Senior Recruiter

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role is part of our Space and Launch business, which has contributed to the nation’s space programs for decades by delivering complete solutions from concept to flight. We enable successful space operations with mission-critical technology supporting every step from first launch to final landing, including launch vehicle subsystems, propulsion systems, aerodynamic and interstage systems, and payload protection and deployment. Our high-performance solutions are engineered to operate in the most extreme environments and meet precise mission requirements.

As a Senior Recruiter, you will lead complex and business-critical talent searches that help build the teams supporting our Space and Launch business. You will partner closely with hiring managers and business leaders to define hiring strategies, identify and engage top talent, provide market insight, and guide searches from planning through offer support while contributing to recruiting excellence across the Talent Acquisition team.

This hybrid role can be based in Huntington Beach, CA, or Mukilteo, WA.

Responsibilities

• Manages full lifecycle recruiting for complex, high-priority, high-volume, and business-critical positions supporting the Space and Launch business.
• Leads intake meetings and candidate calibration sessions to align hiring teams on role requirements, evaluation criteria, search strategy, and hiring timelines.
• Develops targeted sourcing strategies and builds competitive candidate pipelines for specialized talent markets.
• Advises hiring managers on labor market conditions, talent availability, compensation considerations, and search feasibility.
• Screens and evaluates candidates using structured selection criteria while managing candidate engagement throughout the hiring process.
• Analyzes recruiting data, pipeline metrics, and sourcing effectiveness to identify risks, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Partners with Human Resources (HR), Compensation, hiring teams, and business leaders to develop offer strategies and support candidate decision-making.
• Communicates search progress, hiring risks, priorities, and recommendations to hiring teams, leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Mentors recruiters and contributes to process improvements, recruiting initiatives, hiring events, talent campaigns, training, and recruiting playbooks.
• Supports additional recruiting and talent acquisition activities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least five years of progressive experience in full lifecycle recruiting, staffing, or talent acquisition.
• Experience independently managing requisitions from intake through offer support.
• Experience recruiting for technical, engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, technician, machinist, computer numerical control (CNC), skilled labor, corporate, or similarly complex roles.
• Demonstrated ability to develop sourcing strategies and manage competitive candidate pipelines.
• Strong hiring manager partnership, stakeholder communication, and candidate relationship skills.
• Ability to use applicant tracking system (ATS) reporting, recruiting data, and pipeline metrics to evaluate search progress and recommend actions.
• Working knowledge of recruiting compliance, confidentiality, candidate disposition processes, structured interviewing, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) principles.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, problem-solving skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Communications, Psychology, Organizational Development, Engineering, or a related field.
• Advanced sourcing experience using LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search techniques, talent mapping, job boards, referrals, events, and specialized recruiting platforms.
• Experience supporting aerospace, space and launch, defense, engineering, manufacturing, technician, or other mission-critical hiring initiatives.
• Experience advising hiring managers on talent markets, role requirements, candidate quality, compensation considerations, and hiring risks.
• Experience supporting offer strategy, candidate closing, relocation, competing offers, or other complex candidate decisions.
• Experience mentoring recruiters or supporting recruiter training, onboarding, and process improvement initiatives.
• Training or certification in advanced sourcing, behavioral interviewing, negotiation, labor market intelligence, or recruiting analytics.
• Experience responsibly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support market research, search strategies, pipeline summaries, interview guides, or recruiting recommendations.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company‑paid life and AD\&D insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.