ZIM Integrated Shipping Services LTD – European large-scale tech recruitment for a global shipping company from Israel

Elen Muradian

Last updated on November 7, 2025 | 13 min read

Modernizing global shipping starts with building agile tech teams. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services LTD, an Israel-based company, partnered with DevsData LLC to hire seven engineers across backend, full stack, and data science roles in under four months. Over the next three years, this collaboration scaled into a long-term partnership, with DevsData LLC helping ZIM onboard a over 20 specialists to support its growing digital division.

Client profile

Container shipping is a cornerstone of global trade, with over 80% of goods transported by sea. Despite its scale, the industry faces persistent operational challenges, particularly in terms of cost efficiency and logistics optimization.

A typical cargo ship can carry up to 15000 containers. These vessels often move goods across vast distances, from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere, or between continents. Once a delivery is completed, the ship frequently returns empty, generating significant costs and operational inefficiencies. Securing return cargo at every destination is not always feasible and may introduce further logistical complexity.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services LTD, a global shipping company with operations in over 100 countries, tackles the issue of inefficient return trips through in-house algorithmic tools that improve cargo distribution, routing, and scheduling. By leveraging real-time optimization systems, the company helps streamline logistics operations and cut costs, making backhaul journeys more financially sustainable. With around 4000 employees and $8.43 billion in annual revenue as of 2024, ZIM brings both scale and technical innovation to a historically rigid industry.

Highlights:

• Global shipping company with operations spanning over 100 countries.
• Developing in-house logistics algorithms and real-time optimization systems.
• Operates with ~4000 employees and reported $8.43 billion in revenue in 2024, reflecting strong growth and operational scale.

Challenge: high expectations and rapid pace

Operating at a global scale, ZIM manages high-volume, high-stakes logistics. Even minor errors, whether in planning, execution, or data handling, can lead to significant financial losses, sometimes in the millions. For this reason, there was no margin for compromise when it came to candidate quality. The client was looking exclusively for individuals within the top percentiles of technical and analytical ability, with proven experience in mission-critical environments.

Adding to the complexity, ZIM was expanding rapidly and needed to scale its internal technology teams quickly. The cost of unfilled positions translated directly into lost opportunities and reduced operational efficiency. Each week without a qualified hire meant delayed initiatives and potential revenue left unrealized. The recruitment process, therefore, had to be both highly selective and exceptionally fast-paced – two goals that often conflict. Balancing these demands was at the core of the project’s challenge.

The urgency of scaling was only part of the challenge. ZIM’s needs were also highly diverse, spanning several technical disciplines that required different but equally demanding skill sets. To ensure clarity in the recruitment process, the positions were defined along with their corresponding tech stacks:

Goals

ZIM’s primary objective was to quickly onboard backend engineers, full stack developers, and data scientists capable of operating at a high level of precision and reliability. These hires were to play a central role in developing and scaling proprietary optimization algorithms and real-time logistics platforms – tools that directly drive the efficiency of the company’s global shipping operations. Their work included enhancing routing engines, building predictive models for cargo demand, and optimizing scheduling systems to minimize empty returns and reduce operational costs.

The requirements for each role were extensive. Backend engineers were required to have a strong command of Python or Java, microservices, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and database systems such as PostgreSQL and Redis. Full stack developers were expected to bridge frontend and backend, with expertise in modern frameworks like React or Angular, Node.js, API integration, and cloud-based deployment. Data scientists had to bring advanced knowledge of machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn), statistical modeling, and large-scale data processing tools, with proven experience in translating raw logistics data into predictive insights.

Beyond technical qualifications, ZIM emphasized traits such as ownership, the ability to perform under pressure, and cultural alignment with fast-paced, cross-functional teams. Candidates were expected to be not just contributors but problem solvers who could thrive in high-stakes, mission-critical environments. Our role was to streamline the recruitment pipeline, minimize time-to-hire, and ensure that only candidates in the top percentile of both skill and mindset advanced to client interviews.

Our approach

We assembled a dedicated team of four senior technical recruiters and mobilized within hours of the initial request. Recognizing the urgency, we simultaneously activated several sourcing channels across Europe, targeting both active and passive candidates in regions such as Spain, Germany, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Sweden, and the UK. Within the first 24 hours, our team had engaged more than 80 qualified professionals through our proprietary candidate database of over 65000 carefully vetted profiles.

In parallel, we initiated direct outreach via LinkedIn, GitHub, and specialized engineering forums, using personalized messaging tailored to ZIM’s brand and mission. We emphasized transparency and precision in candidate communication, sharing role expectations, project scope, and team dynamics from the start to build trust and reduce late-stage drop-offs.

