The Role
Own full-cycle recruiting for 15+ engineering, technician, and operations roles. Source candidates through LinkedIn, referrals, universities, and industry events; partner with hiring managers; screen and coordinate interviews; manage feedback and offers; support onboarding; verify U.S. person status and clearance-related steps; maintain the ATS; report recruiting metrics; and build the company’s recruiting brand through job postings and campus outreach.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Wardstone
About the role
What you'll do
What you bring
Nice to have
Wardstone builds defense systems for the U.S. and its allies. We are a small team of engineers and builders moving fast from design to flight hardware.
Wardstone is growing quickly over the next year, and you will be the person who makes that happen. As our first dedicated recruiter, you will own hiring end to end for engineers, technicians and operations roles. You will work directly with founders and engineering leads, and you will shape how Wardstone finds, interviews and closes talent.
This is a hands-on role for someone early in their recruiting career who wants real ownership. You will learn the technical side of aerospace and defense hiring quickly, and you will have a direct impact on who builds the company.
- Run full-cycle recruiting for 15+ open roles, from intake meeting to signed offer
- Source engineers and technicians in RF, mechanical, GNC, avionics, aerodynamics and propulsion through LinkedIn, referrals, university programs and industry events
- Partner with hiring managers to write job descriptions, define must-haves and calibrate on candidates
- Screen candidates by phone, manage scheduling and keep every candidate informed at each stage
- Coordinate onsite interviews, gather feedback and drive fast hiring decisions
- Prepare offers, help close candidates and hand off smoothly to onboarding
- Verify U.S. person status and support clearance-related steps where roles require it
- Set up and maintain the applicant tracking system (ATS) and report weekly on pipeline and time-to-hire
- Build Wardstone's recruiting brand through careers page updates, job board posts and campus outreach
What you bring
- 1+ years of recruiting experience, ideally for technical or engineering roles (agency, in-house or startup)
- Hands-on sourcing skills: LinkedIn Recruiter, boolean search and building referral networks
- Experience managing several open roles at once without dropping candidates
- Clear, confident communication with engineers, executives and candidates
- Strong organization and follow-through, with comfort using an ATS and spreadsheets
- Curiosity to learn the technical side of aerospace and defense roles
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- Recruiting experience in aerospace, defense, hardware or deep-tech startups
- Familiarity with ITAR and U.S. person hiring requirements
- Experience hiring technicians or manufacturing roles
- Experience with Greenhouse, Ashby, Lever, Gem or a similar ATS
- Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one
Skills Required
- At least 1 year of recruiting experience, ideally in technical or engineering roles
- Hands-on sourcing experience using LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search, and referral networks
- Experience managing multiple open roles simultaneously
- Clear and confident communication with engineers, executives, and candidates
- Strong organization and follow-through
- Comfort using an applicant tracking system and spreadsheets
- Curiosity and ability to learn aerospace and defense technical roles
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Recruiting experience in aerospace, defense, hardware, or deep-tech startups
- Familiarity with ITAR and U.S. person hiring requirements
- Experience hiring technicians or manufacturing roles
- Experience with Greenhouse, Ashby, Lever, Gem, or a similar ATS
- Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
Wardstone develops modular, mass-producible interceptor platforms for air and missile defense. Its systems are designed to match interceptor performance to mission requirements, reduce costs, and support scalable production. The company is developing surface- and space-based interceptors, including satellites intended to kinetically defeat air-breathing, ballistic, and hypersonic missile threats while complementing existing defense systems. Its architecture uses interchangeable components that can be upgraded and manufactured at scale.
