Senior Technical Recruiter

Responsibilities

• Design and execute recruiting strategies for engineering disciplines including autonomous systems, propulsion, thermal, mechanical, and structures
• Partner with engineering leadership to forecast hiring needs and set technical bars
• Manage the full-cycle recruitment process, from sourcing and screening to offer negotiation and closing
• Source senior and staff-level talent through active search, referrals, and technical communities
• Maintain recruiting infrastructure within Greenhouse (ATS)
• Serve as a strategic advisor on engineering talent markets and compensation trends

Requirements

• 5+ years of full-cycle technical recruiting experience with a focus on hardware or engineering roles
• Proven track record recruiting for hardware-centric companies (aerospace, robotics, automotive, or deep tech)
• Experience sourcing and closing senior and staff-level engineering talent
• Strong technical fluency and ability to discuss engineering fundamentals with candidates
• Startup equity fluency, including explaining vesting schedules and total compensation
• Ability to work onsite in El Segundo, CA

Preferred Qualifications

• In-house recruiting experience at a hardware or deep tech startup (Series A through growth stage)
• Experience hiring across specialized disciplines like propulsion, thermal, or autonomous systems
• Familiarity with ITAR/security requirements in aerospace or defense industries
• Experience developing data-driven recruiting metrics and dashboards

Benefits

• Equity in a fully funded space startup
• 401(k) matching
• Unlimited PTO
• Comprehensive health insurance, including Vision and Dental
• On-site lunch and snacks daily, with dinners provided twice a week
• Maternity and paternity leave

About the Company

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind by creating the products and infrastructure needed to make space directly benefit life on Earth.