Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist - Talent Acquisition

Airbus Ventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Q-CTRL is hiring a Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist to accelerate proactive sourcing for complex roles in software engineering, quantum computing, and quantum sensing. You will map global talent, engage passive candidates, and deliver market intelligence to shape hiring strategies.

The role focuses on high-impact, scalable sourcing across the US and international markets. Reporting to the Talent Manager, you’ll build strategic sourcing capabilities, partner with cross-functional teams and

Qualifications

• 6+ years total recruiting experience, with a focus on proactive sourcing in a high-growth tech or startup environment.
• 360 recruiting experience in a deep tech, fast-paced setting is a plus.
• Proven ability to gather market intelligence and hiring trends for internal teams.
• Advanced proficiency with modern sourcing tools: LinkedIn Recruiter, GitHub, Google X-Ray/Boolean search.
• Experience hiring internationally and engaging talent globally.
• Ability to advise, influence, and partner with talent teams and leaders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to building strategic sourcing capabilities, processes and delivery framework.
• Partner with software engineering, quantum computing and quantum sensing teams to design proactive sourcing strategies across niche domains.
• Build and nurture active talent communities across global markets with emphasis on the US.
• Craft highly personalized outreach to convert passive global talent into active candidates.
• Map global talent pools and provide actionable market insights to hiring managers.
• Collaborate with talent teams to define role requirements, talent personas and funnel optimization.
• Support employer branding initiatives and represent Q-CTRL at global conferences and events.

Skills

Passive sourcing

Talent mapping

Market intelligence

Stakeholder engagement

Global hiring

Deep tech interest

Tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

GitHub

Boolean search

Job description

About the team

The Talent team enables our growth, supporting the business globally with a key focus on attracting world-class talent. We partner with our cross-functional teams to drive strategic recruitment initiatives, develop and deliver the employer branding strategy, and build diverse talent pipelines across the globe.

About the Role

The Talent team works across the entirety of the organization to attract world-class talent to our rapidly growing global business. As our enabling engine for growth, we are elevating our proactive sourcing capabilities as we scale —and that’s where you come in!

Reporting directly to the Talent Manager, the Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist has a critical, high-impact mandate as a global expert in passive candidate discovery, talent mapping, market insights and engagement. Primarily, you will focus on proactively identifying, mapping, and engaging top-tier global talent for complex roles and niche skill-sets, building sustainable talent communities, and delivering market intelligence to shape our hiring strategy.

This position supports a range of exciting and unique projects, giving you the opportunity to deep dive into our software engineering, quantum computing, and quantum sensing teams. No quantum experience is required, just an advanced mastery of modern sourcing methodologies, a keen interest in deep tech, and the excitement to help build a revolutionary sector!

What you'll be doing:

• Contribute to building our strategic sourcing capabilities, processes and delivery framework.


• Partner with our software engineering, quantum computing, and quantum sensing teams to design and execute proactive sourcing strategies across hard-to-fill and niche technical domains.


• Build and nurture active talent communities for core and recurring capabilities across global markets with an emphasis on the US (but not limited to).


• Craft highly personalized, compelling outreach to convert passive global talent into active candidates for current and future business needs.


• Map global talent pools across key regions and serve as a trusted advisor to hiring managers, delivering actionable market insights, candidate availability data, and hiring trends.


• Partner directly with the talent team, hiring managers and department leaders to align on role requirements, define talent personas, and optimize top-of-funnel conversion.


• Contribute to talent-facing employer branding opportunities with the support of the Talent Manager, and represent Q-CTRL at specialized global conferences and events.

Ideally you'll have:

• 6+ years of total recruiting experience, with a primary focus on proactive sourcing and engagement within a high-growth tech or startup environment.


• Experience as a 360 recruiter in a deep tech, fast paced environment will also be considered.


• Proven experience in gathering market intelligence and insights, analyzing hiring trends and providing meaningful data to internal teams.


• Advanced expertise using modern sourcing toolsets, including LinkedIn Recruiter, GitHub, Google X-Ray/Boolean search, academic publications, and technical databases.


• Proven track record of international hiring, identifying and engaging technical talent globally,


• Demonstrated ability to advise, influence, and partner effectively with talent teams, leaders and cross-functional partners at all levels.

It would be fantastic if you have these skills/experience but not essential:

• 3+ years of specialized recruitment sourcing experience across the engineering, research, R&D or deep tech startup sector.


• Experience targeting research science, physics, or specialized academic talent across international markets.


• Proficiency with Lever ATS and candidate relationship management tools.

We take a multidisciplinary approach to quantum computing research, bringing together experts from diverse fields. We particularly value versatile and self-motivated problem solvers.

Salary

The targeted base salary range for this position is between $135,000 - $195,000 and will ultimately be determined by specific job-related skills, experience, level, location and other contributing factors. Depending on the position offered, this role may be eligible for annual discretionary bonuses, equity and other forms of compensation outside of the targeted base salary range. For more information on benefits at Q-CTRL, please visit our careers page at https://q-ctrl.com/careers.

Should you have any questions related to the compensation package, please speak directly with the Talent Acquisition representative.

About Q-CTRL

Q-CTRL is the global leader in AI-powered quantum control infrastructure software. We build the tools that make quantum technology useful, solving the hardest challenges in quantum computing and quantum sensing to deliver real-world impact.

Founded in 2017, we operate globally with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Huntsville, Berlin, and Oxford. Our teams bring together technical and multi-disciplinary expertise across the product lifecycle, and we’re hiring talent to help scale every part of the business. We work quickly to turn cutting-edge science into deployable technology.

In 2024 we raised US$113 million in Series B funding, the largest aggregate investment for a quantum software company. Six months later we delivered the first commercial quantum advantage with Ironstone Opal, our field-validated quantum navigation solution for defense and industry.

At Q-CTRL, we prioritize outcomes over hours. We offer flexibility, equity potential, and competitive benefits that reflect our high-performance culture. If you’re ready to help shape the future of quantum, we’d love to hear from you!

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.