Overview
Talent Acquisition Lead Jobs in Sunnyvale, CA at Enterprise AI Startup
Title: Talent Acquisition Lead
Company: Enterprise AI Startup
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Role Overview
We are a stealth, early‑stage enterprise AI startup preparing to scale our team thoughtfully from pre‑seed through Series A. This is the first in‑house recruiting role and a true founding position.
You’ll partner closely with the founder to build the hiring function from scratch, with a strong focus on senior technical talent. This role is about trust, networks, and judgment, not volume recruiting.
This is a full‑time, on‑site role.
What You’ll Work On
Personally sourcing and engaging senior technical candidates, primarily passive talent
Working closely with the founder on hiring strategy, candidate evaluation, and long‑term planning
Building recruiting workflows that fit an early‑stage, high‑bar hiring environment
Managing candidate engagement, references, and decision alignment
Laying the foundation for a future recruiting team as the company grows
Quality of hires and long‑term fit matter far more than speed or throughput.
Role Expectations
Strong understanding of how experienced engineers evaluate early‑stage opportunities
A well‑developed personal network within the Bay Area tech ecosystem
Ability to recruit through relationships and credibility, not just inbound applications
Comfort operating independently with limited structure
Willingness to take ownership of recruiting outcomes end to end
Ideal Background Signals
Experience recruiting technical talent in the Bay Area
Prior work with founders, startups, or venture‑backed companies
Track record of placing or hiring senior or leadership‑level talent
Interest in building something early and growing with the company
Experience at a venture firm or helping build an in‑house recruiting function is a plus, but not required.
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary range: $80,000 – $120,000
Additional compensation: Commission structure
Equity: Startup equity
Benefits: Standard benefits, including healthcare
Additional Job Application Terms
This job is part of LinkedIn’s Full-Service Hiring beta program. Eligibility is limited to candidates located in and performing services in the United States, excluding those based in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, or West Virginia.
We’re committed to making our hiring process as smooth and timely as possible, and we understand that waiting to hear back can add to the anticipation. If you’re a potential fit, our team will reach out within two weeks to progress you to the next stage. If you don’t hear from us in that time, we encourage you to explore other opportunities with our team in the future, and we wish you the very best in your job search.
