Founding Talent Recruiter

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-moving AI SaaS startup, backed by Y Combinator, as an early People hire. The company is building automation software for distributors and manufacturers, and this position will be central to setting up the hiring engine as well as the People & Culture base from the beginning. You will work closely with the founders to influence how the organisation attracts, welcomes, and keeps outstanding talent across all functions.

If you enjoy taking full ownership, thrive in early-stage environments, and are comfortable switching between sourcing technical talent and creating thoughtful onboarding experiences, this role will be a strong fit.

What You'll Do

• Set up the recruiting function from the ground up and manage the complete hiring journey, from finding candidates to closing offers, across engineering, go-to-market, and operations roles.
• Create and run outbound sourcing strategies to bring in strong candidates in competitive European talent markets.
• Build a structured interview process that assesses both capability and cultural alignment.
• Handle candidate communication throughout the process to deliver a strong and professional experience.
• Develop the company’s employer brand so it stands out as an attractive place to work in Europe.
• Design a strong onboarding journey that helps new hires become effective quickly.
• Help define the company culture and lead initiatives around employee engagement, feedback, and team rituals.
• Set up recruiting analytics and reporting so the hiring process can be improved with data.

What We're Looking For

Must-haves:

• 2 to 5 years of end-to-end recruiting experience in high-growth settings such as VC-backed startups or rapidly scaling tech companies.
• Hands-on experience hiring for engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams rather than only one area.
• A history of creating or expanding recruiting processes and influencing team culture at different stages of growth.
• A resourceful, high-energy, relationship-oriented approach, with the ability to spot and persuade outstanding early-stage hires.
• Strong fluency in both English and German, spoken and written.
• Comfort with the pace of an early-stage startup and a willingness to work in person in Munich.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience building employer branding or candidate-experience campaigns in European markets.
• Exposure to tech or AI environments that helps in assessing technical talent.
• Familiarity with recruiting dashboards, metrics, or reporting tools.

Location

This position is based in Munich, Germany and requires on-site attendance. Fully remote or remote-first arrangements are not available. Visa sponsorship is not provided.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary details will be shared during the interview process. As an early founding team member, you can expect meaningful equity and the chance to help shape the company’s direction from a very early stage.