Head of Talent

Cantos Ventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Apex

Company-paid healthcare

PTO starting at 15 days

401(k) with match

Parental leave

Daily catered lunch and snacks

Vibrant Playa Vista office

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a Head of Talent to own recruitment end-to-end: strategy, the team, the systems, and the long-term pipelines that will feed Apex for the next decade.

You will lead a team of ~10, personally drive executive searches, and build partnerships with universities, trade schools, and industry conferences to fuel the company’s talent engine. This leadership role requires hands-on executive search experience, a track record of high-volume hiring, and the

Qualifications

• 10+ years in recruiting and talent acquisition.
• Leadership experience driving executive searches.
• Proven ability to run high-volume hiring with quality.
• Data-driven with modern ATS and analytics experience.
• Executive presence and ability to influence at the board level.
• Experience building talent strategies and metrics.
• Familiarity with ITAR and U.S. person requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own the recruiting strategy, team, and systems for Apex.
• Lead executive searches and partner with executives on leadership hires.
• Build long-term talent pipelines with universities and industry.
• Define operating rhythms, interviewing standards, and funnel metrics.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure robust pipelines and fair hiring.
• Drive the annual hiring plan and capacity modeling.
• Mentor and develop a 10-person recruiting team.

Skills

Executive search

Team leadership

Recruiting strategy

Data analytics

ATS tooling

Stakeholder management

Employer branding

AI in recruiting

High-volume hiring

Networking partnerships

Tools

Ashby

LinkedIn

Juicebox

Job description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

About the Role

Apex's ability to unlock our strategy only happens if we hire (and retain) exceptional people, faster and better than anyone else in the industry. Apex is now just over 400 full-time employees, having more than doubled over the last year. As we continue to win new business, we're aiming to hire hundreds of additional talented humans to join us in the next year. We’re looking for an exceptional Head of Talent to own recruitment end-to-end: the strategy, the team, the systems, and the long-term pipelines that will feed Apex for the next decade. You'll lead a team of ~10, set the strategy and metrics we run against, personally drive our most critical executive searches, and build the partnerships to fuel Apex's talent engine. This is a leadership role first. Your individual-contributor work stays focused on executive search, where your hands are on the highest-stakes hires.

What you’ll own

Recruit exception talent, at speed. Build the team, systems, processes, and brand to attract and close top aerospace talent. Move fast and make significant impact every day.

Lead a high-performing recruiting team. Manage, coach, and grow a team of 10 into a group known for speed, judgment, and a high hiring bar. Develop your recruiters, set clear expectations, and raise the ceiling on what the team delivers against our annual hiring plan.

Set recruiting strategy. Own the 12- to 24-month hiring plan against Apex's growth targets and see around the corner to what we'll need beyond that. Translate business strategy into a capacity-modeled plan: when we source vs. rely on inbound applications, where niche roles need dedicated sourcers, and what tooling and process the funnel requires.

Define ways of working and metrics. Establish how the team recruits: structured interviewing, interview training, a high-signal hiring bar, the ATS and tooling, and the weekly funnel metrics we use to run the function. Build the operating rhythm and the data that tells us what's working and what to fix.

Drive executive search. Personally lead searches for Apex's most senior and hardest-to-fill roles. Partner directly with executives on leadership hires and act as a trusted advisor on org and workforce planning. (We do work with external search firms on an exception basis)

Build long-term talent partnerships. Create and own durable relationships with universities, trade schools, industry conferences, and scholarship programs. Build the early-career, technical, and skilled-trade pipelines that give Apex a lasting recruiting advantage.

Partner with and influence internal stakeholders. Work with leaders to identify and win the best talent in the industry. Coach partners on effective recruiting strategies and tactics, ensuring a robust pipeline and fair hiring practices.

What success looks like in your first year

• Business strategy is translated cleanly into a hiring plan the team executes against, on time, with high quality, and at volume.
• The recruiting team is measurably stronger: better talent density, clearer expectations, and recruiters who are growing under your leadership.
• You're a trusted partner from executives to first-time hiring managers, with the presence to tell a cohesive story rather than drowning the room in charts.
• People analytics drive decisions: funnel health, bottleneck diagnosis, and a weekly dashboard that connects recruiting to business outcomes.

What we’re looking for

Must-haves

• 10+ years in recruiting and talent acquisition, with 5+ years leading and developing teams.
• A leader, not just a manager. Someone who inspires and mentors, and who turns analysis into action.
• A track record setting recruiting strategy and building the metrics and processes behind it.
• Hands‑on executive and leadership search experience.
• Proven ability to run high‑volume hiring (hundreds of hires per year) without lowering the bar.
• Data and people‑analytics fluency, plus modern ATS and tooling experience. We use Ashby, Linkedin and Juicebox, and you can design the tech stack.
• Executive presence. Credible in the room with executives and boards.
• Thoughtful, specific use of AI across the recruiting funnel.
• Must meet ITAR and U.S. person requirements.

Nice-to-haves

• Recruiting in technical, manufacturing, and skilled‑trade environments: hardware, deep tech, or aerospace.
• Building university, trade‑school, or industry talent partnerships from the ground up.
• Employer brand and talent‑marketing experience.

Why Join Apex?

Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest heavily in our people from day one.

What We Offer For Full-time Employees:

• Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create
• Best‑in‑class healthcare: 100% company‑paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost
• Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays
• Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
• 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work‑related travel
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day
• Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family
• Your dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self
• World‑class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in‑person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life
• Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting‑edge industries to make a lasting difference

Ready to join a team where your contributions matter and your future is bright? Let's build something extraordinary together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Apex Technology, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.