Complete guide

How to find software developers in Brisbane

Brisbane
February 22, 2023
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Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, Australia and the third most populous city in the country. It is located on the Brisbane River and is home to a vibrant culture, with a variety of attractions, including the South Bank precinct, the City Botanic Gardens and the Roma Street Parkland. With its bustling nightlife, cultural activities, and stunning natural beauty, Brisbane is an ideal destination for visitors from around the world. Brisbane is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Brisbane are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Brisbane you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Brisbane, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Brisbane is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Brisbane

The statistics on tech talent in Brisbane show a strong and growing presence of tech professionals in the city. According to the most recent data, Brisbane is home to over 40,000 tech professionals, making it the third-largest tech hub in Australia. This number is expected to reach 60,000 by 2022. Brisbane also has the highest percentage of professional tech workers in Australia, with almost 50 percent of the city's workers in the tech sector. Additionally, the average tech salary in Brisbane is higher than the national average, making it a desirable destination for tech professionals.

The tech ecosystem in Brisbane

The technology ecosystem in Brisbane is vibrant and growing. It is home to a wide range of businesses and organizations that are actively engaged in the development and advancement of technology. These include large enterprises, startups, research and development, and educational institutions. Brisbane is also home to a thriving tech community, with a number of meetups, hackathons, and other events that bring together the local tech community. The city is also home to several accelerators and incubators, which provide mentorship and resources to entrepreneurs and startups. Additionally, Brisbane is home to a number of coworking spaces, which provide an ideal environment for collaboration and innovation.

Best tech meetups in Brisbane

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Brisbane WordPress Meetup
2. Brisbane Android Developers Meetup
3. Brisbane Microsoft Azure Meetup
4. Brisbane Virtual Reality Meetup
5. Brisbane Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Meetup
6. Brisbane Cyber Security Meetup
7. Brisbane Cloud Computing Meetup
8. Brisbane Entrepreneurs & Startups Meetup
9. Brisbane DevOps Meetup
10. Brisbane Internet of Things Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Brisbane

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Online Job Platforms: Utilize online job platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Upwork to source software development talent in Brisbane.

2. Professional Networking: Attend professional networking events, such as meetups and hackathons, to meet software developers in the area.

3. Referrals: Ask your current software developers for referrals to other software developers in the Brisbane area.

4. Freelancing Platforms: Utilize freelancing platforms such as Toptal and Fiverr to find software developers in Brisbane.

5. Cold Outreach: Reach out to software developers in Brisbane through cold outreach emails or direct messages on social media.

6. Recruiting Agencies: Use recruiting agencies in Brisbane to source software development talent.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Brisbane is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Brisbane

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Indeed
3. Seek
4. Glassdoor
5. Craigslist
6. Facebook Jobs
7. JobActive
8. JobSearch
9. Gumtree
10. Jobgmail

Best remote job boards to find developers in Brisbane

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. RemoteWorkly
2. Upwork
3. PeoplePerHour
4. FlexJobs
5. Freelancer
6. Guru
7. Linkedin
8. AngelList
9. WeWorkRemotely
10. Remote.co

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Brisbane

The average salary for a junior developer in Brisbane is approximately $70,000 - $80,000 per annum. This salary range generally applies to entry-level developers who are just starting out in their career and have limited experience. The salary is mostly dependent on the company and the experience of the junior developer. Generally, the higher the experience, the higher the salary. The salary can also vary depending on the type of programming language used, the size of the project and the complexity of the work.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Brisbane

The average salary for a senior developer in Brisbane is estimated to be around AU$101,000 per year. This salary is based on the median salaries reported by Indeed.com and other job sites, and the salaries reported by senior developers in the area. The salary range for senior developers in Brisbane can vary widely depending on experience, education, and the specific company. Generally, senior developers in Brisbane can expect to earn between AU$70,000 and AU$125,000 per year.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Brisbane. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Brisbane. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Brisbane.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a company that takes on the legal and administrative responsibilities of hiring, managing, and paying employees in a foreign jurisdiction. If you're looking to hire employees in Brisbane, Australia, using an EOR can help you streamline the process. Here’s how to use an EOR in Brisbane:

1. Identify the right EOR for your needs.
Choose an EOR that is experienced in hiring and managing employees in Brisbane, Australia. Make sure the company is familiar with the local laws, regulations, and taxes that affect hiring and managing employees.

2. Negotiate the terms of the agreement.
Discuss the terms of the agreement between you and the EOR. This includes the responsibilities of the EOR, such as payroll processing, compliance, and employee onboarding.

3. Prepare the necessary documents.
The EOR will require certain documents to complete the hiring process in Brisbane. This includes a signed contract with the EOR, a copy of the job description, and job offer letter.

4. Submit the documents to the EOR.
Once all documents are prepared, submit them to the EOR for processing. The EOR will review the documents and contact the employee to confirm the job offer.

5. Make the necessary payments.
Once the employee has accepted the job offer, the EOR will send you an invoice for their services. This payment will cover the costs of the EOR’s services, such as payroll processing and employee onboarding.

6. Monitor the employee’s progress.
Once the EOR has taken on the responsibility of managing the employee, it’s important to monitor the employee’s progress. This includes making sure the employee is paid on time, the employee is following the job description, and the employee is meeting the expectations outlined in the job offer.

Using an EOR in Brisbane can be a great way to simplify the hiring process in a foreign jurisdiction. By following these steps, you can ensure that the process is completed quickly and efficiently.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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