Lead Recruiter

xona-space· Business
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📍 Burlingame, CaliforniaFullTime💰 USD 165K–195K

About this role

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We are hiring a Lead Recruiter to own and elevate our recruiting function during a high-growth phase. This is not a purely managerial role. Nor is it a pure IC role. It is a high-trust hybrid role where you are expected to both execute at a high level and raise the bar for the team around you.

You will directly own critical searches while also ensuring the broader recruiting function runs with consistency, accuracy, and strong judgment.

We are looking for someone we can trust to operate independently, both in their own work and in how they guide others.

What You'll Do:

Individual Contributor Recruiting

  • Own full-cycle recruiting for critical and/or high-priority roles

  • Source, engage, and close top-tier talent in competitive markets

  • Partner directly with executives and hiring managers on key searches

  • Maintain strong candidate experience from outreach through close

  • Personally carry a meaningful requisition load at all times

Team Leadership

  • Guide and support a team of recruiters

  • Set expectations for quality, consistency, and speed

  • Review recruiting output (candidate comms, process execution, pipelines)

  • Coach recruiters through real-time feedback and pattern recognition

  • Ensure the team does not rely on you for every decision

Recruiting System Ownership

  • Drive consistency in interview processes, evaluation standards, and execution quality

  • Improve how the team operates, not just individual performance

  • Ensure recruiting output is scalable as the company grows

  • Define and enforce consistent recruiting processes across highly technical, detail-sensitive roles

  • Ensure interview loops are structured, high-signal, and calibrated for technical depth and accuracy

  • Maintain rigor in candidate communication and process execution given the complexity of roles being hired for

Judgment, Quality, and Trust

  • Act as a final layer of judgment for recruiting execution quality

  • Ensure accuracy and professionalism in all candidate-facing communication

  • Catch and prevent avoidable errors before they reach candidates or stakeholders

  • Escalate selectively, but otherwise operate with strong independence

Required Qualifications

  • 6–10+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience in high-growth, technical environments

  • Strong IC performance track record

  • Prior experience mentoring or leading recruiters (formal or informal)

  • Strong judgment, attention to detail, and consistency under pressure

  • Ability to manage workload across both IC execution and team oversight

  • High ownership mindset and comfort operating without close supervision

  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Lead Recruiter role at xona-space?
The listed salary for this Lead Recruiter position at xona-space is USD 165K–195K. This is an FullTime role.
Where is the Lead Recruiter position at xona-space located?
This Lead Recruiter role at xona-space is based in Burlingame, California. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Lead Recruiter role at xona-space full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Lead Recruiter role in the Business department at xona-space.
Which team or department does the Lead Recruiter at xona-space belong to?
This Lead Recruiter position is part of the Business department at xona-space. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Lead Recruiter position at xona-space?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to xona-space's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Lead Recruiter job at xona-space posted?
This Lead Recruiter position at xona-space was posted on Jun 29, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Lead Recruiter
xona-space · 💰 USD 165K–195K
Apply for this role ↗

You'll be redirected to xona-space's official application page on Ashby ATS.