Talent Acquisition Leader, Aerospace Engineering

Metrea•Tampa, FL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. The People Team functions as the architect of our mission-critical teammate strategies, ensuring the enterprise is synchronized and optimized for high-intensity output. Through a sophisticated Talent Acquisition engine, we secure the elite technical expertise required to maintain our competitive edge, while our Total Rewards framework provides the high-performance incentives necessary for long-term retention. The Recruiting Lead will be a strategic force multiplier within Metrea’s Aerospace Engineering Group (AERO) – one of the fastest growing areas of the enterprise – shaping the talent engine behind rapid aircraft modification and mission delivery. This is a new role necessary to lead rapid growth as Metrea invests in bringing additional full stack end-to-end solutions in house. This role goes beyond traditional recruiting – owning talent acquisition across highly specialized domains, from design engineering and FAA certification to airframe integration and operational execution. As a trusted partner to technical and operational leaders, the Recruiting Lead translates evolving mission requirements into proactive, precision hiring strategies that keep pace with AERO’s speed and complexity. Embedded within a uniquely integrated ecosystem – spanning the Airborne Asset Adaptation (A3) Cell, Aircraft Integration Center (AIC), and Aerospace Design (ASD) – this role serves as the connective tissue between vision and capability. The Lead will anticipate workforce needs from program inception through deployment, building pipelines of elite talent capable of delivering certified, mission-ready aircraft under demanding timelines. Success in this role requires fluency in both aerospace and talent strategy, enabling alignment between technical execution and organizational growth. This is an opportunity to architect the future of a mission-driven enterprise operating at the edge of innovation; through elevating market knowledge and capture, refining recruiting operations, and team mentorship, all while ensuring Metrea remains the destination for top-tier aerospace talent.

Requirements

A player-coach mentality that balances ownership and empowerment – leading from the front through hands-on contribution, a high performance bar, and developing others through real-time coaching, accountability, and shared wins
Proven success in complex, technical environments (e.g., aerospace, defense, engineering), with the ability to deliver high-quality hires at speed
Ability to translate ambiguous, evolving mission or program requirements into clear, executable hiring strategies and priorities
Strong partnership skills with technical and operational leaders; credible, consultative approach to influencing hiring decisions and workforce planning
Data-driven mindset with the ability to use insights to guide strategy, improve funnel performance, and communicate impact
High ownership, discernment, and bias for action in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
Experience hiring across specialized domains such as design engineering, certification, manufacturing, maintenance, or integration functions

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of FAA-regulated environments (e.g., Part 21 and/or Part 145) or similar highly regulated industries is strongly preferred, though not required

Responsibilities

Serve as a player-coach by directly owning full-cycle recruiting for critical roles while building, mentoring, and scaling a high-performing team—setting the standard through hands-on execution, establishing repeatable processes, and driving consistent delivery
Build and execute market-informed sourcing strategies across specialist talent pools including aircraft supply chain, FAA Part 21 and Part 145 environments, avionics, integration engineering, maintenance, and production
Develop deep understanding of external talent markets and use data and insight to guide hiring leaders on talent availability, market constraints, and competitive dynamics
Partner closely with senior and highly specialized stakeholders, bringing clear recommendations, thoughtful challenge, and sound judgment throughout the hiring process
Develop targeted pipelines through direct sourcing, market mapping, and proactive relationship-building across niche talent pools
Strengthen Metrea’s capability in emerging talent markets through market mapping, insight sharing, and the development of repeatable hiring approaches
Guide hiring managers through structured and high-quality selection processes that improve decision-making and candidate experience