Principal Technical Recruiter

🚀 The Mission

You’ll start by doing what you do best: closing elite technical roles and building deep client relationships.

But this isn’t a traditional recruiting role. As you deliver hiring outcomes, you’ll also learn how to integrate AI into every part of the recruiting workflow - and help clients do the same as our platform launches.

Hop works with Fortune 500 companies and top VC-backed startups, specializing in GenAI, ML, Data Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, and Product talent.

We're pre-launch on Moon Engine, an agent-orchestrated recruiting ops system where autonomous agents act as decision partners, coordinating hiring with governance and auditability.

At Hop, you're a player-coach in the truest sense: hands-on recruiter today, AI-enabled recruiting advisor tomorrow. You'll work directly with our engineering and product teams to test Moon Engine, provide critical feedback, and master the future of recruiting - then bring that expertise to Fortune 500 companies and top startups as we onboard them to the platform.

Think of it as dual-track growth: deepen your recruiting craft while becoming an expert in AI-orchestrated hiring workflows.

🧬 What Makes This Different

You're not choosing between recruiting or AI. You're mastering both.

Hands-on recruiting excellence: You'll lead complex searches for senior technical talent - building relationships, managing clients, closing candidates. This is real, high-stakes recruiting work.

Learn AI integration deeply: As you recruit, you'll progressively learn to leverage Moon Engine's capabilities - from AI-assisted sourcing to automated screening. You'll become fluent in how AI amplifies (not replaces) recruiter judgment.

Product development partner: Work directly with our engineering and product teams. Your real-world recruiting experiences become product requirements. Your feedback shapes what gets built.

Customer onboarding expert: As Moon Engine launches, you'll help enterprise clients transition to AI-enabled hiring. You'll teach them what you've learned - making you indispensable to both Hop and our clients.

What You'll Actually Do

• Phase 1: High-Level Recruiting Execution (Day 1 Onwards)
• Lead full-cycle searches for senior technical roles: Staff+ Engineers, ML Scientists, Data Platform Leaders, Technical Product Managers
• Build and maintain client relationships: Partner directly with CTOs, VPs of Engineering, founders - becoming their trusted hiring advisor
• Manage candidate relationships: Source, engage, interview, close top-tier technical talent with white-glove service
• Run strategic intake sessions: Translate business needs and technical requirements into precise hiring strategies
• Deliver results: Own outcomes, timelines, and client satisfaction for complex, high-impact searches
• Phase 2: AI Integration & Learning (Progressive Ramp)
• Test Moon Engine in production: Use the platform daily on your real searches - provide honest feedback on what works and what doesn't
• Learn AI-assisted workflows: Gradually adopt AI-powered sourcing, scoring, screening, and matching as features become available
• Partner with engineering/product: Participate in feedback sessions, feature demos, and roadmap discussions. Your recruiting insights drive product decisions.
• Document best practices: As you learn what AI does well (and where human judgment is critical), you'll help create the playbook for AI-enabled recruiting
• Become the expert: Over 6-12 months, you'll develop deep expertise in how to orchestrate human + AI recruiting workflows
• Phase 3: Client Enablement & Thought Leadership (As Moon Engine Launches)
• Onboard enterprise clients: Guide new customers through adopting Moon Engine - teaching them what you've learned
• Lead training sessions: Show clients how to integrate AI into their hiring processes effectively
• Strategic consulting: Advise companies on restructuring their recruiting operations for an AI-first world
• Represent Hop externally: Share insights at events, on podcasts, in content - establishing yourself as a recruiting + AI expert

🎯 Who Thrives Here

• Must-Haves
• 5+ years recruiting technical talent with a track record of closing senior/leadership roles (ML Engineers, Staff+ Engineers, Data Platform leads, etc.)
• Exceptional client relationship skills: You can advise executives, push back when needed, and build long-term trusted partnerships
• Candidate relationship mastery: You know how to attract, engage, and close passive candidates at the highest levels
• Recruiting fundamentals are second nature: Sourcing, intake, interviewing, offer negotiation, stakeholder management - you've done it all at a high level
• Genuinely curious about AI: You don't need to be technical, but you're excited to learn how AI can augment your recruiting work
• Growth mindset: You're willing to learn new tools, experiment with new workflows, and occasionally feel uncomfortable as you master something new
• Bonus Points
• Prior experience with AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, AI sourcing platforms) in your recruiting work
• Background at high-growth tech companies, recruiting agencies, or technical recruiting teams
• You've already experimented with automation, built recruiting processes, or created "hacks" to work more efficiently
• Comfortable giving product feedback or working closely with technical teams

Cultural Fit

Execution-oriented: You deliver results, not excuses

Collaborative learner: You'll work closely with engineers and product people - ego can't get in the way

Comfortable with ambiguity: Moon Engine is pre-launch. Things will change. You adapt.

Naturally curious: You want to understand how things work, not just use them

Long-term thinker: You see this as a multi-year journey to become a recruiting + AI expert, not just a job

🌙 Why This Opportunity Matters

Most recruiters will eventually have to learn AI. You'll be years ahead.

You're not choosing between being a great recruiter or learning AI - you're mastering both while helping build the platform. Think of it like learning digital marketing in 2005. Early movers win.

📈 What You Gain

Very competitive and unique compensation structure (base + commission + bonus, with long-term upside as Moon Engine scales)

Deep AI recruiting expertise in 6-12 months

Product influence - your feedback shapes what gets built

Client enablement role as Moon Engine launches

Unlimited PTO + thought leadership opportunities