Ametos, Israel – IT recruitment of lead software developers from Serbia and the Balkans area

tpotanski

Last updated on September 24, 2025 | 9 min read

Introduction

DevsData LLC secured top-tier engineers from the Balkans, enabling Ametos to accelerate the development of critical internal infrastructure for its high-stakes defense initiatives. Operating at the intersection of national security, cyber intelligence, and advanced technology, Ametos required not only elite technical talent but also professionals capable of operating with utmost discretion, cultural alignment, and adherence to stringent operational standards. With a track record of successful placements in defense-adjacent and highly regulated industries, DevsData LLC focused its sourcing efforts on the Balkans – a region known for its strong engineering culture, competitive compensation, and alignment with Western business and compliance practices.

This case study outlines how DevsData LLC successfully recruited two lead developers (backend and frontend) and a senior DevOps engineer to join Ametos’ internal R&D unit within a month, navigating a high-bar, confidentiality-driven recruitment process with tangible results.

About the client

Founded in 2009, Ametos delivers advanced defense, cybersecurity, and intelligence solutions to clients operating in high-risk environments. With a team of around 200 employees, the group brings together operatives from Israeli, American, and British intelligence and special forces, offering services that span covert and overt security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and advanced IT systems. With offices in 10 countries and a presence across four continents, Ametos works with governments, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals, primarily in Israel and the United States.

Their core methodology centers on a layered risk management strategy that combines physical operations with advanced digital capabilities. As part of its internal expansion, Ametos was seeking senior software professionals to support a new wave of development for mission-critical technology systems.

Project scope & objectives

The recruitment engagement focused on scaling Ametos’ internal R&D team with top-tier engineers capable of contributing to high-compliance, high-performance infrastructure. The roles were designed to:

• Reinforce backend systems and frontend application layers used in sensitive operations.
• Integrate with distributed teams across Israel, the US, and Europe.
• Adhere to strict cybersecurity and international compliance protocols.
• Deliver rapid value without compromising security or stability.

The recruitment challenge

The roles to be filled were not standard software positions – Ametos needed professionals with strong technical credentials, but also the maturity, discipline, and discretion to work within the context of global defense initiatives. All three candidates would be handling infrastructure components and internal tools used in sensitive projects.

The client specified a preference for developers based in NATO-aligned countries, particularly the Balkans, where competitive compensation meets a strong engineering talent pool and cultural proximity to Western compliance frameworks.

Beyond core qualifications, Ametos required:

• Strong situational awareness and the ability to operate discreetly in high-security environments.
• Clear, professional communication across time zones and cultural contexts.
• A proactive mindset and readiness to take ownership of complex projects with minimal supervision.
• Experience working within structured, protocol-heavy workflows common in defense and government-adjacent projects.

Our approach

To address the unique requirements of this engagement, DevsData LLC assigned two specialized recruitment teams. One focused on backend and DevOps roles, both of which typically require strong knowledge of infrastructure and systems, while the other concentrated on frontend profiles. This separation allowed each team to tailor its sourcing strategy and evaluation criteria to the distinct skill sets and cultural expectations of the roles.

Recognizing the sensitivity of Ametos’ defense-related projects, we opted for a region-specific strategy: targeting senior-level engineers in neighboring NATO-aligned countries known for strong engineering cultures and Western-aligned compliance standards. These regions had previously yielded excellent results in similar engagements, such as our recruitment for a global pharmaceutical leader working on a high-stakes public health platform and a demanding financial institution building a crypto trading system. Both required rare, high-trust candidates capable of operating under tight technical and compliance constraints – experience that directly informed our approach to sourcing for Ametos.

Rather than relying on traditional hiring channels, we tapped into our established network across the Balkans and utilized direct referrals. Candidates were pre-qualified through discreet outreach, ensuring alignment not only on technical skills but also on work ethic, professional maturity, and sensitivity to confidentiality requirements. Weekly syncs with Ametos’ hiring stakeholders kept the process agile and closely aligned with evolving priorities.

“This wasn’t standard tech hiring. We needed engineers with top-tier skills and the discretion to work on defense projects. Close coordination with Ametos and targeted sourcing in the Balkans helped us fill all roles.” – Ava H., Recruitment Team Lead

Weekly check-ins ensured transparency and alignment on evolving expectations, while DevsData LLC handled candidate coordination, offer negotiation, and onboarding preparation from start to finish.

Results

All three roles were filled, with high-caliber engineers from the Balkans region:

• The lead backend developer has over a decade of experience designing robust distributed systems, with a background in telecom security and scalable API ecosystems.
• The lead frontend developer, while formally hired under a senior title, quickly took ownership of the entire frontend stream, overseeing architecture, design standards, and code reviews across multiple internal modules.
• The senior DevOps engineer, the final hire, is an expert in infrastructure automation, with hands-on experience across AWS, Terraform, Kubernetes, and robust system hardening practices. He joined the team to strengthen Ametos’ internal development pipelines and ensure reliable, scalable operations across multiple environments.

Each role received between 60 and 80 initial applicants. Final interviews were conducted with four to six candidates per role. Ametos’ hiring panel emphasized not only technical excellence but also personal integrity and readiness to work under tight confidentiality constraints.

Conclusion

This engagement demonstrates DevsData LLC’s ability to recruit elite engineering talent under the most demanding and high-compliance conditions. Below is a summary of the top capabilities we brought to the table and the benefits Ametos gained as a result:

DevsData LLC remains a trusted partner for international organizations seeking secure, precise, and regionally optimized recruitment for sensitive technology initiatives. To explore how we can support your next hiring challenge, reach out at general@devsdata.com or visit our website at www.devsdata.com.

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Tom Potanski Managing Director

Passionate and experienced technology leader. Combining business and technology, helping American clients find exceptional technical talent in Europe and LatAm.

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