The LatamCent Glossary
This glossary is made for U.S. B2B SaaS teams working with nearshore professionals across engineering, sales, finance, product, and more. You’ll find clear explanations of roles, hiring terms, payroll models, GTM strategies, and how they relate to Latam hiring.
Glossary terms
A
Account Executive (AE)
A sales professional responsible for managing client relationships and closing deals. In B2B SaaS, AEs often work closely with Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) to convert qualified leads into customers.
Account Manager
A professional who maintains and grows relationships with existing clients, ensuring their needs are met and identifying opportunities for upselling or cross-selling.
Account-Based Marketing (ABM)
A strategic approach to business marketing in which an organization considers and communicates with individual prospect or customer accounts as markets of one.
Agile Software Development
A methodology that promotes iterative development, collaboration, and flexibility. Agile practices are particularly effective in nearshore IT services due to the close time zone alignment, which facilitates real-time communication.
Analytics Engineer
A professional who bridges the gap between data engineering and data analysis, transforming raw data into actionable insights. Example: Hiring Analytics Engineers from Latin America allows U.S. companies to enhance their data capabilities cost-effectively.
Annual Contract Value (ACV)
A metric that represents the average annual revenue generated from each customer contract. ACV is crucial for SaaS companies to assess the value of their customer relationships.
API Integration
The process of connecting different software applications via their Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to allow them to work together.
Automation Testing
The use of specialized tools to execute pre-scripted tests on a software application before it is released into production. This ensures that the software performs as expected.
B
B2B SaaS
Short for Business-to-Business Software as a Service. Refers to cloud-based tools built for companies rather than individual consumers.
Backend Developer
A software engineer focused on server-side development. They handle databases, APIs, and application logic that power the user-facing side of a platform.
Behavioral Interview
A hiring technique focused on past experiences to predict future performance. Candidates are asked how they handled specific work situations.
Brand Marketer
A marketing specialist focused on shaping and maintaining the perception of a company, product, or service. They align messaging, visuals, and strategy across campaigns.
Business Analyst
A role that analyzes business processes, gathers requirements, and helps define tech solutions to improve workflows or systems.
Business Intelligence (BI)
The use of tools and processes to analyze data and support decision-making. BI roles include dashboard building, reporting, and performance tracking.
Buyer Persona
A semi-fictional profile that represents a company’s ideal customer based on real data and market research. Essential for sales, marketing, and GTM planning.
C
Campaign Manager
A marketing role responsible for planning, executing, and tracking performance of marketing campaigns across various channels.
Candidate Pipeline
A structured pool of vetted candidates available for current or future hiring needs.
Cloud Engineer
An engineer who designs, deploys, and maintains cloud infrastructure. Often specialized in platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure.
Compliance Analyst
A finance or legal role responsible for ensuring a company meets regulatory standards.
Content Marketer
A marketing specialist focused on producing high-quality written, visual, or multimedia content to attract and retain customers.
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
A data-driven process aimed at increasing the percentage of users who take a desired action—like signing up or making a purchase.
CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
Software that helps companies manage interactions with current and potential customers.
Customer Success Manager (CSM)
A post-sales role focused on onboarding, retention, and satisfaction.
D
Data Analyst
Interprets raw data to uncover trends, patterns, and insights. Frequently supports product, marketing, and finance teams in decision-making.
Data Engineer
Builds and maintains data pipelines and systems to enable storage, processing, and analysis. Often works alongside analysts and data scientists.
Data Scientist
Uses advanced statistical methods and machine learning to generate predictive models and extract business value from data.
Database Administrator (DBA)
Manages and secures databases, ensuring performance, availability, and backup procedures are maintained.
Demand Generation
A marketing function focused on creating awareness and interest to drive qualified leads into the sales funnel.
DevOps Engineer
Bridges development and IT by automating deployment, monitoring systems, and managing infrastructure as code.
Digital Marketing Specialist
Manages online marketing efforts across channels like search, email, social media, and display to generate leads and grow brand visibility.
Distributed Team
A team with members working in different geographic locations. Nearshore hiring supports distributed setups with aligned time zones and cultural overlap.
E
Email Marketing Specialist
Plans, writes, and analyzes email campaigns to nurture leads, retain customers, and drive revenue. Plays a key role in B2B SaaS GTM strategies.
Embedded Developer
Programs low-level code that interacts directly with hardware, often used in IoT or specialized systems.
