Moving to Denver
for Tech Jobs.

Denver: Silicon Mountain

Denver's tech ecosystem didn't happen overnight. It was built deliberately, over more than two decades, by a combination of strategic factors that have made the Denver-Boulder corridor one of the most compelling tech markets in the country: a highly educated workforce (Colorado ranks among the top 5 states in percentage of residents with college degrees), world-class research universities (CU Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, University of Denver, Colorado State University), a quality of life that attracts and retains talent, and a geographic position that splits the difference between East and West Coast time zones.

The aerospace and defense technology sector has been the bedrock of Colorado's tech economy for generations. Lockheed Martin's Space division (headquartered in Littleton), Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris all have significant engineering presences in the Denver metro, creating a deep pool of aerospace and systems engineering talent that has cross-pollinated into the civilian tech sector in important ways. The presence of NORAD, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and NIST in the region further bolsters the technical talent concentration.

The civilian tech sector has grown dramatically over the past decade. Palantir's decision to move its corporate headquarters from New York to Denver in 2020 was a watershed moment — a signal from a major, high-profile tech company that Denver was a legitimate alternative to coastal tech centers. Amazon's engineering presence in Denver has grown substantially. Gusto, the HR and payroll software company valued at $9.5 billion, has made Denver one of its primary engineering hubs. And the broader startup ecosystem — anchored by organizations like Techstars (founded in Boulder), the Denver Startup Week (the largest free startup event in North America), and a robust venture capital community — continues to generate new companies at an impressive rate.

The Denver Tech Center (DTC)

The Denver Tech Center is a 2,000-acre planned business district in the southern Denver suburbs — straddling the border of Denver and Greenwood Village — that serves as the region's primary corporate and tech campus corridor. The DTC is home to some of the Denver metro's largest employers, including Arrow Electronics (Fortune 500), DaVita, Vertafore, Ping Identity, and dozens of major financial services, healthcare technology, and enterprise software companies.

For tech workers, the DTC's appeal extends beyond the employment concentration. Light rail connects it to downtown Denver (about 20 minutes). The surrounding suburbs of Greenwood Village, Centennial, and Cherry Hills Village offer excellent schools, beautiful neighborhoods, and a quality of life that makes the DTC corridor one of the most sought-after employment zones in the entire Mountain West. Many tech workers choose to live in Highlands Ranch, Littleton, or Greenwood Village specifically to minimize their DTC commute while maximizing their access to Colorado's outdoor lifestyle.

Boulder's Tech Ecosystem

Forty miles north of Denver, Boulder has built a tech ecosystem that is extraordinary in its density and quality relative to the city's size. Google's Boulder campus is one of the search giant's most significant engineering offices outside of Mountain View. IBM, Oracle, and Broadcom have substantial Boulder presences. Pivotal (acquired by VMware) was founded in Boulder. Techstars, the world's most prominent startup accelerator, was founded in Boulder and has graduated over 3,000 companies globally.

Boulder's startup culture is enriched by CU Boulder's engineering, computer science, and business programs, which produce exceptional graduates who frequently choose to stay in the area. The presence of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) creates spillover research and technology talent that feeds into the private sector. For tech workers who prioritize walkability, outdoor access, and an intellectually stimulating environment, Boulder is one of the most compelling options anywhere in the country.

Where Denver Tech Workers Live