What does Hire AI do?

Hire AI puts AI, software and data engineers into Australian businesses so they can build and automate. You can hire someone permanently, or bring an engineer in on a flexible, embedded basis.

Two kinds of business. AI and tech companies that need to hire great AI, software and data talent, and established businesses that want to bring AI in and need someone to build it.

It starts with a free brainstorm. We understand your business and what you need, then help you work out whether to hire permanently, bring someone in flexibly, or hold.

Where does Hire AI operate?

Across Australia, including Sydney and Melbourne.

Hire AI — AI, software & data engineers, placed inside Aussie businesses

01

Two simple ways to work together.

Permanent or hourly. Not sure which fits? That is what the free brainstorm is for.

Option 1 · Permanent

Permanent hire

You know the role you need filled. We source, screen and interview through our network, you meet a shortlist worth your time, and you hire the best one onto your team.

Contingent fee, a percentage of base salary, typically 10 to 15%
You only pay when your hire starts
Sourced via a 40,000 strong network
12 week replacement guarantee, terms apply

Best when you know who you need and want them found fast.

Option 2 · Flexible

Embedded hire

We provide the engineer and you pay a simple hourly rate, from $65 to $300 + GST an hour depending on experience. Start at a day a week and scale up or down as your needs change.

Pay by the hour, no long term lock in
No salary or headcount on your books
Start in days, not months

Best when you want AI built inside your business without committing to a full time salary.

02

Two kinds of business call us. We understand both.

Two very different needs, one answer. Whether you are hunting for talent you cannot find, or starting with AI from scratch, we get you the right person.

01

Tech consultancies & startups

You need brilliant AI, software and data people to deliver for your clients. A lot of the best are not actively on the market, or are simply hard to find, and you do not have time to chase them down yourself.

What we do

Our network does the heavy lifting. We reach people you would struggle to find or get to on your own, whether they are on the market or not, and bring them to you.

AI consultancies · startups · agencies

02

Traditional businesses who need help with AI

You know you need AI. You just do not have time to work out what is possible, keep up with the tools, or build any of it. And there are plenty of people happy to charge you a fortune for very little, so it is hard to know who is actually any good.

What we do

We put someone genuinely good in front of you, at a fair rate, as flexible as you need. They sit down with you, walk you through it, and build the thing, so you actually get value.

manufacturing · construction · real estate · professional services

Helping companies find AI talent right across Australia, from Adelaide to Melbourne to Sydney.

03

Run by people who actually understand tech.

Mackenzie Thompson

Founder · AI & tech recruiter

Former KPMG, now a specialist who places AI, software & data engineers. I build with AI myself, so I can tell a brilliant engineer from someone who just interviews well. It is the only kind of talent I place.

40,000+ network Former KPMG consultant AI, software & data only

John Thompson

Director · AI & tech recruiter

30+ years leading major telecoms and infrastructure businesses, from nbn Australia to Cable and Wireless. I have sat in the buyer's chair for years, so I understand what a business needs.

30+ years in enterprise Former GM at nbn Australia $1B+ in projects led

04

Recent work.

A few from this year. Names and clients kept private.

ExecutiveInterimAI startupAustralia

Chief AI Officer, interim

We connected an Australian AI startup with their interim Chief AI Officer, a PhD level AI leader now helping shape their AI and data strategy, model development and governance.

PermanentFull timeAI consultancySydney

Principal Consultant, AI & Technology

An early career consultant with rare end to end delivery across Azure and Microsoft Copilot Studio, who had shipped production systems as the sole developer. Placed into a fast growing Sydney AI advisory firm, days after his interview.

PermanentFull timeAI consultancySydney

AI Engineer with a UX background

A designer turned AI engineer, formerly at a Big Four firm working on conversational AI for government clients. She brought the rare crossover between human centred design and how AI actually gets used. The offer came the same day she interviewed.

EmbeddedFlexibleManufacturerSydney

AI Engineer, embedded part time

An AI engineer placed into a 30+ year old Sydney manufacturer in the construction industry, working directly with the GM and CEO to build AI into the business. He is mapping and automating their order processing, invoicing and inventory. Started at one day a week.

PermanentFull timeAI agencyMelbourne

Conversational AI Developer

A developer placed into one of Australia's leading voice and conversational AI agencies, a Melbourne team building AI customer service for major Australian brands. Matched to a role most agencies would never have filled with the right person.

PermanentFull timeStartupSydney

Full Stack Software Engineer

An engineer who builds end to end, from serverless AWS backends in Python to polished React front ends. Near the top of his class and still finishing his degree, he had already shipped a mobile app to the App Store and built secure APIs and authentication for an early stage startup. Placed permanently into a Sydney startup.

PermanentPart timeStartupSydney

AI Engineer, maths and backend

A computer science and advanced mathematics honours student at UNSW, near the top of his class, who had already worked as a backend engineer at a Sydney space tech company building in Python and AWS. Genuinely good at both the maths and the engineering, a combination that is hard to find. Placed part time into a Sydney AI startup while he finishes his degree.

05

The AI Down Under Podcast.

Mac sits down with the people leading AI in Australia. Watch a few and get a feel for how we think.

Kath Blackham · CEO, VERSA Agency

Anneliese Urquhart · CPO & AI Lead, Think & Grow

JC Gosselin · Enterprise AI & Tech, Terem

Michael Batko · CEO, Hourglass AI Consulting

Evgueni Iakhontov · Partner, Revity

Joff Outlaw · Managing Director Australia, MakerTech

Simon Kriss · CEO, Sovereign Australia AI

Dr Brian Lowe · Chief AI Officer in Australia

Ivan Wong · Head of AI, $2B PE Firm

More episodes on YouTube

Book a brainstorm.

We love talking AI, tech and business. Book a call and we will work out the right move for you, whether that is a hire, an embedded engineer, or nothing yet. Fill in the form, or just DM Mac on LinkedIn.

We put AI, software & data engineers into your business, so you can build & automate.