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Lead / Principal Recruiter
full-time•San Francisco, Modena

Summary

Location

San Francisco, Modena

Type

full-time

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About this role

🚀 The Mission


You'll start by doing what you do best: closing elite technical roles and building deep client relationships.

But this isn't a traditional recruiting job. As you deliver hiring outcomes, you'll simultaneously learn to integrate AI into every aspect of your workflow—and eventually help clients do the same.


We're pre-launch on Moon Engine, an agent-orchestrated recruiting ops system where autonomous agents act as decision partners, coordinating hiring with governance and audibility.


At Hop, you're a player-coach in the truest sense: hands-on recruiter today, AI-enabled recruiting advisor tomorrow. You'll work directly with our engineering and product teams to test Moon Engine, provide critical feedback, and master the future of recruiting—then bring that expertise to Fortune 500 companies and top startups as we onboard them to the platform.


Think of it as dual-track growth: deepen your recruiting craft while becoming an expert in AI-orchestrated hiring workflows.


🧬 What Makes This Different


You're not choosing between recruiting or AI. You're mastering both.


Hands-on recruiting excellence: You'll lead complex searches for senior technical talent—building relationships, managing clients, closing candidates. This is real, high-stakes recruiting work.

Learn AI integration deeply: As you recruit, you'll progressively learn to leverage Moon Engine's capabilities—from AI-assisted sourcing to automated screening. You'll become fluent in how AI amplifies (not replaces) recruiter judgment.

Product development partner: Work directly with our engineering and product teams. Your real-world recruiting experiences become product requirements. Your feedback shapes what gets built.

Customer onboarding expert: As Moon Engine launches, you'll help enterprise clients transition to AI-enabled hiring. You'll teach them what you've learned—making you indispensable to both Hop and our clients.


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What You'll Actually Do
  • Phase 1: High-Level Recruiting Execution (Day 1 Onwards)
  • Lead full-cycle searches for senior technical roles: Staff+ Engineers, ML Scientists, Data Platform Leaders, Technical Product Managers
  • Build and maintain client relationships: Partner directly with CTOs, VPs of Engineering, founders—becoming their trusted hiring advisor
  • Manage candidate relationships: Source, engage, interview, close top-tier technical talent with white-glove service
  • Run strategic intake sessions: Translate business needs and technical requirements into precise hiring strategies
  • Deliver results: Own outcomes, timelines, and client satisfaction for complex, high-impact searches

  • Phase 2: AI Integration & Learning (Progressive Ramp)
  • Test Moon Engine in production: Use the platform daily on your real searches—provide honest feedback on what works and what doesn't
  • Learn AI-assisted workflows: Gradually adopt AI-powered sourcing, scoring, screening, and matching as features become available
  • Partner with engineering/product: Participate in feedback sessions, feature demos, and roadmap discussions. Your recruiting insights drive product decisions.
  • Document best practices: As you learn what AI does well (and where human judgment is critical), you'll help create the playbook for AI-enabled recruiting
  • Become the expert: Over 6-12 months, you'll develop deep expertise in how to orchestrate human + AI recruiting workflows

  • Phase 3: Client Enablement & Thought Leadership (As Moon Engine Launches)
  • Onboard enterprise clients: Guide new customers through adopting Moon Engine—teaching them what you've learned
  • Lead training sessions: Show clients how to integrate AI into their hiring processes effectively
  • Strategic consulting: Advise companies on restructuring their recruiting operations for an AI-first world
  • Represent Hop externally: Share insights at events, on podcasts, in content—establishing yourself as a recruiting + AI expert


🎯 Who Thrives Here
  • Must-Haves
  • 5+ years recruiting technical talent with a track record of closing senior/leadership roles (ML Engineers, Staff+ Engineers, Data Platform leads, etc.)
  • Exceptional client relationship skills: You can advise executives, push back when needed, and build long-term trusted partnerships
  • Candidate relationship mastery: You know how to attract, engage, and close passive candidates at the highest levels
  • Recruiting fundamentals are second nature: Sourcing, intake, interviewing, offer negotiation, stakeholder management—you've done it all at a high level
  • Genuinely curious about AI: You don't need to be technical, but you're excited to learn how AI can augment your recruiting work
  • Growth mindset: You're willing to learn new tools, experiment with new workflows, and occasionally feel uncomfortable as you master something new

  • Bonus Points
  • Prior experience with AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, AI sourcing platforms) in your recruiting work
  • Background at high-growth tech companies, recruiting agencies, or technical recruiting teams
  • You've already experimented with automation, built recruiting processes, or created "hacks" to work more efficiently
  • Comfortable giving product feedback or working closely with technical teams


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Cultural Fit

Execution-oriented: You deliver results, not excuses

Collaborative learner: You'll work closely with engineers and product people—ego can't get in the way

Comfortable with ambiguity: Moon Engine is pre-launch. Things will change. You adapt.

Naturally curious: You want to understand how things work, not just use them

Long-term thinker: You see this as a multi-year journey to become a recruiting + AI expert, not just a job


🌙 Why This Opportunity Matters

Most recruiters will eventually have to learn AI. You'll be years ahead.


You're not choosing between being a great recruiter or learning AI—you're mastering both while helping build the platform. Think of it like learning digital marketing in 2005. Early movers win.


📈 What You Gain

Very competitive & unique comp structure (Base + Commission + Bonus) - remote US/LATAM

Deep AI recruiting expertise in 6-12 months

Product influence—your feedback shapes what gets built

Client enablement role as Moon Engine launches

Unlimited PTO + thought leadership opportunities

Other facts

Tech stack
Recruiting,Client Relationship Management,Candidate Engagement,Technical Talent Acquisition,AI Integration,Feedback Documentation,Training,Consulting,Sourcing,Interviewing,Offer Negotiation,Stakeholder Management,Curiosity,Growth Mindset,Product Development,Onboarding

About Hop

Hop is a platform that connects emerging AI, GenAI, and ML talent from Latin America with high-impact projects. Our AI technology evaluates hundreds of candidates weekly, flagging those who score 80% or higher for human review and interviews. Only 1 in 500 talents make the cut.

We go beyond conventional qualifications—whether talent holds a PhD or has no formal education, we identify builders and doers with real skills and a drive to succeed. We provide access to top mentors and offer training uniquely designed to instill a deep understanding of ethics, the wisdom of work, self-mastery, and work culture, ensuring our talent is well-rounded and ready to excel.

Hop’s mission is to break geographic barriers, giving global talent access to high-paying, future-focused roles. We help people stay relevant in an AI-driven world by connecting them with opportunities that uplift their lives and communities.

Team size: 51-200 employees
LinkedIn: Visit
Industry: Staffing and Recruiting
Founding Year: 2016

What you'll do

  • Lead full-cycle searches for senior technical roles while building and maintaining client relationships. