Recruiting Lead- Connecticut

Appone; Newington (CT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Aerospace & Defense, a leading provider of design and manufacturing solutions for space and defense markets, is seeking a Recruiting Lead to join its Connecticut team. You will manage full-cycle recruiting for manufacturing and technical roles, build pipelines, and partner with hiring managers to align talent with business needs.

The role requires 5+ years in recruiting, strong sourcing, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of recruiting or talent acquisition experience.
• Experience recruiting both skilled trades/direct labor and professional technical talent.
• Strong sourcing and candidate-development skills.
• Partner effectively with hiring managers using market insight and data.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or related field.
• Familiarity with ATS, recruiting tech, LinkedIn, job boards, and sourcing tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruiting for manufacturing roles.
• Partner with hiring managers to define workforce needs and profiles.
• Source candidates via job boards, networks, referrals, and programs.
• Screen, interview, assess, and conduct reference checks.
• Track recruiting metrics and improve speed and quality of hire.
• Coordinate onboarding with HR and hiring teams.

Skills

Recruiting experience

Sourcing pipelines

Stakeholder partnering

Interviewing & assessments

ATS knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

ATS platforms

HRIS

Job description

About the Organization

About the Organization Applied Aerospace & Defense (Applied) is a premier provider of advanced design, engineering, and vertically integrated manufacturing solutions for leading and next-generation space and defense technology companies. Applied builds complex hardware for extreme operating environments and is focused on three core markets: Space and Launch Systems, Defense Aviation and Airborne Systems, and C5ISR and Precision Strike Systems. With decades of space and defense manufacturing heritage, Applied combines deep material science and IP-enabled process expertise with the ability to enable rapid prototyping, enhance new product development, and responsively scale production. Across its nationwide infrastructure of advanced manufacturing facilities, Applied continuously supports a balanced mix of next-generation technology and platform development, large scale production programs, and aftermarket sustainment for enduring platforms.

EOE Statement

Applied Aerospace and Defense is an equal opportunity employer.

Position Overview

Applied Aerospace & Defense (Applied) is a leading provider of advanced engineering, design, and vertically integrated manufacturing solutions serving Space Launch, Defense Aviation, Airborne Systems, C5ISR, and Precision Strike markets. Following a successful IPO and recent listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Applied is entering an exciting new phase of growth, scalability, and value creation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruiting for high-volume and specialized manufacturing positions, from intake through offer and onboarding.
• Partner closely with hiring managers to understand workforce needs, develop recruiting strategies, and establish clear candidate profiles.
• Recruit for roles including:
• Direct Labor / Production
• Machinist (Horizontal & Vertical Lathe, Milling, Millturn, etc.)
• CNC Machine Maintenance
• Skilled aircraft mechanical system assembly
• Manufacturing and Process Engineering
• Quality Inspectors and Quality Engineering
• Other manufacturing, technical, and operations positions as business needs evolve
• Develop and maintain strong talent pipelines for difficult-to-fill skilled trade and technical positions.
• Source candidates through job boards, professional networks, social media, employee referrals, community partnerships, schools, technical programs, and other creative channels.
• Build relationships with local technical schools, trade programs, workforce-development organizations, and recruiting partners.
• Conduct candidate screening, interviews, assessments, and reference checks while providing a positive candidate experience.
• Orchestrate innovative interviewing and recruiting processes that draw in talent and hiring managers to improve speed and quality of hiring.
• Manage multiple requisitions simultaneously and ensure timely communication and follow-up with candidates and hiring teams.
• Track recruiting activity, pipeline health, time-to-fill, source effectiveness, and other relevant recruiting metrics.
• Collaborate with HR and hiring leaders to continuously improve recruiting processes, employer branding, candidate engagement, and onboarding handoffs.
• Support workforce planning initiatives and provide market intelligence regarding talent availability, compensation trends, and recruiting challenges.
• Help establish scalable recruiting processes as Applied Aerospace & Defense continues to grow.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of recruiting or talent acquisition experience, preferably within aerospace, defense, manufacturing, industrial, or other technical environments.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting both skilled trades/direct labor and professional technical talent.
• Strong sourcing and candidate-development skills, including experience building passive talent pipelines.
• Proven ability to partner effectively with hiring managers and influence recruiting strategy through market insight and data.
• Excellent communication, interviewing, organization, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple requisitions in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems, recruiting technology, LinkedIn, job boards, and sourcing tools.
• Strong understanding of employment practices and recruiting compliance.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field

Preferred

• Experience recruiting CNC machinists, manufacturing engineers, quality professionals, or similar manufacturing roles strongly preferred
• Prior agency recruitment experience
• Proven success recruiting high volume openings

Why Join Applied Aerospace & Defense?

• Join a newly public, rapidly growing aerospace and defense platform at a pivotal stage of its evolution.
• Build the enterprise Contracts capability needed to support Applied’s next stage of growth.
• Work directly with executive and business leaders on the company’s most consequential opportunities, commitments, and risks.
• Help shape acquisitions, business integration, and enterprise improvement efforts from the outset.
• Opportunity to make a lasting impact on a company supporting some of the world's most critical aerospace and national security programs.

Shift -not applicable-

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Location Applied Aerospace & Defense, Newington

Category Human Resources

Req Number HUM-26-00004

Position Recruiting Lead- Connecticut

Post Internal Days 0

Number of Openings 1

Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt

Hiring Manager(s) Dennis Russell

This position is currently accepting applications.