u/Abject_Reindeer_2640

Hi everyone,

I’m currently based in Armenia and working remotely for a Russian company. I have 6 years of experience as a backend engineer (Java), mainly working on high-load distributed systems (microservices, async processing, etc.).

I’d consider myself mid-to-senior level, with C1 English and some experience working with international teams.

I’m now exploring opportunities with EU-based companies, either remotely or with a potential transition later on.

I’m trying to better understand how hiring typically works in practice for someone in my situation:

• Do EU companies usually prefer hiring non-EU engineers as contractors (B2B), or is direct employment still common?
• What does a typical setup look like when working remotely from outside the EU (from both sides)?
• At what stage does it make sense to discuss a transition from remote to an in-country role, if that ever happens?
• Are there patterns or expectations I should be aware of when applying from outside the EU?

I’d really appreciate insights from people who have been on either side of this (candidates or hiring managers).

Thanks.