Short answer: Nearshore team augmentation gives you senior Kotlin engineers who join your standups, work in your repositories and your timezone, and leave cleanly when the project ends. From Romania that means a one- to two-hour overlap with most of Europe, €450 per day per senior engineer, and a start within one to two weeks.
When augmentation beats hiring
Augmentation fits when the work has a horizon — a six-month build, a migration, a launch — and permanent hiring would take longer than the project itself. Kotlin covers native Android apps and, increasingly, backend services with Ktor or Spring Boot and shared code via Kotlin Multiplatform.
What a senior Kotlin engineer covers
- Native Android with Jetpack Compose
- Kotlin Multiplatform shared logic for Android and iOS
- Backend services with Ktor or Spring Boot
- Play Store release, testing and crash monitoring
A typical six-month team shape
Two senior Android/Kotlin engineers, one iOS engineer if needed, one backend engineer.
Rates and engagement models
| Engagement | Published price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Senior engineer, day rate | €450 / day | Short, specific gaps in an existing team |
| Dedicated team, per month | from €7,000 / month | 3–12 month builds that need continuity |
| Bounded first slice | from €9,500 | Proving the partner on one real deliverable |
What to watch out for
- Legacy XML views mixed with Compose without a migration plan
- No automated UI tests before release
- Engineers rotated off your project without notice — ask for named people in the contract.
- IP that is not assigned to you by default — insist on it from day one.
How to start
1. Send a short brief: stack, team today, what has to ship and by when.
2. We propose named engineers and a team shape within one working day.
3. Start with a bounded first slice or a two-week trial; continue month to month.
Related reading: mobile app development in Romania: native vs cross-platform, team augmentation in Romania: best providers and staff augmentation vs dedicated team vs fixed scope.
Next step
Related services: staff augmentation, nearshore development centre, nearshore outsourcing and engagement models. Case studies: CodCheck, Foi Parcurs Online and an AI voice agent for a hospitality group.
Not sure what team you need? Try the nearshore team planner. Or see the published pricing, the nearshore lean approach and live work, or send a short brief — we reply within one working day with a team shape and a price.
Frequently asked
How fast can a nearshore Kotlin engineer start?
Usually within one to two weeks of a signed scope. We start with a paid first slice or a short trial period so you judge the work before committing to months.
What does a senior Kotlin engineer cost through team augmentation?
Our published rate is €450 per day for a senior engineer, or a dedicated team from €7,000 per month. There are no placement fees and no minimum term beyond the notice period.
Can we scale the team down after six months?
Yes. Monthly engagements run on a short notice period, so you can scale up, down or stop when the project ends. Code, repositories and documentation stay yours throughout.
Do Kotlin engineers cover both Android and backend?
Yes. Senior Kotlin engineers cover Jetpack Compose Android apps, Kotlin Multiplatform shared logic and Ktor or Spring Boot services.
Is nearshore Kotlin augmentation from Romania cheaper than hiring locally?
For Western European companies, usually yes: €450 per day for a senior engineer with no recruiting fees, benefits or notice-period risk, and a one- to two-hour timezone overlap at most.