We build your team so you can focus on building your product.
We work with you as partners to help improve your processes, right-size each role, and build a sustainable team. We’re considered in who we send, keeping our shortlists short. We care about software and understand that each team builds in their own way.
We can help you with contingent hiring, embedded recruitment and tech executive search.
Recruiting as it should be
Technical and personal
We know what it takes to build great software. With first-hand industry experience, we understand what a talented and diverse team can accomplish.
Honest and pragmatic
We love our clients, but no company is perfect. We let candidates know what’s great about a job and where the potential skeletons are. Helping both sides go in with eyes open boosts retention and trust.
All about community
We’re at all the developer conferences and meetups because they’re our scene. Our recruiters are in constant contact with the tech community and get to know great people long before they need our help.
Lucky to have worked with the best
Our first placement was the first technical hire for a startup (👋 Airtasker) and the second was a lead developer with the ABC.
More than a decade later, we’re still happily working with a diverse range of organisations, pairing them up with the missing pieces of their team puzzle.
You could be a corporate or a startup. Legacy code everywhere or a 100% buzzword compliant stack. Based in an office or a remote work pioneer. If you’re building a product and care about your people, we’re keen to help.
What our clients say
Melanie Cole
As a Talent Acquisition Manager, I’ve always been hesitant working with recruiters but have had such a great experience working with Lookahead. Through their specialised focus, and relationship with the engineering community, they have brought some amazing people into our business. They took the time to understand our culture and roles on a fundamental level, and because of this, we have found success in partnering with them and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Kris Howard
AWS
I’ve lost count how many times I’ve recommended Lookahead to both candidates and hiring managers. The team is honest and reputable, and they genuinely care about supporting the Aussie tech industry. I’ve only ever heard good things back from the folks I’ve sent their way.
David Banham
notbad.software
I’ve worked with Steve for many years on both sides of the fence. I’ve hired teams through him and been placed with his clients for consulting work. Steve is good people. He takes his work seriously, works hard and chooses the people he works with carefully. I’ve never come across a recruitment agency that has anything like Lookahead’s reputation amongst technical candidates. They have access to candidates nobody else does.
A process that works
Right-sizing the role
We ensure your criteria match market priorities. What makes this role unique and appealing? What’s the true level of the role? We help align your expectations with the right talent to make sure people stick around.
Auditing the interview process
We take an objective look at your hiring process to strike the right balance between thoroughness and speed. Our tools and techniques help you stay competitive while reducing unconscious bias.
In-depth research and candidate briefing
With years of experience, we use advanced sourcing tools to uncover both active and passive candidates. We’re always in touch with tech professionals, so we know who’s looking and ready to take the next step.
Strategic advertising
Advertising is great for reaching overseas or relocating candidates outside your network. We frame roles to attract a diverse, qualified pool, avoiding biases and clichés.
Closing
Finding the right candidate is just the start. We handle the final steps, communicating your value and addressing any complexities to get candidates over the line.
Ongoing Support
Placement isn’t the end. We check in at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months to ensure a smooth transition and gather feedback for future hires.
Principles we stand by
Play the long game
We build lasting relationships, prioritising long-term engagements over short-term transactions. Because we’re invested in your success, we function as partners, not vendors.
Cultivate community
We actively support Australian developer communities. That means regularly sponsoring meetups, events, and being active participants and organisers.
Quality over quantity
We’re discerning about the clients and candidates we take on. We do less so we can do it better, with greater focus.
Be a trusted advisor
We inform and empower developers, teams, and hiring managers to get the best outcome for all parties. Unerringly honest, we have the tough conversations to manage expectations and keep everyone in the loop.
Empower each other
We’re always transparent, sharing candidates, tools, and techniques. We learn together and we play as a team.
Part of something bigger
Memberships
We’re the first company to take the talent partner pledge in Project F's Program 50/50. We’re also proud supporters of EFF, the leading nonprofit defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation.
Sponsorships
We love being part of community meetups and industry events. In the past we’ve sponsored SydJS, ReactConf AU, SydCSS, JSconf, RubyConf, CSSconf, Cocoaheads, RMIT Hackathon, MusesJS, Code Heart Design, React Sydney, Sydney Tech Leaders, Debugging Diversity, &CampJS.
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