Employer of Record (EOR)
A third-party entity that legally employs workers on behalf of another company, handling payroll, taxes, and compliance. Often used in nearshoring to simplify hiring.
Engineering Manager
Oversees technical teams, coordinates project delivery, and ensures code quality. U.S. companies often hire Latam-based managers to lead nearshore engineering teams.
Entry-Level Talent
Professionals early in their careers, typically with 0–2 years of experience. Often hired for support roles or to build long-term teams affordably.
ETL Developer
Designs and maintains Extract, Transform, Load processes that move and prepare data between systems for analysis and reporting.
Executive Assistant
Provides high-level administrative support to executives, including scheduling, communication, and coordination. Hiring from Latam offers time zone alignment and budget efficiency.
F
Figma
A collaborative design tool used for interface design, prototyping, and feedback. Popular among remote product and UI/UX teams.
Financial Analyst
Evaluates financial data, builds models, and supports strategic planning. Nearshoring this role helps U.S. companies maintain insight without inflating headcount costs.
Financial Controller
Oversees accounting functions, financial reporting, and compliance. Frequently nearshored from Latin America to balance quality with cost-efficiency.
Frontend Developer
Builds the visual components of web applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks. Nearshoring this role allows for faster iteration with design and product teams.
Full-Stack Developer
Handles both frontend and backend development tasks, offering end-to-end technical support across a product’s architecture.
Funnel
Describes the stages of a customer journey from awareness to conversion. Used in sales and marketing to track performance and identify drop-offs.
G
Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy
A company’s plan to launch a product or service to the market, covering positioning, channels, sales tactics, and customer engagement.
Google Tag Manager (GTM)
A tool for managing and deploying marketing tags without modifying code. Helps marketers test and track performance efficiently.
Graphic Designer
Creates visual assets for marketing, product, and branding. Nearshoring designers from Latam supports fast turnaround and consistent brand quality.
Growth Engineer
A developer who works on features or experiments aimed at improving user activation, retention, or monetization, often collaborating with GTM teams.
Growth Marketer
Focuses on scalable tactics to drive user acquisition, retention, and revenue. Frequently works with product and data teams to run experiments.
H
Help Desk Specialist
Provides technical support to users, handling software issues, account access, and troubleshooting. Nearshoring this role helps reduce response times and extend coverage.
Hiring Manager
The person responsible for making the final decision in a recruitment process. Collaborates with recruiters to define role requirements and evaluate candidates.
HR Generalist
Handles a range of human resources tasks, from onboarding and employee relations to benefits and compliance. Often nearshored to support growing remote teams.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
The standard language used to create and structure content on the web. Main skill for frontend developers.
HubSpot
A CRM and marketing automation platform used by sales and marketing teams to manage contacts, campaigns, and performance.
I
Inbound Marketing
A strategy focused on attracting customers through valuable content and experiences, rather than direct outreach. Often executed by nearshore content and SEO teams.
Inside Sales Representative (ISR)
Handles remote sales by contacting inbound leads, conducting product demos, and closing smaller deals. Commonly nearshored from Latam for time zone compatibility.
Integration Engineer
Connects software systems by building and maintaining integrations, ensuring smooth data flow between platforms like CRMs, ERPs, and internal tools.
International Payroll
The process of managing employee compensation across different countries, including taxes, benefits, and legal compliance. Often handled through partners like EORs.
Iteration
A cycle of building, testing, and refining a product or process. Common in Agile development and continuous improvement workflows.
J
Java Developer
Specializes in building applications using the Java programming language. Frequently hired for backend systems, enterprise software, and Android development.
JavaScript
A programming language used to create interactive elements on websites. Essential for frontend development and often used in full-stack roles.
Job Description
A formal summary of a role’s responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations. Well-written descriptions help attract the right Latam candidates for nearshore hiring.
Junior Developer
An entry-level programmer with limited professional experience, typically working under senior guidance. Nearshoring junior developers can support scalability without inflating costs.
K
Knowledge Base
A centralized library of articles, FAQs, and guides that help users or employees find information quickly. Often managed by content or support teams.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
A measurable value used to track progress toward specific business goals. Common across departments like sales, marketing, and product.
L
Landing Page
A standalone web page designed to convert visitors into leads or customers. Often used in marketing campaigns and A/B tests.
Latam (Latin America)
Refers to countries in Central and South America. A popular region for nearshoring due to time zone alignment, skilled talent, and cultural compatibility with U.S. teams.
