Director Talent Acquisition

Location: Hybrid, NYC-based — expected to be in-office most of the week

About Axion Ray

Founded in 2021, Axion is at the forefront of transforming product quality and customer satisfaction in manufacturing. Our cutting-edge AI-powered platform empowers manufacturers to swiftly identify, thoroughly investigate, and effectively resolve quality issues while simultaneously elevating customer experiences and outcomes.

As trailblazers in end-to-end quality intelligence, we're setting new industry standards. Our innovative approach enables industrial, aerospace, consumer, and medtech manufacturers to harness the power of quality and post-market data, driving down costs and boosting business performance.

Our vision extends beyond mere problem-solving; we're committed to reshaping the future of manufacturing. By seamlessly integrating advanced AI technology with deep industry expertise, Axion Ray is paving the way for smarter, safer, and more efficient production processes across diverse sectors.

Backed by leading investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Amplo, Boeing, and RTX Ventures, Axion is poised to lead the quality revolution in manufacturing.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Director, Talent Acquisition & Recruiting Operations to lead and scale Axion’s recruiting function through our next phase of growth. This is a player-coach role — balancing hands-on recruiting for critical leadership and technical roles with strategic ownership of our end-to-end talent operations.

This leader will build scalable recruiting systems, develop the team, and ensure a world-class candidate experience. The role will also own pre-onboarding and recruiting-adjacent people operations such as headcount planning, talent mapping, and performance management for the recruiting team.

What You’ll Do

Talent Acquisition Leadership

• Own Axion’s overall recruiting strategy across EPD, GTM, and operations roles.
• Manage a growing team of recruiters and talent operations professionals, including senior recruiters with leadership responsibilities for sourcing and recruiting operations.
• Balance strategic planning with hands-on execution for priority roles and senior-level hires.
• Partner with Finance and hiring managers to develop headcount plans aligned with company objectives.
• Build and maintain a diverse, mission-aligned talent pipeline through proactive sourcing and relationship management.
• Drive consistency and quality in interview processes — from calibration through offer — ensuring a candidate experience that reflects Axion’s values.
• Develop and track recruiting metrics and KPIs (pipeline health, hiring velocity, quality of hire, cost per hire).
• Oversee recruiting systems (e.g., Ashby) and tools to optimize efficiency and data accuracy.
• Collaborate with Marketing and leadership to strengthen employer branding and thought leadership in target markets.

Recruiting Operations & People Processes

• Own pre-onboarding to ensure a smooth transition from offer acceptance to Day 1; partner with HRBP/Operations for broader onboarding.
• Conduct performance reviews and coaching for direct reports, ensuring alignment with clear goals and metrics.
• Partner with Finance on headcount and talent mapping to ensure alignment between hiring plans and budget.
• Develop hiring manager training, interview calibration sessions, and process documentation to drive consistency and operational rigor.
• Build the recruiting team’s career ladder and development framework to support growth and retention within the function.
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure recruiting processes integrate seamlessly with downstream people and operations workflows.

What You’ll Need

• Proven track record leading and scaling recruiting in a fast-paced, high-growth startup or enterprise SaaS environment.
• Experience managing full-cycle recruiting for both technical and go-to-market roles.
• Strong operational rigor: able to use data and dashboards to drive accountability, measure success, and improve processes.
• Experience managing and developing recruiting teams, including performance management and career development.
• Deep familiarity with modern ATS systems (ideally Ashby) and talent operations workflows.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills; able to partner effectively with executives and cross-functional leaders.
• High bar for candidate experience and culture fit; thoughtful about how recruiting reflects Axion’s mission and values.

Who You Are

You’re a builder and operator who thrives in fast-moving environments where people take ownership. You take pride in getting things done thoughtfully, efficiently, and without drama. You’re energized by ambiguity, skilled at bringing clarity, and comfortable moving between strategy and execution.

You value feedback in all directions and see collaboration as a competitive advantage. You’re low ego but high initiative: you care about collective success more than personal credit. You move quickly, communicate directly, and make decisions grounded in impact and data.

You’re proactive and create momentum when you see an opportunity. You care about doing things well and helping others do the same.

How We Operate

We work with focus and intention, holding ourselves to a high bar while respecting the need for balance. Axion isn’t a traditional 9 to 5 job, but it’s also not a place that glorifies overwork. We take pride in the work, support each other through hard problems, and make space to recharge.

We’re a highly collaborative team that stays connected throughout the day, often over Slack. We share feedback freely, communicate clearly, and make decisions quickly so we can keep momentum without unnecessary meetings. If you value openness, iteration, and shared problem-solving, you’ll fit right in.

We:

• Collaborate deeply. Feedback is part of how we build; everyone has a voice, and ideas win on merit.
• Leave ego at the door. Titles don’t define value—contribution does.
• Bias toward action. We favor progress over perfection and learn as we go.
• Communicate with clarity. Direct, transparent, and always in service of the mission.
• Act like owners. Everyone is accountable for outcomes, not just tasks.
• Aim for excellence sustainably. We challenge ourselves, support each other, and stay in it for the long game.

If you’re excited to help shape a company redefining how manufacturing operates—and you thrive in a culture built on ownership, clarity, and trust—you’ll feel at home here.

Why Axion

Join a high-caliber team tackling one of the hardest challenges in technology and manufacturing. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the foundation of how we attract and onboard the world-class talent driving our growth.

Axion is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and ensure consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.