DescriptionWORK LOCATION: San Luis Obispo, CA
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
SALARY RANGE: The anticipated salary range for this role is $124,500 - 152,800 annually. This range reflects a good faith estimate based on the targeted level for the role and typical compensation benchmarks across U.S. locations. Actual compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, geographical location, and internal alignment.
SUMMARY
Redwire Defense Tech is seeking a Senior Technical Recruiter to serve as a strategic talent acquisition partner focused on engineering, manufacturing, and highly specialized technical roles. This individual will own the full recruitment lifecycle and independently manage a full recruiting desk while partnering closely with hiring managers and business leaders to develop and execute talent acquisition strategies that support business growth and workforce objectives.
The ideal candidate brings extensive experience recruiting engineering, manufacturing, and technical talent within aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or other high-technology industries. This role requires a proactive recruiter who excels at sourcing niche talent, building strong candidate pipelines, and successfully supporting hiring initiatives in fast-paced, high-growth environments. The Senior Technical Recruiter must be comfortable navigating ambiguity, influencing stakeholders, and delivering exceptional hiring outcomes for critical technical positions.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The following job functions are a basic requirement but are not limited to and may be assigned other duties:
- Own and manage the full-cycle recruitment process, including requisition intake, sourcing, screening, interviewing, offer negotiation, and onboarding.
- Independently manage a high-volume, high-priority requisition load while balancing multiple stakeholders and competing business needs.
- Develop and execute creative sourcing strategies to identify, engage, and hire passive candidates for highly specialized and difficult-to-fill positions.
- Recruit for complex engineering, technical, manufacturing, operations, business development, and corporate roles.
- Build and maintain talent pipelines to support current and future hiring needs.
- Partner with hiring managers and executive leadership to align recruiting strategies with business objectives, workforce planning, and organizational growth initiatives.
- Lead intake meetings, establish candidate profiles and interview plans, conduct candidate assessments, and drive hiring timelines.
- Utilize advanced sourcing tools, social media, professional networks, referrals, industry associations, and direct outreach techniques to attract top talent.
- Serve as a trusted advisor throughout the hiring process by providing market intelligence, hiring recommendations, compensation guidance, and a positive candidate experience.
- Support talent acquisition process improvements and scalable recruiting practices
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
The following are a non-exhaustive list of qualifications for the position:
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 8+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, including engineering, technical, manufacturing, and other specialized roles.
- Experience recruiting within aerospace, defense, government contracting, advanced manufacturing, or other high-technology industries.
- Proficiency with Jobvite, Paycor, LinkedIn Recruiter, sourcing tools, or similar ATS/recruiting technologies.
- Demonstrated success sourcing, engaging, and hiring passive candidates for niche and hard-to-fill positions.
- Experience supporting multi-site, geographically dispersed organizations, including high-growth, scaling, or transformational environments.
- Proven ability to independently manage a full recruiting lifecycle and deliver hiring results with minimal supervision.
- Strong understanding of engineering disciplines, technical talent markets, and candidate assessment methodologies.
- Excellent relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills with hiring managers, leaders, and candidates.
- Self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to thrive in fast-paced, performance-driven environments.
- Ability to travel up to 20%.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience recruiting engineering talent across aerospace, defense, space systems, autonomy, UAS, software, electrical, mechanical, systems, and manufacturing disciplines.
- Experience supporting startup, high-growth, private equity-backed, and publicly traded organizations.
- Knowledge of OFCCP, EEO, and federal contractor compliance requirements.
REDWIRE DEFENSE TECH BENEFITS
- Matching 401(k)
- Paid PTO
- Paid holidays
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance
- Group Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- HSA and FSA Options
- Critical Care Plan
- Accident Care Plan
- Employee Stock Purchasing Program (ESPP)
CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
This position may require access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). To comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify a US person's status under the ITAR and the EAR.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The work environment may involve a standard office setting while also incorporating elements of a production area. Employees will use standard office equipment, including computers, and must demonstrate stamina to sit or stand while maintaining attention to detail despite potential interruptions. The role may require occasional activities such as walking, climbing, stooping, crouching, and bending. Vision is necessary for reading printed materials and a computer screen, while hearing and speech are essential for effective communication both in person and over the telephone. Additionally, the position may necessitate travel by air or automobile. Employees may be required to use personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, safety shoes, and shop coats, to ensure safety in the production environment. Employees may be able to lift up to 30 pounds as needed.
