The roleWe're hiring our first dedicated Talent Acquisition Manager. You'll own recruiting end to end: partnering directly with founders and hiring managers, building sourcing pipelines beyond our existing network, running a fast and structured interview process, and standing up the basic infrastructure (applicant tracking, offer process, onboarding handoff) a growing hardware company needs.
This is a build-it-yourself role. You'll be the first and only person in this seat for a while, which means you're designing the process, not inheriting one.
What you'll do- Own full-cycle recruiting for engineering and manufacturing roles (mechanical, electrical, avionics, production/manufacturing) as well as the business functions we're now adding (finance, operations, sales support)
- Partner directly with founders and hiring managers to scope roles, leveling, and compensation before a search opens
- Build sourcing pipelines that go beyond our current referral network, including channels specific to mechanical engineering and hardware talent
- Design and run a structured, fast-moving interview process suited to a small, technical team - technical screens, hands-on/onsite evaluation, reference checks
- Manage employee referral program
- Stand up lightweight applicant tracking and a clean candidate/offer/onboarding process
- Help build our early reputation as a place strong hardware and space engineers want to work
What we're looking for- 2+ years of recruiting experience, including time in-house at an early-stage or high-growth startup - not exclusively agency or large-company recruiting
- Real experience recruiting mechanical engineers specifically: you know how to evaluate an ME background, and where to find people who've worked on physical hardware (aerospace, robotics, automotive, or similar)
- Comfortable being the owner of a function
- A genuine interest in preserving what's worked about our hiring so far (trust, referrals, a high bar) while building the infrastructure to scale past it
Nice to have- Recruiting experience specific to space, aerospace, or satellite hardware companies
- Experience as a founding or first TA hire elsewhere
- Familiarity with manufacturing/production hiring (technicians, quality, supply chain) in addition to engineering roles
- Experience setting up an ATS and interview process at a company under ~50 people
