Founding Recruiter Job San Francisco area,California USA,HR/Recruitment

We're building a gamified developer platform where tens of thousands of engineers create high-fidelity datasets that push LLM frontiers. Recruiting is mission-critical to scaling this vision. As our Founding Recruiter, you'll build the function from zero: systems, process, and brand. You'll start as a player-coach-sourcing, selling, and closing top talent-then grow into leading a team that scales with us.

What You'll Do

Build recruiting from scratch: Design and implement the tools, processes, brand, and training to scale hiring.
Own full-cycle recruiting: Source, assess, sell, and close candidates across technical (AI/ML/Eng) and ops roles.
Be a player-coach: Execute searches hands-on today, while building the roadmap for a future team.
Improve speed and quality: Shorten time-to-fill, track funnel metrics, and instill rigor into every stage of hiring.
Champion candidate experience: Protect our brand, ensure fast response times, and run a respectful, engaging process.
Run great intakes: Partner with hiring managers to deeply understand roles, set priorities, and flex across disciplines.
Source creatively: Go beyond Linked In (Git Hub, niche forums, personal networks) to surface hidden talent.
Close strategically: Tailor the pitch to each candidate's motivations, explain equity/comp packages, and win against competition.
Teach & train: Help the team interview well, legally, and fairly; build structured processes and rubrics.

You'll Succeed Here If You Have

Proven full-cycle recruiting experience, especially in technical roles.
Startup experience-ideally as a founding or first recruiter, with bias toward small-company breadth over big-company depth.
San Francisco market familiarity-strong local networks, norms, and understanding of compensation standards.
Demonstrated scrappy sourcing chops-you can show us creative tactics that worked.
Strong closer skills-able to handle competitive offers and tailor sell-stories to candidate motivations.
Comfort recruiting AI/ML talent; you know where to find them and how to get their attention.
Excellent written & verbal communication with low ego and high EQ.
Ability to operate in-person with us in SF (especially in the early stage) to embed with the team.
A structured mindset: clarity on non-negotiables vs flex areas, and how to prioritize candidate profiles.

Characteristics We're Looking For

Scrappy, resourceful, and relentless in sourcing.
Clear communicator who thrives in ambiguity.
Values-driven: cares about mutual fit, not just closing.
Excited to build something foundational at an early-stage startup.


Increase/decrease your Search Radius (miles)



Job Posting Language