Senior Technical Recruiter - Aerospace Engineering

Shape the future of innovation as we tackle cutting-edge projects that make a difference. We’re not just in the business of engineering—we’re building a brighter future. Driven by creativity and a culture of excellence, we believe in the power of engineering to solve today’s challenges and create opportunities for tomorrow. What we do matters.

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions is seeking a high-performing Senior Technical Recruiter to lead hiring across complex engineering programs supporting aerospace, defense, and advanced technology customers.

This is a role for someone who thrives on challenge and knows how to fill positions others struggle to close. You will own high-impact searches across systems engineering, embedded software, hardware, electrical, manufacturing, program leadership, and other specialized disciplines critical to business growth.

We are looking for a recruiter who operates like a business partner, not an order taker. Someone who can run strong intake meetings, influence hiring decisions, provide real market intelligence, build pipelines before needs become urgent, and create momentum throughout the hiring process.

The right person brings urgency, ownership, and a hunter mentality. You know how to engage passive candidates, earn trust with technical talent, manage competing priorities, and close top performers in competitive markets. You are comfortable working directly with leaders, asking hard questions, challenging assumptions when needed, and driving results.

This role offers the opportunity to make a visible impact, help shape recruiting strategy, and play a key role in the continued growth of a highly technical organization.

This role is hybrid, and all candidates must be located in Fort Worth, TX; Scottsdale, AZ; or Minneapolis, MN.

Due to the nature of this work, all candidates must be U.S. Citizens.

Key Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle recruiting for complex, business-critical technical and leadership positions

• Lead intake meetings to define talent strategy, hiring priorities, and market realities

• Build and execute creative sourcing strategies across passive and active talent channels

• Develop pipelines for niche and future hiring needs across multiple engineering disciplines

• Conduct high-quality candidate screens focused on technical fit, motivation, and alignment

• Manage interview process, feedback flow, offers, negotiations, and close strategies

• Own offer management, compensation negotiations, and closing strategies in collaboration with hiring managers and HR.

• Provide market intelligence, including talent availability, competitor activity, and compensation trends

• Partner closely with hiring managers, business leaders, and Talent Acquisition leadership to improve hiring outcomes and optimize processes.

• Mentor junior team members and share recruiting best practices, tools, and market insights.

• Help improve processes, tools, systems, and employer brand initiatives

• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Operations, and DEI partners to ensure seamless recruiting operations, candidate onboarding, and organizational alignment.

• Lead or participate in strategic initiatives and special projects, such as process audits, employer branding campaigns, workforce planning efforts, and DEI sourcing initiatives.

• Champion a world-class candidate experience by ensuring clear, timely communication and a respectful, engaging interview process.

• Ensure compliance with applicable hiring regulations and maintain high data integrity within the ATS and recruitment systems

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 4-7+ years of full-cycle technical recruiting experience in aerospace, defense, engineering services, medical device, or other complex technical industries

• Proven success in filling highly technical and senior-level roles through proactive sourcing and relationship-driven recruitment

• Experience hiring for disciplines such as systems, software, embedded, FPGA, hardware, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, or similar engineering functions

• Strong intake and stakeholder management skills with the confidence to advise hiring leaders

• Demonstrated success negotiating offers and closing candidates in competitive markets

• Strong business judgment, project management and prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple searches simultaneously

• Proven success in managing offers, negotiating compensation, overcoming counteroffers, and closing candidates in competitive markets.

• Skilled in Boolean search, X-ray, social sourcing, LinkedIn Recruiter, talent mapping, networking, and creative sourcing methods

• Comfortable using ATS / CRM platforms such as Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, or similar systems

• Metrics-minded with a focus on results, speed, and quality of hire

• Comfortable with market research, salary benchmarking, and delivering market intelligence to inform hiring decisions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build strong relationships internally and externally.

• High level of urgency, accountability, and ownership with a continuous improvement mindset.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and adapting to shifting priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to learn technical domains quickly and build credibility with engineers and hiring leaders.

• Familiarity with engineering standards such as DO-178C, DO-254, or similar regulated development environments

• Experience using AI tools, sourcing automation, and modern talent intelligence platforms to improve recruiting outcomes

• Prior experience supporting consulting, services, or customer-facing engineering delivery models

• Experience recruiting for security-cleared or export-controlled programs

• Familiar with recruiting compliance standards (EEO, OFCCP, GDPR, etc.).

The QDSS Advantage:

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future.

What You’ll Find Here

• Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact.

• Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement.

• A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued.

Benefits Include

• Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace.

Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications

Pay Ranges
$90,000—$112,000 USD

At Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, we don’t just build technology — we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission-critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem-solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart — not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we’re not just leading the industry — we’re revolutionizing it.

Quest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.