Founding Talent Partner

About the role

Watney is hiring its first dedicated Talent Partner to own recruiting end-to-end and build the function from the ground up. You'll set strategy, build sourcing playbooks, and partner directly with our founders and operators to hire across technical, operational, and executive functions as we scale from ~20 to 60+ people this year.

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle recruiting across multiple disciplines simultaneously: technical, GTM, operational, and leadership roles
• Build and refine sourcing strategies that go beyond volume: creative outbound, referral networks, and community engagement
• Shape Watney's employer brand and candidate experience from first touch to offer
• Partner with founders and hiring managers to define hiring criteria, design interview processes, and calibrate on ideal profiles
• Stand up and optimize our ATS recruiting infrastructure (Ashby), scorecards, and pipeline analytics
• Track hiring health with rigor: pass-through rates, time-to-hire, rejection patterns, and use that data to make better decisions
• Coach and eventually build out a recruiting team as the company scales

Requirements

• Significant full-cycle recruiting experience, ideally at a high-growth startup or technical company
• Led or meaningfully shaped a recruiting function. You know what good looks like and how to build toward it
• An exceptional top-of-funnel operator: you find candidates others miss, and you create pipeline in unique ways
• AI-native and tool-savvy. You use technology to multiply your output, not replace your judgment
• Genuine grit, humility, and maturity: you push back when needed, stay calm under pressure, and never cut corners on candidate experience
• Adapt fast and create new playbooks when old ones don't fit
• Experience in robotics, deep tech, or hardware recruiting (a strong plus, not a requirement)

Qualifications

• Passionate about robotics

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience with ATS systems and tools

Benefits

• Diverse, inclusive team culture
• Flexible work arrangements
• Competitive compensation package
• Opportunities for professional growth and development

Pay

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience

Schedule

• Full-time position

Company Culture

We believe the most important decision you can make is what you work on and who you work with. Watney builds and deploys autonomous robotic systems for the largest hyperscalers in the world. Come work with the former GSM for the iPhone, the architect of Uber's realtime pricing engine, and the engineer behind the world’s fastest EV racecar at ETH Zurich.

What You’ll Love About Working Here

• Collaborative environment with founders, engineers, and operators deeply invested in hiring
• Opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects in robotics and deep tech
• Competitive compensation and benefits package
• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities

How to Apply

If you are passionate about robotics and have the skills and experience listed above, we encourage you to apply. Follow us on social media and LinkedIn to stay updated on future openings.