Technical Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Partner

At WingXpand®

Locations:

Schaumburg, IL | (On-site / Hybrid Support)

‍Type:

Contract / Part-Time or Full-Time

About WingXpand

WingXpand is Expanding What’s Possible™ with Autonomous Systems, building long-endurance, backpackable smart plane drones and robotics systems that support defense, public safety, disaster response, and commercial missions. Our platforms operate across air, ground, and maritime domains, integrating autonomy, AI-powered sensing, edge computing, and networked systems to deliver real-world intelligence and threat detection. We design, build, and deploy complete systems — hardware, software, and data — and we move fast. As WingXpand scales, we are seeking high performers to grow with our team.

Position Description

WingXpand is hiring a Contract Technical Recruiter (1099) to support full-cycle technical recruiting across engineering, software, hardware, and manufacturing roles. This role is ideal for a hands-on technical recruiter with experience hiring engineers, software developers, embedded systems engineers, robotics engineers, and manufacturing technicians in a fast-paced startup or advanced technology environment. The recruiter will focus on local and regional hiring in the Chicagoland area, supporting our Schaumburg-based facility, with the opportunity to convert to a part-time or full-time internal recruiting role as hiring demand grows.

Key Responsibilities:

Full-Cycle Technical Recruiting

  • Manage end-to-end technical recruiting for roles including:
    • Electrical Engineer (EE)
    • Embedded Software Engineer
    • Embedded Systems Engineer
    • Full Stack Software Engineer (C++, Python, JavaScript)
    • Autonomous Systems Engineer
    • Robotics Software Engineer
    • Hardware Engineer
    • Manufacturing Engineer
    • Engineering Technician / Assembler
    • Principal Engineer and Director of Engineering roles
  • Own sourcing, screening, interviewing, offer coordination, and close.
  • Partner directly with engineering, manufacturing, and leadership teams.

Technical Sourcing & Candidate Pipelines

  • Proactively source candidates using:
    • LinkedIn Recruiter
    • Indeed Resume Search
    • Technical job boards
    • Referrals and professional networks
  • Build pipelines for aerospace engineering, robotics engineering, embedded software, autonomy, and manufacturing talent.
  • Focus on local Chicagoland technical talent, including Schaumburg, Chicago, and surrounding suburbs.

Screening & Interview Support

  • Conduct technical recruiter screens to evaluate:
    • Technical background and skill alignment
    • Startup and hands-on build experience
    • Location and on-site availability
    • Motivation and long-term interest
  • Coordinate interviews with hiring managers and technical leads.
  • Ensure a high-quality candidate experience across LinkedIn, Indeed, and direct outreach.

Recruiting Operations & Hiring Support

  • Manage candidate tracking and pipeline reporting.
  • Provide weekly updates on hiring progress, funnel health, and risks.
  • Help refine job descriptions, hiring priorities, and interview processes.
  • Support onboarding coordination once hires are made.

Qualifications:

  • 5+ years of experience as a Technical Recruiter, Engineering Recruiter, or Technical Talent Acquisition Partner
  • Proven experience recruiting for:
    • Software Engineering
    • Embedded Systems
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Robotics and Autonomous Systems
    • Manufacturing and Technician roles
  • Experience working as a contract recruiter (1099) or in startup / high-growth environments
  • Strong understanding of technical roles and engineering skill sets
  • Experience recruiting via LinkedIn, Indeed, and Google Jobs–indexed postings
  • Ability to operate independently and manage multiple open requisitions
  • Located in or able to support hiring in the Chicagoland / Schaumburg, IL area

Additional qualifications:

  • Experience recruiting in aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems
  • Familiarity with embedded hardware, firmware, and autonomy stacks
  • Experience recruiting manufacturing engineers or assembly technicians
  • Existing network of technical candidates in the Chicago market
  • Experience supporting on-site or hybrid engineering teams

Compensation & Contract Details

  • Competitive hourly rate (1099 contractor)
  • Flexible engagement based on hiring volume
  • Opportunity to convert to part-time or full-time employment
  • Direct access to leadership and hiring managers

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What Else You Need to Know

To conform to U.S. Government aerospace technology export regulations, applicant must be a 'U.S. Person' (U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder).

If you are a self-motivated, results-driven individual with a passion for innovation and technology, we want to hear from you!

Apply with your resume and optional cover letter (CV), including the types of engineering or technical roles you have hired.

Apply Now