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The Lead / Principal Recruiter role at Hophr is an on-site position located in San Francisco, CA.

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Lead / Principal Recruiter

HophrSan Francisco, CA1d ago

🚀 The Mission

You’ll start by doing what you do best: closing elite technical roles and building deep client relationships.

But this isn’t a traditional recruiting role. As you deliver hiring outcomes, you’ll also learn how to integrate AI into every part of the recruiting workflow—and help clients do the same as our platform launches.

Hop works with Fortune 500 companies and top VC-backed startups, specializing in GenAI, ML, Data Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, and Product talent.

We're pre-launch on Moon Engine, an agent-orchestrated recruiting ops system where autonomous agents act as decision partners, coordinating hiring with governance and auditability.

At Hop, you're a player-coach in the truest sense: hands-on recruiter today, AI-enabled recruiting advisor tomorrow. You'll work directly with our engineering and product teams to test Moon Engine, provide critical feedback, and master the future of recruiting—then bring that expertise to Fortune 500 companies and top startups as we onboard them to the platform.

Think of it as dual-track growth: deepen your recruiting craft while becoming an expert in AI-orchestrated hiring workflows.

🧬 What Makes This Different

You're not choosing between recruiting or AI. You're mastering both.

Hands-on recruiting excellence: You'll lead complex searches for senior technical talent—building relationships, managing clients, closing candidates. This is real, high-stakes recruiting work.

Learn AI integration deeply: As you recruit, you'll progressively learn to leverage Moon Engine's capabilities—from AI-assisted sourcing to automated screening. You'll become fluent in how AI amplifies (not replaces) recruiter judgment.

Product development partner: Work directly with our engineering and product teams. Your real-world recruiting experiences become product requirements. Your feedback shapes what gets built.

Customer onboarding expert: As Moon Engine launches, you'll help enterprise clients transition to AI-enabled hiring. You'll teach them what you've learned—making you indispensable to both Hop and our clients.

What You'll Actually Do

Phase 1: High-Level Recruiting Execution (Day 1 Onwards)

Lead full-cycle searches for senior technical roles: Staff+ Engineers, ML Scientists, Data Platform Leaders, Technical Product Managers

Build and maintain client relationships: Partner directly with CTOs, VPs of Engineering, founders—becoming their trusted hiring advisor

Manage candidate relationships: Source, engage, interview, close top-tier technical talent with white-glove service

Run strategic intake sessions: Translate business needs and technical requirements into precise hiring strategies

Deliver results: Own outcomes, timelines, and client satisfaction for complex, high-impact searches

Phase 2: AI Integration & Learning (Progressive Ramp)

Test Moon Engine in production: Use the platform daily on your real searches—provide honest feedback on what works and what doesn't

Learn AI-assisted workflows: Gradually adopt AI-powered sourcing, scoring, screening, and matching as features become available

Partner with engineering/product: Participate in feedback sessions, feature demos, and roadmap discussions. Your recruiting insights drive product decisions.

Document best practices: As you learn what AI does well (and where human judgment is critical), you'll help create the playbook for AI-enabled recruiting

Become the expert: Over 6-12 months, you'll develop deep expertise in how to orchestrate human + AI recruiting workflows

Phase 3: Client Enablement & Thought Leadership (As Moon Engine Launches)

Onboard enterprise clients: Guide new customers through adopting Moon Engine—teaching them what you've learned

Lead training sessions: Show clients how to integrate AI into their hiring processes effectively

Strategic consulting: Advise companies on restructuring their recruiting operations for an AI-first world

Represent Hop externally: Share insights at events, on podcasts, in content—establishing yourself as a recruiting + AI expert

🎯 Who Thrives Here

Must-Haves

5+ years recruiting technical talent with a track record of closing senior/leadership roles (ML Engineers, Staff+ Engineers, Data Platform leads, etc.)

Exceptional client relationship skills: You can advise executives, push back when needed, and build long-term trusted partnerships

Candidate relationship mastery: You know how to attract, engage, and close passive candidates at the highest levels

Recruiting fundamentals are second nature: Sourcing, intake, interviewing, offer negotiation, stakeholder management—you've done it all at a high level

Genuinely curious about AI: You don't need to be technical, but you're excited to learn how AI can augment your recruiting work

Growth mindset: You're willing to learn new tools, experiment with new workflows, and occasionally feel uncomfortable as you master something new

Bonus Points

Prior experience with AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, AI sourcing platforms) in your recruiting work

Background at high-growth tech companies, recruiting agencies, or technical recruiting teams

You've already experimented with automation, built recruiting processes, or created "hacks" to work more efficiently

Comfortable giving product feedback or working closely with technical teams

Cultural Fit

Execution-oriented: You deliver results, not excuses

Collaborative learner: You'll work closely with engineers and product people—ego can't get in the way

Comfortable with ambiguity: Moon Engine is pre-launch. Things will change. You adapt.

Naturally curious: You want to understand how things work, not just use them

Long-term thinker: You see this as a multi-year journey to become a recruiting + AI expert, not just a job

🌙 Why This Opportunity Matters

Most recruiters will eventually have to learn AI. You'll be years ahead.

You're not choosing between being a great recruiter or learning AI—you're mastering both while helping build the platform. Think of it like learning digital marketing in 2005. Early movers win.

📈 What You Gain

Very competitive and unique compensation structure (base + commission + bonus, with long-term upside as Moon Engine scales)

Deep AI recruiting expertise in 6-12 months

Product influence—your feedback shapes what gets built

Client enablement role as Moon Engine launches

Unlimited PTO + thought leadership opportunities

Lead / Principal Recruiter

What You'll Actually Do

🎯 Who Thrives Here

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