Building founding teams for Australian startups
Specialist recruitment for founders hiring their first engineers, and the leaders who come next.
Book a callFounding Engineer
Founding Full Stack Engineer
Founding AI Engineer
Founding Mobile Engineer
Senior Full Stack Engineer
Backend Engineer
Frontend Engineer
Platform Engineer
Product Engineer
Product Designer
Product Manager
Founding CTO
Head of Engineering
Engineering Manager
Staff Engineer
Founders working with founders
Most of our clients are founders. We help with the hire and everything around it: role design, salary benchmarks, interview process and what the market looks like right now. That advice is always free.
The engineers we place in startups care about the mission and aren't watching the clock. They want to be close to the product, speak with customers and partner with founders and non-technical teammates, helping them build too.
You work with Codi's founders directly, not an account manager. We meet every candidate before you do.
We're a specialised founder led recruitment company made for growth markets where talent availability is scarce.
We also have preferential partnerships with many of Australia's leading VCs. If your round was raised locally, ask us about the offers available to you.
Precise, not high-volume
We meet every candidate, and understand you, the role and the team before we go to market. Fewer, better candidates with clear context on why they are relevant.
Highly technical
We speak the same language as the engineers we hire. Built for growth markets where talent is scarce, we map the whole market so you meet everyone worth meeting.
Ethics beyond all else
The right hire propels you; the wrong hire is a cost you cannot waste. We tell you what we see, even when it costs us a placement.
A long-term hiring partner from the early team onwards
Venture-backed HR software startup
“I've worked with George for years and he's one of the best recruiters I've come across. He has a real knack for finding great candidates for difficult and unique roles, and doing it quickly.”
CEO and Founder · HR software startup
Common questions
When should we talk to a recruiter about our first hires?
Earlier than most founders do. A conversation before you write the job ad helps you get the scope, salary and equity right, and it costs nothing.
What should we pay a founding engineer?
It depends on your stage, your funding and how much equity you're offering. We'll share current salary and equity ranges for your stage, based on the conversations we're having with candidates right now.
What are your fees?
We're founder led, so we're flexible. We have several ways of working, from a success fee on permanent hires to embedded hiring support, and we often build bespoke pricing for clients with specific needs. We're also always happy to have a chat and advise on hiring plans, role design or salary, with no fee. We love doing it, and it's often where we have the most impact.
Where do you hire?
We're based in Sydney and hire across Australia, including Melbourne, for on-site, hybrid and remote roles. We also place engineers in San Francisco.
Hiring your founding team? Let’s chat.
A live role or a sense-check on your hiring plan. Virtual, or in person in Sydney.
Book a call