Talent Acquisition Specialist (Headhunter)

About HyLight Power lines, gas pipelines and railways are still inspected the way they were 50 years ago: by helicopter. Expensive, noisy, and up to a tonne of CO₂ per flight hour. We built the alternative. The HyLighter is a 12-metre autonomous airship running on hydrogen. It flies for up to 10 hours, almost silently, and spots a 1 mm defect from 25 metres up.

But the airship is only half the story. Every flight brings back massive amounts of LiDAR, imagery and methane data, and that’s where the value is. Our AI turns it into what operators act on: 50+ types of defects detected automatically, and leaks pinpointed across their network. It’s not a prototype. HyLighters already fly missions for France’s largest energy and rail operators and have flown over the Palace of Versailles.

Backed by Y Combinator, we just raised €13M to go from 4 airships to 15. Working at HyLight We design, build and fly every HyLighter, and turn its data into insight, all under one roof on a former airbase. Which means: You own it all the way. At a big aerospace company, you’d own a small piece of one subsystem. Here, you design it, test it, stand on the airfield when it flies, and see the client act on the data it brings back. Weeks, not years. Ideas go from whiteboard to flight test in weeks. Responsibility from day one. The founders’ average age is 27. Nobody here waits for permission. We don’t care about titles or ticking every box. We care about what you build and the perspective you bring, so if your profile is different, apply anyway.

Job Summary

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist (Headhunter) , you will play a key role in helping HyLight attract and hire exceptional talent during a period of rapid growth. You'll own sourcing strategies for critical hires, build relationships with outstanding candidates, and partner closely with hiring managers to scale high-performing teams across engineering, operations, and business functions.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on identifying exceptional talent, enjoys building meaningful candidate relationships, and wants to have a direct impact on the growth of one of Europe's most ambitious climate tech startups. The Mission Own sourcing strategies for critical and hard-to-fill positions across engineering, operations, and business teams.

Identify, engage, and attract exceptional candidates through LinkedIn Recruiter, referrals, networking, and other sourcing channels. Build and maintain strong talent pipelines for both current and future hiring needs. Partner with hiring managers to understand hiring requirements and define ideal candidate profiles. Conduct initial screening and qualification interviews to assess candidate fit and motivation.

Drive an exceptional candidate experience throughout the recruitment process. Develop personalized outreach campaigns that showcase HyLight's mission and culture. Use recruiting metrics and market insights to continuously improve sourcing effectiveness and hiring efficiency. Stay informed about talent market trends, competitor hiring activity, and best practices in recruitment.

Profile Sought Technical Skills Proven experience in talent acquisition, executive search, or headhunting, either in-house or within a recruitment agency. Strong sourcing expertise using LinkedIn Recruiter and other talent sourcing platforms. Experience managing multiple recruitment processes simultaneously. Familiarity with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), recruitment tools, and modern collaboration platforms.

Ability to recruit technical, engineering, and business profiles. Soft Skills Excellent communication and relationship-building skills. Curious, proactive, and highly resourceful. Strong sense of ownership and accountability. Comfortable working autonomously in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment. Passionate about identifying and engaging exceptional talent.

Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail. Languages Professional proficiency in English and French . Bonus Qualities Experience recruiting software, hardware, aerospace, robotics, or deep tech profiles. Previous experience in a startup or other high-growth environment. Strong understanding of engineering and technical talent markets.

Interest in climate tech, aerospace, or frontier technologies.

What We Offer

Competitive Salary 100% reimbursement of your public transport pass (Navigo) or €800/year for sustainable commuting. Bike provided for commuting. Free lunch. Bi-annual offsite trips with the whole team. Excellent work environment: international team, regular team events, and beautiful offices located on a former airbase.

Why You Should Join Founder Mentality We value extreme ownership and want people who think like founders: fast decision-makers, natural problem solvers, and people who get things done. Build the Team That Builds HyLight Every outstanding hire accelerates our mission. You'll play a strategic role in shaping the team that designs, builds, and operates the next generation of aerial inspection technology.

Ground Floor Opportunity You'll help shape and grow a revolutionary company backed by world-class investors, with the resources and ambition to become the global leader in aerial monitoring. Impact & Speed Work in a fast-paced environment where your contributions have immediate, tangible effects on the company's success and growth.

Interview Process Introductory phone call (20–30 min). Case Study (2-3hours) On-site meeting with the team (3–4 hours). Location Office: Base 217, Brétigny-sur-Orge, accessible via RER C.