What Zapier does

Zapier is the world’s leading automation platform, connecting 7,000+ apps so businesses and individuals can automate repetitive tasks without writing code. If you’ve ever set up a workflow that automatically saves email attachments to cloud storage or syncs your CRM with your email marketing tool, there’s a good chance Zapier was the engine behind it.

Founded in 2011, Zapier helps millions of users automate their work by connecting the apps they already use. From small business owners to enterprise teams, the platform handles billions of automated tasks every month. They’re now expanding heavily into AI-powered automation, making workflows smarter and more accessible.

The company was born remote – the founders started from different cities and have never had a central office. They’re proudly “100% remote, forever” with 800+ employees across 40+ countries.

Remote culture: what it’s actually like

Zapier’s remote culture is built on a simple premise: async communication is the default, and meetings are the exception. Written communication isn’t just encouraged – it’s how work happens. If you’re someone who processes information better through conversation than documents, the adjustment can be significant.

The company runs on written updates, Loom videos, and documentation. Their internal communication norms prioritise clarity over speed. You won’t be expected to respond to messages immediately – but you will be expected to respond thoughtfully and completely.

Leadership is distributed across timezones, and the company has been intentional about ensuring that career progression doesn’t depend on physical proximity to anyone. Bi-annual retreats bring the whole company together for connection and collaboration – these are genuine relationship-building events, not corporate team-building exercises. The pronunciation of the company name rhymes with “happier”, incidentally.

The cultural emphasis on radical flexibility means no set working hours. They trust you to manage your time. This sounds liberating – and it is – but it also means you need strong boundaries and self-discipline. Nobody will tell you to stop working at 6pm. That’s your job.

Hiring in Europe: the details

Countries: Zapier hires in 40+ countries and handles compliance across regions. They have established infrastructure for European hiring and actively employ team members across the EU.

Employment model: Zapier manages compliance directly in many locations. Depending on the country, this may involve local entities, EOR arrangements, or contractor structures. The specifics vary by role and location.

Timezone expectations: Flexible for most roles. Zapier operates asynchronously, so there’s no expectation that everyone is online at the same time. Some collaborative roles may note a preference for overlap with specific timezones, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Salary approach: Competitive compensation with quarterly profit sharing – the 14-week bonus distributed every quarter is a significant financial incentive. They also provide a $10,000 annual stipend for home office, co-working space, wellness, or whatever you need to do your best work.

Language requirements: English is the working language.

Who they’re looking for

Zapier hires across engineering, product, design, marketing, support, and operations. They’re particularly known for roles in:

  • Software engineering (Python, Go, React)
  • Product management
  • Customer Champions (their term for support – and they value it as highly as engineering)
  • Marketing and content
  • Data and analytics

The hiring process is heavily async and writing-focused. Your application is your first work sample. Be concise, clear, and specific about your achievements. Generic applications get filtered quickly – they’re testing whether you can communicate in the way their company actually works from the moment you hit submit.

Many roles include a paid work trial where they pay you to do real work before either side commits.

What current and former employees say

Zapier employees consistently highlight the profit sharing, the genuine flexibility, and the quality of the team as major positives. The async-first culture is described as genuinely freeing by people who’ve previously worked in meeting-heavy organisations.

The feedback that comes up less favourably: the pace can be intense despite the flexibility, written communication means nuance sometimes gets lost, and the flat structure requires you to be proactive about visibility. Some employees note that remote work at this scale can feel lonely if you don’t actively invest in building relationships with colleagues.

The annual stipend and profit sharing are frequently cited as standout benefits that make a real difference to quality of life – particularly for employees based in countries with lower costs of living.

How to apply

Specific tips: Your application IS the interview. Write it as if you’re already communicating with a colleague – clear, concise, and specific. If you’ve built impressive Zaps or automated workflows, mention them with concrete details. Understanding their product deeply shows genuine interest and cultural alignment. Prepare for the paid work trial by being ready to demonstrate independent work, proactive communication, and results-focused output.

See our full guide to Remote-First Companies That Actually Hire in Europe.