Engineering & Manufacturing Recruiter

Onward Search; Fairfield (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

401(k) program

Comprehensive benefits

Commission/Bonus eligible

Job summary

Onward Search is hiring a proactive Engineering & Manufacturing Recruiter to drive high-volume sourcing and full-cycle recruiting for engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trades in a fast-moving environment.

The role emphasizes KPI-driven performance, speed, and automation, with a strong focus on building pipelines, negotiating pay, and delivering placements across multiple technical disciplines. Onward Search supports growth with comprehensive benefits and 401(k).

Qualifications

• 3+ years of staffing agency recruiting experience.
• Experience recruiting engineering, manufacturing, or skilled trade roles.
• Proven success in a high-volume, KPI-driven environment.
• Comfort with recruiting technology including ATS with API integrations, texting platforms, AI-assisted sourcing and workflow tools.

Responsibilities

• Proactively source engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trade candidates using job boards, referrals, LinkedIn, texting platforms, and AI tools.
• Build and maintain a strong, active candidate pipeline in manufacturing and engineering talent markets.
• Recruit for roles including: Controls / Automation Technicians, Machinists / CNC, Maintenance Technicians, Mechanics, Mechanical & Electrical Assembly, QA / QC Technicians, Welders, CDL Drivers, Forklift & General Production.
• Conduct high-volume phone and video candidate screenings.
• Qualify candidates for skills, experience, availability, and fit.
• Discuss and negotiate pay rates with candidates.
• Manage candidates throughout interview, offer, and placement stages.
• Maintain strong candidate relationships to drive retention and redeployment.
• Leverage ATS, CRM, texting tools, AI (including CoPilot), and sourcing automation to drive speed and efficiency.
• Consistently meet or exceed KPIs related to outreach, submittals, interviews, placements, and starts.

Skills

High-volume recruiting

KPI-driven

Agency recruiting

Technology proficient

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

ATS with API integrations

Texting platforms

AI-assisted sourcing

CRM tools

Job description

Overview:

We are seeking a proactive, highly competitive Engineering & Manufacturing Recruiter to drive delivery and growth across our Engineering & Skilled Trades Staffing business. This role is focused on high-volume candidate sourcing, aggressive pipeline building, and full-cycle recruiting for manufacturing, engineering, and skilled trade roles in a fast-moving, production-driven environment.

The ideal candidate thrives in a KPI-heavy, commission-orientated workflow, is obsessive about speed and efficiency, and is deeply fluent in AI-powered recruiting tools, automation, and modern ATS ecosystems. This recruiter operates like a hunter – leveraging sourcing automation, texting platforms, and data to move faster than the market and consistently outperform traditional, tool-light recruiters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Proactively source engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trade candidates using job boards, referrals, LinkedIn, texting platforms, and AI tools
• Build and maintain a strong, active candidate pipeline in manufacturing and engineering talent markets
• Recruit for roles including: Controls / Automation Technicians, Machinists / CNC, Maintenance Technicians, Mechanics, Mechanical & Electrical Assembly, QA / QC Technicians, Welders, CDL Drivers, Forklift & General Production
• Conduct high-volume phone and video candidate screenings
• Qualify candidates for skills, experience, availability, and fit
• Discuss and negotiate pay rates with candidates
• Manage candidates throughout interview, offer, and placement stages
• Maintain strong candidate relationships to drive retention and redeployment
• Leverage ATS, CRM, texting tools, AI (including CoPilot), and sourcing automation to drive speed and efficiency
• Consistently meet or exceed KPIs related to outreach, submittals, interviews, placements, and starts

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience as a staffing agency recruiter
• Experience recruiting engineering, manufacturing, or skilled trade roles
• Proven success in a high-volume, KPI-driven environment
• Strong comfort with recruiting technology, including: ATS platforms with API integrations, Texting platforms, AI‑assisted sourcing and workflow tools, Comfortable with outbound phone, text, and digital outreach, Strong organization, time‑management, and follow‑through skills, Candidates from tool‑light or low‑tech staffing environments may struggle in this role, Bachelor’s degree preferred

Salary:

• $60,000-$65,000(based on experience).
• This position is commission & bonus eligible.
• Comprehensive benefits and PTO package to include 401K also included.

About Onward Search

Onward Group Holdings, LLC is a platform of specialized talent and workforce solutions brands that connect leading organizations with expert talent across high-demand industries. The company combines deep domain expertise, proven infrastructure, and an expansive talent network to deliver solutions that go beyond traditional staffing.

With nearly 20 years in business, Onward Group Holdings partners with companies, schools, and organizations to help them build high-performing teams and thrive in the future of work. It's divisions include Onward Search (Marketing, Creative & Technology), Onward Accessibility (Digital Accessibility), Onward Education (K-12 Education), and Talera (Behavioral Health).

We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, and a 401(k) program for eligible full-time employees, along with resources designed to support well-being and career development.

We have built a culture fostered on entrepreneurial spirit, integrity,teamwork,and transparency. If you are energized by connecting people to opportunity, excited by emerging technologies, and motivated by measurable impact, you’ll fit in great with our team.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply.

We’re committed to making every part of our hiring process accessible and inclusive. If there’s any adjustments we can make to support you as you apply and interview, please reach out to [e-mail].

Onward Search is an equal opportunity employer. We value a culture of inclusion and diversity within our workforce and are committed to maintaining a workplace free from prohibited employment conduct, including discrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partner status, civil partnership, status as a covered veteran, status in the Uniformed Services of the United States, citizenship and any other characteristic protected by State and Federal law.

*There is no application deadline for this posting because we are accepting applications on an ongoing basis.*