Technical Recruiter
Fortastra· startup· Defense & Space· Sep 24, 2026 · 1mo ago
Torrance, CA
In office
Full-time
Mid
$90K–$130K
2+ years exp
Job description
Company Overview
Fortastra designs and delivers resilient, high-performance spacecraft that safeguard critical orbital assets and ensure freedom of action in space. We integrate advanced autonomy, sensing, and control into systems engineered for reliability, speed, and scale. Our culture values simplicity, accountability, and disciplined execution. We expect leaders to think systemically, act decisively, and take ownership of mission outcomes. Aggressive innovation. Disciplined execution. Strength among the stars.
We recently closed a $30M Series A to build the future of on-orbit security and we’re just getting started!
Our People Team
You will join Fortastra’s People team, working closely with engineering leadership, product leadership, and executive management to scale our engineering and operations teams. The People team owns recruiting, onboarding, and core talent processes that enable a lean, high performing engineering organization.
The Role
Fortastra is seeking a Technical Recruiter to help scale our engineering and technical teams. This is an individual contributor will own recruiting processes, searches, and reporting with limited oversight.
You will be responsible for full cycle recruiting, be creative with sourcing and outreach for hard to fill technical positions, and coordinate interviews and offers. The ideal candidate has solid technical recruiting experience in aerospace start-ups, strong execution discipline, and enjoys operating in a fast-paced startup environment.
Key Responsibilities
Own full-cycle recruiting from sourcing through offer acceptance
Develop and execute sourcing strategies to identify highly qualified technical and non-technical candidates
Build and maintain candidate pipelines across engineering, product, operations, and business functions
Partner with hiring managers to define job requirements, interview plans, and hiring strategies
Conduct candidate screening and assessment activities
Coordinate and manage interview scheduling and candidate communications
Drive an exceptional candidate experience throughout the recruiting process
Track recruiting activity and provide regular pipeline updates
Support offer preparation and hiring process coordination
Help improve recruiting processes, systems, and best practices as the company grows
Represent Fortastra professionally in all candidate interactions and external recruiting activities
Qualifications and Skills
2+ years of full-cycle technical recruiting experience
Demonstrated success recruiting engineers and technical professionals in aerospace, defense, software, robotics, autonomy, or related industries
Proven ability to source and engage passive candidates for difficult-to-fill technical positions
Strong sourcing experience utilizing LinkedIn Recruiter, referrals, networking, and direct outreach
Experience managing multiple searches simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills
Experience using Greenhouse or similar applicant tracking systems
Ability to operate effectively in high-accountability startup environments
Strong attention to detail and commitment to candidate experience
Requirements
5 days on-site in Torrance, CA
U.S. Citizenship required and the ability to obtain or hold an active Top Secret clearance (US person considered)
Why Fortastra
We are a small, high-impact team building the next generation of autonomous orbital control systems for national security space. At Fortastra, leaders own outcomes from first principles through flight and directly shape the future of resilient, mission-critical spacecraft autonomy.
FORTASTRA TALENT & CULTURE PRINCIPLES
Values Driven by First Principles
We value engineers and operators who prioritize sound judgment, candor, technical rigor, bias for action, and intellectual honesty over corporate consensus. We care about the caliber of the system you build and the speed at which you solve problems.
Talent Density Over Headcount
A high-performing startup is built on dense talent, not organizational bloat. A single exceptional engineer designs, tests, and delivers faster than a bloated committee. We intentionally maintain a lean, elite engineering crew where every contributor directly moves the needle on the mission.
High Autonomy, High Ownership
We hire domain experts to execute, not to micromanage them. You own your systems end-to-end, from initial architecture and hardware design to testing and deployment. With absolute ownership comes the responsibility to deliver mission critical reliability.
Mission Context Over Bureaucracy
The best execution happens when teams are provided clear technical objectives, constraints, and operational context, rather than rigid top-down policies. We strip away red tape so builders can iterate, make decisions, and push hardware and flight software forward rapidly.
Disciplined Speed & Flight Rigor
We move fast because we test often and kill artificial bottlenecks, not because we cut corners. Rapid iteration on the test stand and in simulation is how we learn; an uncompromising flight-readiness bar is how we earn trust. Precision without friction, speed without recklessness.
Direct Impact, Not Career Bureaucracy
You don’t come to Fortastra to climb a corporate ladder or manage slide decks; you come to build complex, flight-ready systems from day one. Growth here is organic, driven by the magnitude of technical challenges you solve and the trust you build across the team.
Benefits
We take care of our employees so they can focus on what matters most: family, well-being, and life outside of work.
Unlimited Paid Time Off so that you have the time you need to rest and recharge.
Comprehensive Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, because peace of mind starts with feeling cared for.
Equity: Share in Fortastra's success with equity in the company you're helping build.
401(k): A 401(k) plan to help you invest in your future and plan for what's ahead.
Social Events: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities that make this a place people are glad to be part of.
The pay range for this role is $90,000.00 - $130,000.00. Where an offer falls within that range depends on factors like your qualifications, experience, location, and interview performance, which we weigh against the market rate for the position.
Recruiters & Agencies: Fortastra does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from recruiters, agencies, or third parties. Any candidate submitted without a signed agreement and prior written authorization from Fortastra will not be subject to any fee, and no relationship is implied. Please do not contact Fortastra employees, hiring managers, or recruiting team directly.
Application prep
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Keywords to mirror
rest
- Platform
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Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Dental
Vision
401(K)
Paid Time Off