Executive Recruiting Lead

September 2, 2026
US
$185,000 – $309,000/yr
  • Zoox is seeking a strategic and experienced Executive Recruiting Lead to build and scale our in-house executive search function
  • In this critical player-coach role, you will act as a trusted thought partner to the C-suite, shape the executive recruiting strategy and infrastructure, personally lead high-impact Director+ searches, and manage a dedicated team to deliver our most mission-critical hiring needs
  • Leadership: Design and scale a world-class executive search function, including managing/coaching a small team, development of internal executive research capabilities and long-term succession planning
  • End-to-End Recruitment: Own and drive the entire executive recruitment lifecycle, from initial strategy meeting to candidate offer and closing, ensuring a seamless and high-touch experience for all executive candidates
  • Hands-on Executive Search: While leading the function and team, remain actively involved in the full-cycle execution of high-priority, mission-critical searches, personally driving candidate generation, engagement, and closing for select senior-level roles
  • Market Mapping & Sourcing: Develop sophisticated, data-driven market maps of executive talent in relevant industries (e.g., autonomous technology, automotive, software, hardware engineering, operations, finance)
  • Candidate Engagement: Articulate the Zoox mission, vision, and unique culture compellingly to high-profile executive candidates, often involving complex compensation, negotiation, and relocation strategies
  • Confidentiality & Discretion: Handle extremely sensitive and confidential candidate information and internal organizational details with the utmost professionalism and discretion
  • Partnering with Leadership: Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the CEO, Co-Founder, C-suite, and other senior leaders on talent planning, and executive hiring best practices
  • Process Improvement: Drive continuous improvement in executive search processes, leveraging tools, metrics, and interview methodologies
  • Passive Candidate Conversion: Develop and execute tailored strategies to attract and successfully engage highly passive, hard-to-reach executive candidates, effectively converting passive interest into active candidacy

Benefits

  • Paid parental leave
  • Affinity groups and sports clubs
  • Work from home opportunities
  • Health insurance
  • Our crew’s health and happiness is our first priority. We offer comprehensive health and mental health support, a wellbeing program, and unlimited and flexible paid time away
  • We invest in our crew—and their families—for the long term. That includes generous family planning support, caregiver support, and strong cash compensation with great equity upside
  • We look after our crew when they’re in the office too. Our famous food program is a great example, featuring a daily changing menu of local and sustainable dishes
  • There’s a busy calendar of social events at Zoox, with more sports teams than you can count. And, of course, playing with robots is an important part of the job description- Closing: Expert-level negotiation and closing skills, particularly for complex executive compensation packages
  • Executive Sourcing & Talent Mapping: Providing real-time competitive intelligence and talent benchmarking to the executive team, identifying shifts in the talent landscapes that may necessitate pivots
  • Leadership: Successful multi-year track record as a player-coach, managing small team/direct reports
  • Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to C-level executives
  • Experience: 8+ years of experience with executive searches (Director+) and 15+ total recruiting experience
  • Technical Domain Expertise: Proven experience recruiting executive talent in a highly technical and/or rapidly scaling environment (e.g., hardware, software, AI/ML, autonomous systems, high-growth tech)
  • Interest in the autonomous and electric vehicle industry
  • Experience at a retained executive search firm focused on technology
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience