What we are looking forWe're searching for a Principal Executive Recruiter to own executive and leadership hiring across Aurora. Reporting to the Head of Talent Acquisition, you'll own end-to-end search for Director-and-above roles and serve as a trusted advisor to Aurora's executive team on org design, role scoping, market intelligence, and executive compensation. As the senior-most recruiter on the team, you'll set the standard for executive search practice and help shape the leadership bench that takes Aurora through our next phases of growth.
In this role you will- Own the end-to-end search lifecycle for all Director+ roles across Aurora's business groups, from kickoff and calibration through offer and close
- Design and calibrate executive interview processes, produce clear and thorough search briefs and candidate summaries for interviewers and leaders
- Advise executive leaders with talent intelligence, market mapping, and competitive insights that shape org design, role scope, and hiring strategy
- Structure and negotiate executive offers in partnership with Total Rewards and Finance, including cash, equity, and sign-on components
- Partner with People Business Partners, Finance, and TA leadership on succession planning and company-wide leadership workforce planning
- Share market intelligence and search learnings with broader TA team, strengthening hiring across all hiring
- Mentor and coach recruiters and sourcers, and lead training that raises the bar for our hiring practices across the broader Talent Acquisition team
Required qualifications- 10+ years of recruiting experience, with significant time owning executive search
- Proven track record owning end-to-end Director- to C-level searches
- Experience serving as the primary search partner to C-suite and VP-level leaders, influencing role scope and hiring decisions with data
- Hands-on experience structuring and closing executive compensation packages (base, bonus, equity, sign-on)
- Deep sourcing expertise, including experience building talent maps and market intelligence for niche and senior talent pools
- Tool agnostic - you can run an effective search independent of any specific tool
- Proven ability to run highly confidential executive searches with discretion and sound judgment
- Hands-on use of AI to accelerate research and sourcing, with a high degree of quality in all output produced
- Track record of building strong peer relationships and driving shared initiatives within a recruiting team, not only with business stakeholders
- Experience coaching Talent Acquisition team members or building recruiting or sourcing training programs
Desirable qualifications- Experience partnering with founders or board members on C-level hires
- Experience hiring leaders in autonomy, AI/ML, robotics, or deep tech
- Experience partnering with People Business Partners on succession planning or leadership pipeline programs
For roles based in San Francisco, CA, Mountain View, CA, and Seattle, WA: The salary range for this position is
$210,000 - $336,000 per year.
For roles based in Bozeman, MT, Pittsburgh, PA, and Coppell, TX: The salary range for this position is
$189,000 - $303,000 per year.
Aurora's pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate's starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.
Working at AuroraAt Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together - all without any jerks.
We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy, and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, Aurorans are expected to work from the office at least 3 days per week, with some roles requiring more frequent in-office presence, up to 5 days per week, based on operational needs.
Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.
Our commitment to safetyAt the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization's long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.