Lead Generation
The process of attracting and converting prospects into interested buyers. Frequently supported by nearshore SDRs, marketers, or automation tools.
Lifecycle Marketing
A strategy that tailors messaging to each stage of the customer journey, from awareness to retention, using email, content, and product triggers.
Localization
Adapting content, design, or functionality to fit the language and cultural context of a specific market. Often needed when expanding into Latin America or translating for Spanish-speaking users.
M
Machine Learning Engineer
Develops algorithms that allow systems to learn from data and improve over time without explicit programming. Often nearshored for AI product development in SaaS.
Market Research Analyst
Collects and interprets data about consumers, competitors, and market conditions to guide strategic decisions.
Marketing Automation
The use of software to automate marketing actions such as email campaigns, lead scoring, and customer segmentation.
Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)
A lead that has engaged with marketing content and is deemed ready for handoff to the sales team based on defined criteria.
Middleware
Software that connects different applications or services, enabling them to communicate and share data. Common in integration and infrastructure projects.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
The most basic version of a product that allows a team to test its core idea with minimal resources and validate demand.
Mobile Developer
Builds applications for mobile platforms like iOS and Android. Often nearshored to deliver cost-efficient, high-quality apps for U.S. SaaS companies.
N
Nearshoring
The practice of hiring talent from neighboring or nearby countries to benefit from time zone alignment, cultural compatibility, and lower costs.
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
A customer satisfaction metric based on how likely users are to recommend a product or service. Often used by customer success and product teams.
Network Engineer
Designs, configures, and maintains computer networks. Nearshoring this role supports secure and scalable infrastructure for growing SaaS companies.
Niche Talent
Highly specialized professionals with expertise in a specific field or technology. Nearshoring helps access niche talent that may be scarce or expensive in the U.S.
Node.js
A runtime environment that allows JavaScript to be used for server-side development. Frequently used in full-stack and backend projects.
O
Offshore Hiring
The practice of hiring talent from distant countries, often with significant time zone differences. Nearshoring is often preferred for better collaboration and overlap.
OKR (Objectives and Key Results)
A goal-setting framework used to align team efforts with company priorities. Common in SaaS, product, and growth teams.
Onboarding
The process of integrating a new hire into the company, including training, system access, and team introductions. Smooth onboarding improves retention and productivity in nearshore teams.
Outreach
Proactive communication with potential customers or candidates. Sales teams use outreach to generate leads, while recruiters use it to source talent.
Outsourcing
Contracting work to an external provider. Nearshoring is a type of outsourcing that prioritizes regional alignment, particularly valuable for fast-paced SaaS teams.
P
Paid Media Specialist
Manages advertising campaigns across platforms like Google Ads, LinkedIn, and Meta. Focuses on driving traffic, leads, or conversions through budgeted spend.
Payroll Specialist
Handles employee compensation, tax deductions, and compliance. Nearshoring this role helps U.S. companies manage costs while maintaining accuracy.
Performance Marketing
A results-driven marketing strategy focused on measurable actions like clicks, sign-ups, or purchases. Frequently supported by nearshore teams in analytics and campaign execution.
Platform Engineer
Builds and maintains internal platforms that improve developer experience, reliability, and deployment efficiency.
Product Designer
Combines UX and UI to create user-friendly digital products. Nearshoring product designers from Latam enables iterative collaboration with U.S. product teams.
Product Manager
Oversees the development and success of software products, aligning business goals with user needs and technical feasibility.
Project Manager
Plans, coordinates, and tracks the progress of projects. Often nearshored to manage cross-functional collaboration without expanding U.S. headcount.
Q
QA Engineer
Ensures software quality by writing and executing tests, identifying bugs, and verifying fixes. Nearshoring QA engineers supports faster release cycles with aligned hours.
QA Tester
Performs manual or automated testing to check software functionality, usability, and performance before launch.
Qualified Lead
A contact who meets specific criteria indicating a strong potential to become a customer. Commonly categorized as marketing-qualified or sales-qualified.
R
React Developer
Specializes in building user interfaces using the React JavaScript library. Commonly hired for frontend or full-stack roles in SaaS platforms.
Recruiter
Sources, screens, and evaluates candidates for open roles. Nearshoring recruiters helps companies scale hiring pipelines while saving time and cost.
Remote Team
A group of professionals working from different locations. Nearshoring supports remote teams with time zone alignment and cultural familiarity.
