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Shield AI

a16z — Backed by a16z
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Staff Hardware Recruiter

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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are looking for a highly strategic and execution-focused Staff Hardware Recruiter to help scale some of the most critical engineering organizations within the company. This person will own full-cycle recruiting for complex hardware engineering functions with a particular emphasis on Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Avionics, and other highly specialized technical domains supporting next-generation aerospace and autonomous systems development.

This is not a traditional recruiting role. We are looking for someone who can operate as a true talent partner to engineering leadership — helping shape hiring strategy, influence workforce planning, drive prioritization discipline, and build scalable pipelines for some of the hardest-to-hire technical talent in the industry.

The ideal candidate thrives in high-growth, high-ambiguity environments and brings a strong track record of closing senior and niche hardware engineering talent while balancing speed, quality, and stakeholder partnership.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

  • Own full-cycle recruiting for highly specialized hardware engineering roles across Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Embedded Systems, Avionics, PCB Design, Power Distribution, RF, Systems Integration, and related technical domains

  • Partner directly with engineering leadership and hiring managers to define hiring strategy, interview processes, and prioritization plans aligned to business objectives

  • Build and execute proactive sourcing strategies for difficult-to-find technical talent across aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, energy, and adjacent industries

  • Act as a strategic advisor to leadership on market trends, talent availability, compensation competitiveness, and hiring risks

  • Drive strong operational rigor across pipeline management, funnel health, data accuracy, and stakeholder communication

  • Help influence workforce planning and ensure hiring activity remains aligned to approved business priorities

  • Improve recruiting scalability through process improvements, documentation, interview calibration, and tooling optimization

  • Deliver an exceptional candidate experience while maintaining urgency and high hiring quality standards

  • Mentor junior recruiters and sourcers while helping elevate recruiting best practices across the organization

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 7+ years of full-cycle technical recruiting experience, including significant ownership of complex hardware engineering searches

  • Proven success recruiting Electrical Engineers, Power Electronics Engineers, Embedded Hardware Engineers, Avionics Engineers, or similar technical talent

  • Strong understanding of technical hardware concepts and engineering organizational structures

  • Experience partnering with senior engineering leadership in fast-paced or high-growth environments

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex searches simultaneously while maintaining strong hiring outcomes

  • Strong sourcing and market-mapping capabilities across highly competitive technical domains

  • Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and operational execution skills

  • Experience using ATS systems, sourcing platforms, and recruiting analytics to drive decisions and pipeline visibility

  • Ability to operate strategically while remaining highly execution-oriented

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Experience recruiting within aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, energy, or other highly technical industries

  • Familiarity with hardware development lifecycle concepts, embedded systems, power systems, avionics, or electromechanical integration

  • Experience supporting hiring at scale during periods of rapid organizational growth

  • Experience influencing workforce planning, prioritization, or recruiting operations initiatives

Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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What this application asks

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Which location are you applying for?, Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Twitter URL, GitHub URL, Portfolio URL, Other website

  • Are you authorized to work in the United States? choose one
  • Will you require sponsorship for employment now or in the future? choose one
  • If yes, what type of sponsorship? written answer · optional
  • This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to export controls, such as EAR. Are you any of the following? choose one
  • If you selected "A protected Individual" OR "Other" to the above question, please explain further. written answer · optional
  • Shield AI provides technology, services, and support to the United States military and allied forces with their various missions. If selected for employment with Shield AI, your contributions will directly relate to and/or support these missions. Are there any reasons why you would not be able to fully contribute in support of the U.S. military and allied forces? choose one
  • (Optional) If you selected other or would like to expand on the above, feel free to do so below: written answer · optional
  • How did you hear about us? choose one
  • If "Industry Conference" or "Other," please provide more details: written answer · optional
  • Please state your full legal name:
  • Are you a transitioning service member? choose one
  • If yes, what partnership program are you working with? choose one · optional
  • If other, please provide further details written answer · optional
  • When are you available to start your fellowship? written answer · optional
  • When are you available for full time work? written answer · optional
  • What full time job(s) are you applying for? written answer
  • Are you local to or willing to relocate? choose one · optional
  • What office(s) would you be willing to relocate to? (Select all that apply) yes / no · optional
  • If you selected international, what location(s)? written answer · optional

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