DefTech Recruiting

Representative Defence Tech hiring projects

Core team for a DefTech manufacturer: 10 hires, from COO and Chief Production Officer to Head of Infrastructure and engineering leaders in Scandinavia.

Ukrainian air Defence system: four engineering hires, including a Mechanical Engineer, Prototyping Engineer, Embedded Software Developer and Robotics Software Engineer.

Aerospace company: niche engineering and C-suite hires across Ukraine, the United States and Bulgaria.

When to engage Indigo

Building your first core team
You need founding engineers and technical leaders who will shape the product and engineering culture.
Hiring 10+ engineers in parallel
Recruiting capacity needs to keep pace with product development and manufacturing.
Sourcing rare domain expertise
RF, electronic warfare, embedded systems, computer vision and composites, where qualified candidates are exceptionally scarce.
Running a confidential search
We conduct the search under NDA without disclosing the company or project.
Hiring an R&D or manufacturing leader
Head of R&D, Chief Production Officer and engineering director roles.
Recruiting in Ukraine and internationally
One coordinated search across Ukraine, Europe and the United States.

Talent we recruit

UAV & Drone Systems

UAV Systems Engineer | Drone Software Engineer | ArduPilot / iNAV Engineer | UAV Integration Engineer | UAV Tech Lead

Embedded Systems & Firmware

Embedded Engineer | Embedded C/C++ Developer (STM32 / FreeRTOS) | Firmware Engineer

Hardware & Electronics

Hardware Engineer | Electronics Design Engineer | PCB Designer | Circuit Design Engineer

Mechanical Design & Engineering

Mechanical Design Engineer | Prototyping Engineer | Composites Process Engineer | Design Engineer (SolidWorks)

RF, Radio & Electronic Warfare

RF Design Engineer | Antenna Engineer | Electronic Warfare Engineer | FPGA / DSP Engineer

Software, AI & Computer Vision

Computer Vision Engineer | Machine Learning Engineer | C++ Lead Software Engineer | DevOps Engineer

Product, R&D & Executive Leadership

Product Manager | Head of R&D | Chief Production Officer | COO | CEO

Why Indigo

DefTech engineering expertise
We assess candidates based on the products they have built and the problems they have solved, not simply the technology stacks listed on their resumes. We have recruited for UAV control systems, embedded systems using STM32 / FreeRTOS, composites and computer vision, enabling credible technical conversations with candidates.

Confidential search capability
Some searches, including embedded and robotics software roles, were completed under NDA without public disclosure of the client. We adapt job descriptions, sourcing channels and candidate communications to the agreed level of confidentiality.

End-to-end hiring, from engineers to C-suite
For one client, we built a 10-person core team, from COO to engineering leaders. We handle both individual specialist searches and parallel hiring for an entire team.

Access to scarce talent
We combine direct search, talent mapping and our proprietary network across Ukraine, Europe and the United States. We engage both active candidates and engineers who are not currently on the market.

How we work

1. Discovery and product immersion
We sign an NDA, understand what the team is building and define the technical and business outcomes expected from the hire.

2. Search strategy
Direct search, talent mapping, our proprietary network and engineering communities, with a confidential search process when required.

3. Sourcing and assessment
We typically present the first relevant candidates within a week. Highly specialized roles take longer, and we set realistic expectations at the outset.

4. Hiring process support
We coordinate interviews and offer negotiations, then stay closely involved until the candidate joins the team.

Discuss your hiring needs

FAQ

Which roles have you filled in Defence Tech?

We have filled roles at every level, from engineers to C-suite executives:

Engineering: Mechanical Design Engineer, Composites Process Engineer, Senior Hardware & Integration Engineer, Embedded C/C++ Developer (STM32 / FreeRTOS / INS), UAV / Quadcopter Control System Engineer, Computer Vision Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer, Prototyping Engineer.
Production and testing: Chief Production Officer, Field Engineer & Military Liaison, Senior Health & Safety Inspector.
Product and business: Product Owner, Business Analyst, Key Account Manager, Commercial Director, Supply Chain Manager, Procurement Manager.
Leadership: CEO, COO, General Manager, Head of Infrastructure, Finance Manager.

Most of these searches were conducted under NDA, so we do not disclose client names.

Can you recruit candidates from outside the DefTech industry?

Yes. For complex roles, we often search adjacent sectors, including automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, telecommunications and robotics. We then assess how effectively each candidate's experience transfers to DefTech applications.

Do you handle confidential searches?

Yes. We tailor job descriptions, sourcing channels and candidate communications to protect the identity of the company and the project.

Can you manage multiple engineering searches simultaneously?

Yes. We support everything from a single specialist search to a parallel hiring program for an entire core team.

When can we expect the first candidates?

We typically present the first relevant candidates within a week. Highly specialized roles take longer; we agree on a realistic search plan at kickoff.

How is your fee structured?

Pricing depends on role seniority, the number of positions and search complexity. We typically work on a success-fee model, with most of the fee due after the candidate joins the team.

Engagement model

The engagement model is tailored to the number of open roles, search complexity and scope. Most of the fee is due after the candidate joins the team.

Defence & Dual-Use Tech Recruiting