Reporting Analyst
Creates dashboards and reports that visualize business performance. Often nearshored to support marketing, finance, or GTM functions with timely insights.
Revenue Operations (RevOps)
Unifies marketing, sales, and customer success processes to drive consistent growth. RevOps roles in Latam help SaaS teams optimize performance with lower overhead.
Ruby on Rails Developer
Builds web applications using the Ruby on Rails framework. Frequently hired by startups and SaaS companies for rapid development needs.
S
Sales Development Representative (SDR)
Handles outbound prospecting and qualifies inbound leads to pass to account executives. A key role in B2B SaaS GTM teams, often nearshored for responsiveness and cost efficiency.
Salesforce Administrator
Manages the configuration, maintenance, and optimization of the Salesforce CRM platform. Nearshoring this role helps U.S. teams maintain clean data and workflows.
Scrum Master
Facilitates Agile ceremonies, removes blockers, and supports team productivity in software development environments.
SEO Specialist
Optimizes website content and structure to improve visibility in search engine results. Often nearshored to support ongoing content and technical improvements.
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
Ensures high availability and performance of production systems by combining software engineering with IT operations.
Software Engineer
Designs, builds, and maintains software systems. Nearshoring software engineers from Latam enables U.S. companies to expand development capacity with aligned hours.
SQL Developer
Writes and manages structured query language (SQL) to manipulate and retrieve data from relational databases.
T
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Manages the end-to-end hiring process, from sourcing to onboarding. Nearshoring this role helps companies fill positions faster with qualified Latam professionals.
Tech Lead
Oversees technical direction and guides engineering teams. Balances hands-on coding with mentorship and system architecture decisions.
Technical Recruiter
Focuses on hiring candidates for engineering, product, and data roles. Often nearshored to scale sourcing efforts without increasing internal overhead.
Time Zone Overlap
The number of shared working hours between remote teams. A key advantage of hiring from Latin America for U.S.-based companies.
TypeScript
A superset of JavaScript that adds static typing. Commonly used in scalable frontend and full-stack applications for better maintainability.
U
UI Designer
Focuses on the visual layout and interactive elements of a product. Works closely with UX designers and developers to deliver polished digital experiences.
UI Developer
Implements user interface designs using frontend technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or frameworks such as React and Vue.
Upskilling
The process of expanding a team member’s skill set through training or hands-on experience. Nearshore hires often pursue upskilling to stay competitive in evolving tech stacks.
User Researcher
Studies user behavior and feedback to guide product decisions. Nearshoring this role supports iterative product design with real-time collaboration.
UX Designer
Designs user flows, wireframes, and prototypes to improve usability and product engagement. Often nearshored to support product teams with faster iteration cycles.
V
Value Proposition
A clear statement explaining how a product or service solves a problem and why it’s better than alternatives. Often crafted by GTM and marketing teams.
Version Control
A system that tracks and manages changes to code, most commonly Git. Essential for collaborative software development, especially across distributed teams.
Virtual Assistant (VA)
Provides remote administrative, marketing, or customer support. Nearshoring VAs from Latin America offers time zone alignment and reliable communication.
Visual Designer
Creates branding, web, and marketing visuals that align with a company’s identity. Frequently collaborates with content and product teams to maintain design consistency.
W
Web Developer
Builds and maintains websites or web applications using frontend, backend, or full-stack technologies. Nearshored web developers support rapid development with real-time collaboration.
Webflow
A no-code platform for building responsive websites visually, often used by marketing teams for landing pages and content hubs.
Wireframe
A low-fidelity layout that outlines the structure of a web page or app screen. Created by designers to plan content placement and user flow.
Workflow Automation
The use of software tools to automate repetitive tasks across systems or teams. Common in finance, marketing, and sales operations to improve efficiency.
X
XML (eXtensible Markup Language)
A markup language used to store and transport data in a structured, machine-readable format. Often used in integrations between software systems.
Y
YAML (YAML Ain’t Markup Language)
A human-readable data serialization format often used for configuration files in DevOps, infrastructure, and backend systems.
Year-Over-Year (YoY)
A comparison of performance metrics from one year to the same period in the previous year. Common in financial reporting and growth analysis.
Z
Zapier
A no-code automation tool that connects apps and services to automate workflows. Frequently used by marketing, sales, and support teams to reduce manual tasks.
Zero Downtime Deployment
A deployment strategy that updates software without interrupting service availability. Often managed by DevOps or platform engineering teams.