Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist

Karman Space and Defense delivers concept to production solutions for mission critical systems across spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonic platforms, and integrated defense systems. We take on the industry’s most complex challenges with determination and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible. With advanced production capabilities, deep engineering expertise, and rigorous analysis, we turn ambitious ideas into real world solutions that make a measurable impact.

The Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist drives recruiting excellence by shaping strategy, strengthening process discipline, and advising senior leaders across key functions or talent segments. This role exists to elevate hiring outcomes by managing the most complex searches, improving forecasting, advancing sourcing capabilities, and enabling recruiters through tools, playbooks, and mentorship. Through data insight, labor market expertise, and strong stakeholder partnership, the Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist ensures recruiting practices support critical business objectives and deliver a consistent, high-quality talent acquisition experience.
This hybrid role can be based in Mukilteo, WA or at one of our Los Angeles, CA area locations, with remote consideration for exceptionally qualified candidates.
Responsibilities

• Lead recruiting strategy for a designated function, site, business unit, or critical talent segment
• Manage complex, high priority, or hard to fill searches across technical, leadership, or high-volume roles
• Guide requisition assignment, prioritization, workload visibility, and requisition health management
• Collect and synthesize demand planning inputs from hiring leaders and partners
• Advise senior stakeholders on labor market intelligence, sourcing strategies, talent availability, and hiring risk
• Develop sourcing playbooks, process standards, recruiter tools, and hiring manager guidance
• Mentor recruiters through coaching, calibration support, and process reinforcement
• Lead hiring initiatives such as sprint campaigns, hiring events, early career programs, or talent pipeline development
• Use data and approved artificial intelligence tools to improve pipeline visibility, requisition health, and recruiter enablement
• Strengthen recruiting consistency through structured processes and knowledge sharing

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 8 or more years of progressive experience in full lifecycle recruiting, staffing, or talent acquisition
• Experience managing complex, high priority, or mission critical searches with strong outcomes
• Experience recruiting in technical, engineering, aerospace, defense, manufacturing, technician, machinist, computer numerical control, touch labor, corporate, or similarly complex markets
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders using data and labor market insight
• Experience building sourcing strategies, talent pipelines, playbooks, or process improvements
• Experience mentoring recruiters or leading recruiting initiatives without direct authority
• Strong understanding of applicant tracking system discipline, recruiting metrics, compliance, confidentiality, candidate experience, and structured hiring
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, judgment, and cross functional partnership skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, communications, psychology, organizational development, engineering, or a related field
• Experience supporting workforce planning, demand planning, requisition prioritization, or capacity planning
• Experience leading enterprise or cross functional recruiting initiatives, hiring events, talent campaigns, early career programs, military talent programs, or agency reduction efforts
• Advanced training in sourcing, labor market intelligence, recruiting analytics, negotiation, change management, or workforce planning
• Experience developing dashboards, reporting narratives, market briefings, recruiting playbooks, or hiring manager training
• Experience evaluating or enabling artificial intelligence supported recruiting workflows, sourcing tools, automation opportunities, or responsible artificial intelligence standards

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision 
• Company Paid Life Insurance 
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan 
• Paid Time Off (PTO) 
• Paid Holidays 
• Tuition Reimbursement

ITAR Compliance 
To comply with US Government export regulations, this position requires the individual to be a US person. A US person includes a US citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, a refugee, or an asylee.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement 
Karman Space and Defense is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis protected class including but not limited to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability, citizenship status, uniform servicemember status, or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.