This structured, high-volume recruitment approach had already proven effective in a previous collaboration with Kroll, Inc., a global financial advisory and risk management firm. Over a nine-year partnership, DevsData LLC delivered vetted engineers and built secure backend systems and big data pipelines processing over one terabyte of sensitive financial data daily. The engagement required strict compliance with GDPR and CCPA, multilayer vetting of all engineers, and rapid delivery across multiple project scopes. The experience of running parallel technical pipelines under strict security protocols directly informed the process applied to ZIM, where speed, precision, and reliability under high stakes were equally critical.

Execution and delivery

The process was structured around speed without sacrificing depth. After initial screenings, candidates were given detailed briefings and invited to participate in a structured behavioral interview focused on adaptability, communication, and cross-functional collaboration. Each interview lasted approximately 90 minutes and was designed to identify both potential red flags and strong alignment with ZIM’s team culture. Given the company’s global operations, this culture emphasized precision, accountability, and resilience under pressure. Candidates were expected to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in distributed, multicultural teams, handle large volumes of data with care, and communicate clearly with both technical and business stakeholders. Beyond technical performance, cultural fit was about showing reliability in mission-critical environments where mistakes could lead to multimillion-dollar consequences.

Candidates who passed the behavioral stage proceeded to a 90-minute technical interview conducted by our senior engineers. This stage combined theoretical questions with live coding tasks, replicating realistic on-the-job challenges to ensure a rigorous yet practical assessment of each candidate’s skillset. The evaluation focused on backend engineering depth (API design, microservices, and database optimization), data science expertise (predictive modeling, statistical analysis, and algorithm development), and full stack capabilities (modern frontend frameworks, integration with backend services, and cloud deployment). Emphasis was placed on scalability, fault tolerance, and optimization for real-time logistics platforms, reflecting the complexity of ZIM’s operational systems.

Thanks to effective coordination, we delivered initial shortlists within three business days of project kickoff. Interview feedback from our team and the client was exchanged within hours, allowing us to continuously iterate and improve candidate matching. Each recommended candidate was accompanied by an in-depth profile summary covering employment history, soft skills evaluation, and a breakdown of technical competencies.

Outcome

Over the course of the first three and a half months, we successfully filled seven highly specialized engineering roles for ZIM, ranging from backend developers to data scientists and full stack engineers. These hires were integrated into core teams working on logistics algorithms, automation tools, and internal analytics platforms.

The recruitment process was marked by high candidate engagement, fast turnaround, and consistent alignment with ZIM’s expectations. Our client reported increased development velocity and smoother handover between engineering and product teams as a direct result of these placements.

Ultimately, we filled seven roles in under three weeks: three backend-focused engineers, two data scientists, and two full stack developers.

The collaboration extended beyond initial hiring, and ZIM continues to rely on DevsData LLC as a long-term recruitment partner for its engineering and analytics hiring needs.

Beyond the initial success, the partnership continued to scale organically. Over the span of three years, DevsData LLC has helped ZIM onboard over 20 engineers in total, supporting both long-term product growth and new strategic initiatives within the company’s digital division.

Highlights:

• Seven developers hired in under four months, including backend, data science, and full stack roles.
• End-to-end screening process with same-day candidate feedback and recommendations.
• Multi-channel sourcing campaign across 10+ European countries.

What’s next?

As ZIM expands its technology infrastructure and builds out new systems to support predictive logistics and AI-driven decision-making, the demand for specialized talent remains high. We continue to act as a trusted partner, on standby to support new hiring waves and refine the recruitment strategy as the team’s needs evolve.

Future collaboration is focused on scaling data science and DevOps teams, identifying leadership-level candidates, and supporting ZIM’s expansion into new technology hubs across Europe. The partnership has shifted from short-term recruitment support to a long-term talent strategy, designed to keep pace with ZIM’s ambitious innovation roadmap.

Need to scale your tech teams across multiple countries without slowing operations?

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services filled seven critical engineering roles in under four months, strengthening its logistics and optimization platforms. If your company faces similar high-volume, high-stakes hiring needs, DevsData LLC can deliver vetted candidates quickly and precisely.

Contact us at general@devsdata.com or visit www.devsdata.com to discuss your recruitment goals.

Any questions or comments? Let me know on Twitter/X.

Discover how IT recruitment and staffing can address your talent needs. Explore trending regions like Poland, Portugal, Mexico, Brazil and more.

🗓️ Schedule a consultation

Read full bio

Elen Muradian Copywriter and Marketer

As a versatile and accomplished writer with 3+ years of experience in digital media publishing, Elen is skilled in crafting engaging content across various subjects, styles, and media. In her previous experience, Elen worked closely with editorial teams and visual artists to bring content to life. She always seeks opportunities for personal and professional growth and is eager to contribute to the writing field.

Read more about our IT staffing services