How to Write a Software Engineer Resume in Australia
The Australian tech market is booming, with companies like Atlassian, Canva, SafetyCulture, and global giants actively hiring. A strong software engineer resume showcases your technical expertise, quantifies your impact, and passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Whether you're a graduate from UNSW, a career changer from a bootcamp, or a senior engineer targeting FAANG companies in Sydney, this guide will help you create a resume that gets interviews.
💰 Software Engineer Salaries in Australia (2026)
Salaries vary significantly by experience, location, and company type. Here's what to expect:
Top paying cities: Sydney (highest), Melbourne, Brisbane. FAANG companies (Google, Amazon, Atlassian) pay 20-40% above market.
1. Lead with Your Technical Skills
Australian recruiters often scan for specific technologies. Organise your skills by category and highlight in-demand technologies:
Hot = High demand in Australian job market (SEEK & LinkedIn data)
2. Quantify Your Achievements
Australian hiring managers love metrics. Transform vague responsibilities into concrete achievements:
✅ Do This
- Reduced API latency by 40% by implementing Redis caching
- Built microservices handling 2M+ daily requests with 99.9% uptime
- Led migration to AWS, cutting infrastructure costs by $50K/year
- Mentored 3 junior developers, improving team velocity by 25%
❌ Not This
- Worked on backend systems
- Developed web applications
- Participated in code reviews
- Helped team members with tasks
3. Include Relevant Projects
For graduates and career changers, projects are crucial. Include:
- GitHub portfolio: Link to your best repositories with clean READMEs
- Open source contributions: Even small PRs to popular projects stand out
- Personal projects: Full-stack apps, APIs, or tools you've built
- Hackathon projects: Show collaboration and time-pressured delivery
Pro tip: If your GitHub has many incomplete projects, create a "Portfolio" section pinning only your best 3-4 repositories.
4. Australian-Specific Resume Format
Australian tech resumes differ from US formats:
- Length: 2-3 pages is standard (not 1 page like US)
- No photo: Unlike some European countries, photos aren't expected
- Visa status: If you're on a working visa, mention it briefly (e.g., "PR Holder" or "Full work rights")
- Referees: "References available upon request" is fine—don't include contact details
- Salary expectations: Don't include on resume, discuss during interviews
5. ATS Optimisation for Australian Companies
Most Australian companies (Atlassian, Canva, REA Group, CBA, NAB) use Applicant Tracking Systems. To pass ATS screening:
- Use standard section headings: "Experience", "Skills", "Education"
- Include exact keywords from the job ad (e.g., "React" not "ReactJS" if ad says "React")
- Avoid tables, columns, and graphics—use simple formatting
- Save as .docx or .pdf (ATS reads both, but check job ad preference)
- Put your most relevant experience first (reverse chronological)
6. Education & Certifications
What Australian employers look for:
- Degrees: Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT, or related field from Australian or recognised international universities
- Bootcamps: General Assembly, Coder Academy, and Le Wagon are well-known in Australia
- Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect, GCP Professional, Azure certifications are highly valued
- Self-taught: Perfectly acceptable—demonstrate skills through portfolio
7. Top Companies Hiring Software Engineers in Australia
Target these companies and tailor your resume to their tech stacks:
- Atlassian (Sydney) — Java, Kotlin, React, AWS
- Canva (Sydney) — Python, TypeScript, React, AWS
- SafetyCulture (Sydney/Townsville) — Go, React, Kubernetes
- REA Group (Melbourne) — Ruby, React, Scala, AWS
- MYOB (Melbourne) — .NET, React, Azure
- Big 4 Banks (CBA, NAB, ANZ, Westpac) — Java, .NET, cloud migration
- Google Sydney — Go, Python, C++, distributed systems
- Amazon AWS Sydney — Java, Python, distributed systems
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing every technology: Focus on relevant skills for each application
- No customisation: Tailor your resume for each job application
- Missing LinkedIn: 90% of Australian recruiters check LinkedIn
- Typos in technical terms: "JavaScipt", "Kubernates" look unprofessional
- Outdated technologies: Remove jQuery unless specifically required
- No GitHub/Portfolio: Expected for software roles in Australia
Remote Work Opportunities
Since 2020, Australian tech companies have embraced remote work. Many roles now offer:
- Fully remote: Work from anywhere in Australia
- Hybrid: 2-3 days in office (common in Sydney/Melbourne)
- Location-adjusted salaries: Some companies pay Sydney rates regardless of location
When applying remotely, mention your timezone availability and home office setup.