Staff Hardware Recruiter (R3970) at Shield AI

United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Aerospace, Defense, Autonomous Systems, RoboticsIndustries

Requirements

5+ years of technical recruiting experience, including full-cycle ownership of hardware or systems engineering roles
Proven success hiring in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related hardware domains
Experience recruiting within aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems industries strongly preferred
Strong understanding of hardware product lifecycles — from concept and design to integration and production
Comfortable sourcing highly specialized talent (e.g., RF, power systems, PCB design, test & validation, structures, or propulsion)
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; confident advising technical leaders and executives
Passion for recruiting in a high-growth, mission-oriented environment
Preferred Qualifications
Prior experience with tools like Lever, HireZ, and/or ModernLoop
Experience with hardware recruiting in both startup and large-scale environments
An engineering or technical background (or curiosity about how things work!)

Responsibilities

Manage full-cycle recruitment for Electrical, Mechanical, and cross-disciplinary hardware roles across multiple programs
Partner with hiring managers and engineering leadership to define role requirements, hiring strategies, and interview processes
Proactively source top hardware engineering talent from both traditional aerospace and adjacent industries (autonomous vehicles, robotics, defense, etc.)
Build and maintain strong candidate pipelines for critical and niche hardware roles
Drive exceptional candidate experience from first outreach to close
Leverage data and recruiting metrics to advise stakeholders and continuously improve processes
Collaborate with People Ops and HRBPs on offer strategy, leveling, and compensation alignment
Represent the company at technical events, conferences, and university programs to strengthen brand awareness

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Full-Cycle RecruitingTalent SourcingMarket MappingCandidate PipelinesInterview ProcessesOffer NegotiationRecruiting MetricsElectrical Engineering RecruitingMechanical Engineering RecruitingAvionics RecruitingAerospace Recruiting

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What experience is required for the Staff Hardware Recruiter role?

Candidates need 5+ years of technical recruiting experience with full-cycle ownership of hardware or systems engineering roles, proven success hiring in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related hardware domains, and experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems industries strongly preferred.

What will I be doing in this Hardware Recruiter position?

You will manage full-cycle recruitment for Electrical, Mechanical, and cross-disciplinary hardware roles, partner with hiring managers to define requirements and strategies, source talent from aerospace and adjacent industries, build candidate pipelines, and represent the company at technical events.

Is this a remote position or does it require office work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the salary or compensation for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What makes a strong candidate for this recruiter role?

A strong candidate has a strong understanding of hardware product lifecycles, comfort sourcing specialized talent in areas like RF, power systems, PCB design, and excellent communication skills for advising technical leaders, plus passion for a high-growth, mission-oriented environment.

Shield AI

Develops AI and autonomous systems for defense

About Shield AI

Shield AI specializes in creating artificial intelligence and autonomous systems specifically for the defense industry. The company develops AI-powered systems, including autonomous drones, that assist military operations, especially in environments where GPS and communication may not be available. This technology allows for safer and more efficient defense operations. Shield AI differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on advanced AI capabilities and securing significant contracts with government and military clients, such as the multi-billion dollar EWAAC contract. The company's goal is to enhance operational capabilities and safety in military contexts, ultimately aiming to protect lives through its innovative solutions.

San Diego, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2015Year Founded

$772.8MTotal Funding

DEBTCompany Stage

AI & Machine Learning, DefenseIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Medical Insurance Coverage

Long Term Disability Insurance

Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA

Employee Assistance Program

Subsidized Gym Membership

Pet Insurance

Competitive Compensation

Retirement Services

Life Insurance

Parental Leave

Bereavement Support

Flexible Work Hours

PTO

Paid Holidays

Commuter Benefits

Relaxed Dress Code

Yearly Swag Items

Unlimited Snacks

Bottomless Beverages

Annual Celebrations

Work From Home Benefits

Standing Desks and Widescreen Monitors

Risks

Increased competition from companies like Waymo could divert investment from Shield AI.

Geopolitical tensions may challenge the JSW Defence partnership for V-BAT production in India.

Dependency on Palantir's infrastructure may limit Shield AI's operational flexibility.

Differentiation

Shield AI's Hivemind is the first autonomous AI pilot deployed in combat since 2018.

Strategic partnerships with Palantir and JSW Defence enhance technological capabilities and market reach.

Shield AI's V-BAT drone is selected for a $198 million U.S. Coast Guard contract.

Upsides

Increased demand for autonomous systems in defense boosts Shield AI's market potential.

Successful multi-aircraft autonomous flight tests showcase advanced AI piloting capabilities.

Significant investment in robotics indicates a robust market for Shield AI's offerings.

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