The headline numbers
~12
distinct roles advertised under the exact FDE title in Australia as of August 2026, per independent public counts — the market is off-market by default.
21 days
median time from brief to signed offer for FDE searches in Q2 2026, per published market data — the fastest closed in 14. A reactive search starts too late.
~60,000
Australia's projected shortfall of AI professionals by 2027 (Bain & Company) — and FDEs are the sharpest end of it.
84k vs 146k
AI specialists available versus AI roles to fill in Australia by 2027 (Bain & Company). The gap is the market.
What the full briefing covers
- Salary benchmarks by city — senior FDEs run $180k–$240k base in Sydney and $175k–$230k in Melbourne, with Sydney lead roles reaching $230k–$280k (AUD base, excluding 12% superannuation).
- Where FDE-capable engineers actually sit when there are only ~12 advertised roles — the adjacent talent pools that convert.
- How to structure the seat so it competes: scope, deployment model, and the comp mistakes that lose offers.
- How Sonitec screens FDEs — every shortlisted candidate has been through our structured, scored screening before you meet them.
Compiled from published Australian salary guides, public market data and independent counts of live FDE job advertising, August 2026. Ready to move instead? Submit a Role or see available talent.