Principal Recruitment Consultant - Data & Ai Engineering

The Onset Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Onset Group is seeking a Principal Consultant to build and grow a specialist Data & AI Engineering practice across Data Engineering, Machine Learning Engineering, AI Engineering, Analytics Engineering and modern data platforms in Australia.

You will recruit specialist talent, develop client partnerships, and drive permanent and contract revenue while shaping the market with founders and executives. This is a chance to lead a high-growth, high-impact practice in a dynamic tech landscape.

Qualifications

• Have 4+ years of 360 recruitment experience (ideally in Australia).
• Know your niche or are ready to define it - Recruitment experience within Technology.
• Strong client development and commercial capability.
• Interest in Data, AI and emerging technology trends.
• Ability to build credibility with technical stakeholders.
• Ambition to build a high-performing specialist practice.

Responsibilities

• Build strategic partnerships across Australia’s growing Data & AI market.
• Recruit specialist talent across Engineering and AI functions.
• Drive permanent and contract revenue growth.
• Develop account mapping and expansion strategies across existing and new clients.
• Build deep talent networks within modern data and AI ecosystems.
• Establish yourself as a trusted specialist within a rapidly evolving market.

Skills

360 recruitment experience

Client development

Commercial capability

Data & AI interest

Credibility with technicalStakeholders

Lead specialist practice

Job description

Job Description

Data and AI are no longer future priorities - they are now central to how modern businesses operate, compete and scale.

Onset Group is looking for a Principal Consultant to build and grow a specialist Data & AI Engineering practice across Data Engineering, Machine Learning Engineering, AI Engineering, Analytics Engineering and modern data platforms.

This role is designed for a commercially driven recruiter who enjoys operating in high-growth technology markets and building long-term relationships with technical and executive stakeholders.

You will work with some of Australia’s most innovative businesses across AI, SaaS, fintech, enterprise technology and emerging data-driven organisations.

The opportunity:

• Build strategic partnerships across Australia’s growing Data & AI market
• Recruit specialist talent across Engineering and AI functions
• Drive permanent and contract revenue growth
• Develop account mapping and expansion strategies across existing and new clients
• Build deep talent networks within modern data and AI ecosystems
• Establish yourself as a trusted specialist within a rapidly evolving market

Here’s what people actually stay for:

• A high-performance, low-ego team (many with 10+ years in the game)
• Market-leading tools, AI systems, and a delivery, marketing and research team so you can spend more time where it counts
• Tailored growth - whether you want to lead a team or deepen your niche
• Regular knowledge sharing with founders, advisors, and big-name clients
• Industry-leading commission and incentives

You’ll fit right in if you:

• Have 4+ years of 360 recruitment experience (ideally in Australia)
• Know your niche or are ready to define it - Recruitment experience within Technology
• Strong client development and commercial capability
• Interest in Data, AI and emerging technology trends
• Ability to build credibility with technical stakeholders
• Ambition to build a high-performing specialist practice

This is an opportunity to build a meaningful market presence in one of the most strategically important sectors in technology today.

If you want to surround yourself with top performers, and actually shape the future of your market - this is your shot.