The most in-demand technology roles that drive digital transformation

Securing the right technology talent is critical to your organization’s future—but where should you start? Here are the most in-demand roles and strategies to help you find the right professionals to fill them. 

Key takeaways 

• Leaders are prioritizing roles within application, infrastructure, data and analytics, automation, and emerging technology services to advance digital transformation efforts. 

• Balancing technical skills with adaptability, remote talent models, and continuous learning is essential to building organizational agility. 

• Partnering with a professional services organization gives you access to specialized technology and digital talent to help your teams scale and innovate. 

We are seeing a fundamental shift in how organizations operate, creating unprecedented demand for technology professionals who can bridge the gap between strategy and execution. Highspring’s Agility Index Report found that high-agility organizations are nearly four times more likely to see strategy alignment across talent, execution, and technology—making the right technology hires crucial to your long-term success. 

The challenge? Only 45% of tech companies can find and deploy critical talent quickly, particularly in key areas like AI, DevOps, and cloud.  This article explores what technology roles companies are prioritizing, and strategies to help you identify the right talent to advance your digital transformation initiatives. 

High-demand technology roles by service  

Your technology talent needs depend on your business priorities, but the most in-demand roles generally fall into a few core service categories. From application development to emerging technologies, here are the roles organizations are prioritizing, broken down by service area. 

Application services  

Application services remain the backbone of digital transformation, helping you develop, test, and implement solutions that scale with business needs. In-demand roles in this category include: 

• Application developers who build and maintain the software that powers daily operations 

• Quality assurance specialists who test applications to ensure reliability and performance 

• ERP and CRM specialists who implement and optimize enterprise platforms to improve efficiency 

• Project managers and business analysts who guide initiatives from planning through delivery 

• Next-gen architects who design application frameworks that support future growth 

Infrastructure services  

Strong infrastructure is critical for supporting business agility and keeping your digital transformation initiatives secure and scalable. These roles focus on building and maintaining the backbone of your technology environment. In-demand roles include: 

• Cloud engineers and architects who design and manage multi-cloud environments 

• Systems and network engineers who ensure reliable performance across enterprise systems 

• Cybersecurity engineers and analysts who protect infrastructure from evolving threats 

• End-user computing and workplace services professionals who enhance the digital employee experience 

Data and analytics  

Data is at the core of every successful digital transformation. Professionals within this area help you manage, analyze, and act on information to make smarter business decisions. In-demand roles include: 

• Data engineers who build and maintain large-scale data pipelines and storage systems 

• Data analysts and business intelligence (BI) specialists who create dashboards and reporting tools for actionable insights 

• Data governance professionals who ensure accuracy, security, and compliance 

• Advanced analytics specialists who use predictive modeling to uncover new business opportunities 

Automation services  

Automation helps you move faster, reduce costs, and improve reliability. Professionals in this area support your teams in adopting modern development practices and optimizing operations. Key roles include: 

• DevOps engineers who drive continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) 

• Agile enablement specialists who help teams adopt iterative workflows 

• Process automation engineers who streamline repetitive tasks with technology 

• Site reliability engineers who ensure systems remain stable at scale 

Emerging and next-generation technology  

Innovation often comes from targeted development, and emerging technology roles are where you gain future-ready capabilities. Professionals in this area help you push transformation forward by experimenting with and implementing the latest advancements. In-demand roles include: 

• AI and machine learning engineers who design and train intelligent systems 

• Natural language processing specialists who develop applications that understand human language 

• Computer vision experts who build systems that interpret images and video 

• Product owners who connect next-gen technical capabilities with business goals 

These roles represent some of the fastest-growing organizational needs, driven by the adoption of AI, machine learning, and other next-generation tools. Securing this talent now helps you stay prepared for technological advancements and quickly adapt to regulatory changes. 

Strategic considerations for hiring and retaining technology talent 

To stay competitive, you need more than just technical expertise—you need organizational agility. Highspring’s Agility Index Report found that high-agility companies are 42% more likely to align talent strategies with business priorities, enabling them to scale quickly, pivot focus areas, and integrate new hires effectively. Developing this agility allows you to respond rapidly to changing technology needs while keeping initiatives on track. 

Balance skills with adaptability 

While deep technical knowledge remains essential, the most effective hires can adapt to emerging platforms and methodologies. But Highspring’s research found that only 44% of tech leaders feel highly confident in their ability to scale on demand. That’s why investing in professionals who combine expertise with the ability to learn and adapt quickly, while providing ongoing learning opportunities, helps your teams stay current with trends, tools, and emerging technologies. 

Scale your teams to meet evolving demands 

Partnering with a trusted professional services organization can accelerate access to specialized talent and reduce hiring risk. Managed services and contingent workforce solutions provide flexibility to scale teams for specific projects, leverage industry expertise, and ensure your talent strategy aligns closely with organizational goals. Engaging a partner also helps you maintain momentum on initiatives while focusing internal resources on strategic priorities. 

Preparing for the future of technology talent 

Competition for technology talent is increasing as digital transformation accelerates. By establishing strategies to quickly identify, attract, and onboard the right professionals, you’ll gain a measurable advantage in positioning your organization for what’s next. 

Vaco by Highspring offers customized staffing solutions that give your organization access to specialized technology and digital talent to help your teams innovate and scale with confidence. Contact us to learn how we can support your technology strategy today. 

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