Head of Talent

Ulysses Inc. • San Francisco, CA

1d

About The Position

We're hiring our first Head of Talent at Ulysses. We're scaling across hardware, software, acoustics, manufacturing, field operations, and business development simultaneously. We need someone who can fill all of those seats while building the system that makes hiring repeatable as we grow.

You'll own the full recruiting function: sourcing strategy, pipeline, process, candidate experience, closing, and employer brand. You'll work directly with the founders and engineering leads to define roles, map talent markets, and bring in the people who will build the next generation of ocean robotics. You'll be the person who makes sure we're not just hiring fast, but hiring right.

The right candidate treats recruiting as a craft and a competitive advantage. You're a closer who can also build infrastructure. You source engineers others can't find, you run a process candidates respect, and you're energized by the chaos and ownership of being the first hire in the function.

Requirements

• 5+ years of technical recruiting experience, with meaningful time spent hiring across hardware, embedded systems, robotics, or other physically complex engineering disciplines
• Proven track record of recruiting for high-bar engineering teams at fast-growing startups or technically demanding companies
• Strong technical fluency, you can engage engineers credibly, understand what they actually do, and earn their trust
• Exceptional sourcing instincts, you find, engage, and close talent that doesn't show up on job boards
• Experience operating as the first or early recruiting hire, building structure where none exists
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent searches across very different disciplines without dropping quality
• Strong communicator who can influence across levels, from first-time managers to founders
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and data-driven in how you track and improve your pipeline
• A self-starter who identifies problems, proposes solutions, and executes without being asked

Nice To Haves

• Experience recruiting in defense, aerospace, maritime, or federal-adjacent environments
• Familiarity with the specific talent markets we hire from: subsea engineering, acoustics, marine robotics, or ocean tech
• Prior engineering, technical PM, or hands-on technical background
• Experience building employer brand and recruiting content from scratch
• Comfort with international hiring or candidates requiring visa sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle recruiting end-to-end across all disciplines: mechanical, electrical, embedded software, acoustics, manufacturing, field ops, and commercial/defense BD
• Build and execute the hiring strategy from role definition and talent mapping through pipeline creation and closing
• Partner deeply with the CEO, President, CTO, COO, and engineering leads to understand hiring needs, shape role scopes, and influence org design
• Source proactively and creatively — outbound, referrals, personal networks, events, niche technical communities, and unconventional channels to find people who build things for the ocean
• Set the bar for candidate experience: a thoughtful, high-signal process from first outreach through offer that reflects who we are as a company
• Lead offer strategy, compensation discussions, negotiation, and closing for senior and hard-to-hire technical talent
• Help shape and amplify Ulysses' employer brand within defense, maritime, robotics, and ocean engineering ecosystems by working closely with our marketing lead
• Stand up recruiting infrastructure, implement processes, tools, metrics, and reporting that can scale post-Series A
• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership: bring data, market insight, and honest feedback on what's working and what isn't

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed