The State of Remote Engineering
2026 Edition
Engineers have never been more productive. They’ve also never been closer to burning out.
That tension runs through Terminal’s 2026 State of Remote Engineering, our annual survey of thousands of global developers. Learn about how AI has transformed the job, along with insights on how:
• Engineers use AI in day-to-day work
• AI is impacting hiring, job creation, and future prospects for developers
• Perceptions of AI differ around the world
What’s inside?
The State of Remote Engineering: 2026 Edition is packed with data about software engineers and the tech industry. Featuring insights from 1,800+ global engineers, our report reveals:
What it means to be “AI-fluent”
Why engineers say AI is making them more productive…but they’re burning out faster
How confident engineers feel in their future job prospects
Whether engineers believe tech is still a good career path
Why engineers who don’t embrace AI will fall behind
Which regions are satisfied with their careers and which aren’t
What tech professionals want from employers
The State of Remote Engineering includes perspectives from software engineers of all levels in Latin America, Europe, Canada, and the United States.
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Most engineers are regularly using AI at work
This year, Terminal introduced the first software engineering AI Fluency standard, assessing how developers integrate AI and agents into their day-to-day workflows. 37% of engineers are operating as AI-native, defining a goal and letting AI agents build, test, and ship it. Just 3% still write all their code by hand.
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US engineers are happier about AI’s quality than counterparts in other regions, with 71.7% agreeing their company's code has improved with artificial intelligence.
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Despite uncertainty, most engineers still support careers in tech.
Most engineers would still encourage college students to pursue a computer science or engineering career, although fewer than in 2025. Meanwhile, 75% feel confident in their future job prospects, demonstrating positivity about tech careers.
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AI is dramatically impacting hiring, with mixed perceptions.
US engineers are more optimistic about how AI impacts hiring, with more than half believing it will increase software engineering hiring. where only 41.2% (LatAm), 32.7% (Europe), and 28.9% (Canada) expect an increase.
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The State of Remote Engineering
2026 Edition
AI is on everyone’s mind. So it’s no surprise that it’s the focus of Terminal’s 2026 State of Remote Engineering.
Terminal’s 7th annual State of Remote Engineering Report shares insights from thousands of developers on how they’re using AI at work, how it’s impacting hiring and job creation, regional differences in perceptions of artificial intelligence, and the future of engineering.