners and data contributors.”
In 2024, LLM-focused hiring made up 22% of Revelo’s overall revenue—a significant figure reflecting how closely AI expansion and software expertise are becoming intertwined.
Precision Coding in the Post-Training Era
This latest hiring wave primarily involves companies seeking specialists in niche programming languages to refine the performance of already-trained models. These post-training workflows often rely on human engineers to provide targeted reinforcement, optimizing model outputs for real-world use cases.
Revelo’s clientele includes major U.S. enterprises such as Oracle, Intuit, and Dell, alongside nearly every hyperscale AI provider. These firms increasingly value time zone alignment, cultural compatibility, and cost efficiency—factors that make LatAm developer talent more appealing than traditional offshore options.
Not Alone in the Market—but Leading It
While other platforms like Terminal, Near, and Tecla are also connecting U.S. firms to Latin American talent, Revelo’s scale and momentum set it apart. Since launching in 2014, the company has ridden multiple hiring trends—from remote-first recruitment during the pandemic to today’s focus on nearshoring AI expertise.
Backed by over $48 million in venture capital from investors like Social Capital, FJ Labs, and Valor Capital Group, Revelo has steadily expanded from Brazil into the broader Latin American region. Mendes said the COVID-19 era marked a turning point. “Once U.S. companies saw the quality of engineers coming from Latin America—and the favorable cost—they started scaling their hiring through us,” he said.
Post-Pandemic Growth Defies Return-to-Office Push
Even as companies reel back remote work in favor of physical office spaces, Revelo’s business has continued to thrive. Mendes noted that the consistent demand is due to the strategic location of their talent pool. Unlike traditional outsourcing models that span distant time zones, Latin America offers real-time collaboration potential.
“It’s not just remote work—it’s nearshore efficiency,” Mendes said. “That makes a big difference when you’re integrating AI workflows that require frequent, high-context input from human engineers.”
Strategic Acquisitions Bolster Talent Network
Over the past 30 months, Revelo has acquired five regional competitors to cement its leadership in the LatAm developer talent space. Most recently, it announced the acquisitions of Alto and Paretisa in March, signaling further expansion.
“We’re building the global backbone of AI talent,” Mendes stated. “And this is just the beginning. More acquisitions are on the horizon.”
The rise of LatAm developer talent in AI hiring highlights a broader shift in how U.S. tech companies think about workforce strategy. As AI systems grow more complex, the need for skilled, well-aligned human engineers is only set to increase—and Latin America is stepping up to meet that demand.
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