Working for international clients from Porto: everyday life at Zühlke

Zühlke is a global transformation partner, with engineering and innovation in our DNA. Connecting strategy, technology, domain expertise, delivery, and operations, they help clients become more effective, resilient businesses. The Porto office opened in 2021 and has grown rapidly to become one of the group's most important engineering centres. One of the delivery models Zuhlke uses in Portugal is different from traditional nearshore: software development done from a nearby country on behalf of a foreign client.

Zühlke's dedicated teams that work long-term with a single client, immersed in that client's business as if they were an internal extension of the company.

Nuno Lopes has been Dedicated Teams Manager and People Lead at Zühlke in Porto since April 2024. He came from the automotive retail and e-commerce sectors and now manages teams dedicated to international clients in the industry sector and other major projects. We spoke to him about what it means to build and lead engineers from Porto to the world.

1. Nuno, you came from automotive retail and e-commerce and now manage engineering teams for international clients. How did your career path lead you to Zühlke?

My career path has been shaped by a strong interest in international and technology-driven environments. While working at a tech e‑commerce company, I had the opportunity to be part of a truly international organisation, collaborating with multicultural teams and contributing to projects with global impact.

During that time, I was involved in strategic initiatives and led teams within the tech operations area, which helped me build a strong foundation in people leadership and delivery. After six years in this environment, I was drawn to the opportunity to join a technology consultancy like Zühlke, where I could combine engineering, product management, and people leadership to build dedicated teams that work closely with international clients on innovative, global projects."

2. For those who are not yet familiar with Zühlke, how would you explain what you do and what types of projects you are involved in?

Zühlke is a trusted transformation partner with engineering and innovation at its core. We support companies in embedding modern technologies into their products and businesses, helping them innovate and scale in a sustainable way. Zühlke operates globally, with offices across Europe and APAC.

I am based in Porto and part of the Dedicated Teams practice, which focuses on long‑term client engagements. Our teams operate as an extension of the client's organization, working closely with business and engineering stakeholders on the strategic direction of products and platforms.

These teams bring together multiple disciplines, including embedded engineering, cloud, quality assurance, DevOps, and product management. As a Dedicated Team Manager, my role is to build and sustain high‑performing teams through a transparent hiring process, strong people leadership, continuous performance management, and clear career development paths. In parallel, I have also been involved in strategic consulting initiatives with several clients.

3. Zühlke talks about 'dedicated teams' instead of traditional nearshore. In practice, what changes in the day-to-day life of an engineer working in this model?

In a dedicated team model, engineers are not simply delivering tasks remotely; they work as a true extension of the client's internal team. On a day‑to‑day basis, this means close collaboration with client stakeholders, shared goals, and a deep understanding of the product and business context.

Engineers participate in planning, decision‑making, and problem‑solving alongside the client team, which creates stronger ownership, faster feedback loops, and a greater sense of impact in their work.

What makes Zuhlke different (and what engineers gain by joining us instead of going directly to a client) is that they experience the best of both worlds. Engineers enjoy the immersion, responsibility, and continuity of a long‑term product team, while also benefiting from Zuhlke's strong engineering culture, career development framework, and diverse community of experts.

At Zuhlke, engineers are part of a broader ecosystem that offers continuous learning, mentoring, international knowledge exchange, and the chance to evolve across different domains and technologies throughout their career. This combination of deep client engagement and strong internal support is what makes the dedicated team model truly unique for our people.

4. When a dedicated team starts working with a new client in another country, how do you build trust from a distance?

Trust is built through consistency, transparency, and strong communication. From the beginning, we focus on clear goals, aligned expectations, and well‑defined ways of working. Onsite onboarding and regular touchpoints help establish strong relationships early on.

We encourage engineers to be proactive, visible, and open about progress and challenges. Over time, reliable delivery, ownership, and a deep understanding of client priorities naturally build trust. In addition, we regularly organize onsite visits, both at the client's location and in Porto, for planning sessions, workshops, and team‑building activities.

5. The engineers in Porto immerse themselves in each client's business, whether it's air conditioning, fire detection or another sector. How does this learning process take place within the team?

The learning process begins with onboarding into the client's business and project domain, supported by documentation, structured knowledge‑sharing sessions, and close collaboration with both client and Zühlke experts.

Learning then continues organically through pair work, design discussions, and regular knowledge exchanges within the team. As a manager, I ensure that there are dedicated time and structure for reflection and learning so engineers can continuously deepen both their technical expertise and business understanding.

6. You moved from automotive retail to managing projects in very different sectors. What skills from your previous career proved most useful in this transition?

My previous experience helped me develop strong people and stakeholder management skills in fast‑paced environments. Understanding customer needs, managing expectations, and balancing commercial and operational priorities translated very well into project and people management.

Adaptability and communication were also essential skills, particularly when working across different industries and quickly learning new business contexts.

7. As People Lead, what is your role in the professional growth of the engineers you lead at Zühlke Porto?

My role is to support engineers and product owners in defining clear career goals and creating realistic development plans to achieve them. This includes regular feedback, coaching, and helping identify learning opportunities aligned with both individual ambitions and project needs.

I also act as a bridge between individuals, teams, and the organisation, ensuring that professional growth is supported in a transparent, structured, and sustainable way.

8. The Porto office opened in 2021 and has grown rapidly. How do you maintain a cohesive engineering culture as the team scales?

Maintaining a strong culture during rapid growth requires deliberate effort. We focus on shared values, open communication, and visible leadership. Regular team interactions, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and alignment on quality standards help ensure that everyone remains connected and committed to the same level of engineering excellence.

Equally important is creating an environment where people feel supported beyond their day-to-day project work. At Zühlke, this is reflected in 'Thrive@Zühlke', our holistic wellbeing and benefits programme. 'Thrive' brings together a wide range of benefits and initiatives under a coherent framework designed to support colleagues across multiple dimensions of wellbeing, including physical, mental, financial, interpersonal, purpose and belonging.

This approach combines structural support with practical initiatives, such as hybrid working options, health and wellbeing support, financial literacy workshops, and programmes that promote healthy habits, such as nutrition workshops, individual consultations, and Shiatsu sessions. By offering a variety of resources and flexibility, we recognise that people's needs evolve throughout different stages of their lives and careers.

In addition, Zühlke promotes social and cultural initiatives such as team camps, game nights, and team-building events. These moments allow colleagues to connect beyond project work, share interests, and build strong, long-lasting relationships.

Together, these elements help us maintain a cohesive, people-centred culture, even as the Porto office continues to grow

9. Your team is growing at the moment. What profiles are you looking for, and what does Zühlke offer someone who is considering the next step in their career?

In general, we are looking for engineers who are technically strong, curious, and motivated to work closely with clients. Beyond technical expertise, collaboration, ownership, and communication are essential in a dedicated team model.

Zühlke offers the opportunity to work on meaningful, long‑term projects, continuous learning and development, clear career paths, and a people‑centric environment where both personal and professional growth are actively supported.

Currently, particularly in my team, we are specifically looking for mobile profiles with strong Flutter expertise and leadership capabilities. Engineers who can combine hands‑on development with ownership, mentoring, and active engagement with clients.

10. Looking back over the last year, what moment or result made you most proud of the work done from Porto?

What makes me most proud is seeing the teams in Porto become trusted partners for our clients. When engineers are fully integrated, take ownership, and are recognised for their impact, it confirms that the dedicated team model is working.

On a personal level, seeing team members grow professionally, taking on new responsibilities, and progress in their careers has been especially rewarding and reflects the strength of the Porto office.