AI recruitment
Bluebird is built by former SaaS operators. We recruit AI engineers, machine learning specialists, AI product leads and technical leaders for high-growth companies across Australia and APAC, with a scored shortlist and a replacement guarantee on every search.
Trusted by
AI and machine learning recruitment led by former SaaS operators
Strong AI engineers and machine learning specialists are mostly employed, rarely looking and approached every week. Bluebird consultants have carried the quota and run the ramp, so we know which candidates can ship models and which ones only demo well.
We find strong AI engineers and machine learning specialists where they work, not on job boards.
We open the right conversations before your competitors do.
You get a shortlist built around your stack, your stage and the board number you need to hit, not a pile of keyword matches.
AI-assisted, human-led
We use AI tooling to map talent faster and reach further. Every shortlist is still scored by a consultant who has hired for the role, because culture and commercial fit are judgement calls.
Match the hire to the problem
Most teams do not need a full AI department on day one. We help you choose the right hire for your stage and roadmap, then find the person.
Land your first AI or machine learning engineer, someone who owns the stack from day one.
Add ML engineers, MLOps and data scientists as models reach production.
Appoint a Head of AI or VP of Machine Learning to set direction.
Hire the solutions architects, GTM engineers and sellers who take AI to customers.
Who we hire for
We work with founders, CTOs, CPOs and CROs at SaaS companies, AI-native start-ups, scale-ups and enterprise software teams. We read the brief, test the assumptions behind it and tell you early if a budget or timeline does not match the market.
By the numbers
7 days
To a first strong intro, on average
30+ years
Operating inside SaaS businesses
6 months
Replacement guarantee on executive search
5.0/5
On Google, across 48 verified reviews
Excellent experience landing my dream role with Bluebird recruitment. Was a very straightforward and easy process with fantastic communication throughout. Big thanks to Chris & the team for all of their help in what was an amazing process. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for your ideal role.
Shift4
“Their professionalism speaks volumes.”
Ross Paikin
Sales Executive · Shift4
MyCISO
“Bluebird is a valued partner.”
Dane Meah
CEO & Co-founder · MyCISO
Why Bluebird
Operator-led search, tested candidates, speed with quality and deep Australia and APAC networks.
Our consultants have lived the quota, ramp and board pressure. They know what a great AI hire looks like in SaaS.
A scored, vetted shortlist gets you to your first strong intro in about seven working days, on average.
Contingency, retained or executive search to fit your stage, pace and risk. We fit how your team hires.
We test key skills with role plays, structured tasks and business scenarios. We look far beyond the CV.
We find the best cultural and commercial fit so you avoid costly mis-hires and keep good people longer.
Our reach spans Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. We help you hire across APAC via our local ties.
We track pay, talent supply and market trends to give you usable insight and guide every hiring choice.
We are there by your side after each hire with offer help, onboarding tips and a replacement guarantee.
Two audiences. One specialist AI and SaaS recruitment agency in Australia
For companies
Hire AI, machine learning and technical leaders through operator-led search: contingency, retained or executive.
For talent
Work with recruiters who understand your stack and your worth, not generalist agents.
AI roles we recruit
Leadership, product, go-to-market and engineering, matched to your stage.
ML engineersHeads of AIAI productAPAC hiresAI talent we place
Recent briefs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and the experience our clients expect.
Takes models from notebook to production. Strong in Python, PyTorch or TensorFlow, MLOps and cloud deployment, with clear ownership of evaluation and inference performance.
Sets AI strategy and builds the team around it. Has shipped AI products inside a scaling SaaS or enterprise business and can brief a board with confidence.
Turns model capability into a product customers pay for. Understands LLM and machine learning trade-offs, and owns the roadmap and metrics.
Designs how generative AI, NLP and computer vision fit into customer environments. Pairs deep technical credibility with a commercial head.
How we work
A clear, senior-led process that takes you from role brief to a qualified AI shortlist and a confident offer.
Tell us the role, stack, stage and urgency in about 60 seconds.
A senior consultant confirms the profile, scope and what success looks like in year one.
We map and approach AI and ML talent across Australia and APAC, including people who are not looking.
You receive a concise, scored shortlist—not a CV dump.
We coordinate feedback, role-play preparation and negotiation.
We stay close through onboarding and the replacement-guarantee period.
Talk to an AI recruiter
Competing for the same few AI engineers as everyone else is a losing game. Tell us what you are building and we will show you where the right people are and how to win them.
A few quick details · takes about 60 seconds
We’ll get back to you within 1 business day
A clear next step, not a generic response.
Operator-led recruitment
Speak directly with our specialist team.
SaaS, AI & GTM specialists
Across Australia and APAC.
Engagement models
Choose contingency, retained or executive search based on urgency, seniority and risk.
Contingency
A flexible search for clearly defined AI engineer, specialist and manager-level roles.
No upfront fee
Start a searchIncluded in your search
Retained search
An exclusive search for hard-to-fill or senior AI appointments, with deeper research and a dedicated search lead.
25% upfront
Start a retained searchIncluded in your search
Executive search
A discreet, research-led search for Heads of AI and other business-critical leaders.
Milestone payments
Discuss an executive hireIncluded in your search
Answers about AI roles, pay, timelines, search models and the Australian market.
It depends on the search model. Contingency has no upfront fee and is paid on the candidate’s start date. Retained search takes 25% upfront, with the balance on start. Executive search is paid in three milestones. We agree the structure when we scope the brief, so there are no surprises.
A scored, vetted shortlist usually gets you to a first strong intro in about seven working days, on average. Time to offer depends on seniority, notice periods and how quickly your team interviews. We set a realistic timeline in the first consultation.
Generalists match keywords. Our consultants are former SaaS operators who understand the product, the stack and the commercial pressure behind an AI hire. That means sharper briefs and shortlists built around what the role must deliver in year one.
Use contingency for clearly defined engineer and manager roles. Choose retained search when a role is hard to fill or business-critical, such as a first Head of AI. Executive search suits confidential, board-level appointments. Not sure? Tell us the role and urgency and we will recommend one.
We test well beyond the CV, with structured tasks, business scenarios and role plays scored against your brief. We look for people who have shipped AI into production and can explain trade-offs to non-technical colleagues.
AI engineers, machine learning engineers, MLOps engineers, NLP and computer vision specialists, LLM and generative AI engineers, data scientists, AI architects and applied researchers. We also place AI product managers, solutions architects, GTM engineers and Heads of AI.
Pay varies with seniority, stack, city and company stage. PwC research puts the average wage premium on Australian roles that need AI skills at 6%. We track pay on live searches, so we can benchmark your offer before you go to market.
Demand is outrunning supply. In a Robert Half poll of Australian employers, 36% said qualified AI candidates are hard to find, 32% cited heavy competition and 30% struggled to judge real AI capability in interviews. Proper candidate testing closes that gap.
We focus on talent in Australia and APAC, including people who already have work rights. If you plan to sponsor someone, employers commonly use the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. We are recruiters, not migration agents, so confirm eligibility with a registered migration agent.
Yes. Our reach spans all four cities, and we hire across APAC through local ties. The same operator-led process applies in each.
Automated decision-making transparency obligations under the Privacy Act start on 10 December 2026, and recruitment tools can fall within them. Ask any agency how automated screening feeds its shortlists. We will explain how our tools support consultant judgement. This is general information, not legal advice.
