Remote Principal Tech & Engineering Recruitment Lead

Placements24; Gauteng; Remote; ZAR 650,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Technical Recruiter to build and lead the talent acquisition function from the ground up. This fully remote position offers the opportunity to shape the future of hiring for engineering, product, and design roles, with a remote-first approach and autonomy.

You will design and execute a comprehensive recruitment strategy, mentor a team of recruiters, champion DEI initiatives, optimize sourcing channels, and partner with senior leadership to align hiring with

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in technical recruitment, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of hiring niche technical roles (AI/ML, Cloud, Cybersecurity).
• In‑depth knowledge of various tech stacks, programming languages, and engineering disciplines.
• Experience developing and implementing DEI recruitment strategies.
• Strong understanding of employer branding and candidate marketing.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to attract top‑tier technical talent (Software Engineers, Data Scientists, Product Managers, etc.).
• Lead and mentor a team of technical recruiters, fostering a high‑performance culture.
• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle for all technical roles, ensuring a seamless and positive candidate experience.
• Build strong relationships with hiring managers and senior leadership to understand their hiring needs and strategic goals.
• Design and optimize sourcing channels, including direct sourcing, referrals, and industry events.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in all recruitment efforts.
• Develop and maintain key recruitment metrics and analytics to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage and optimize the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and other recruitment technologies.
• Contribute to employer branding initiatives to enhance our client’s appeal to top talent.

Skills

Leadership

Technical recruitment

Stakeholder management

Remote work

Employer branding

DEI recruitment

Tools

ATS

CRM systems

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Technical Recruiter to build and lead the talent acquisition function from the ground up. This fully remote position offers the opportunity to shape the future of hiring for engineering, product, and design roles, with a remote-first approach and autonomy.

You will design and execute a comprehensive recruitment strategy, mentor a team of recruiters, champion DEI initiatives, optimize sourcing channels, and partner with senior leadership to align hiring with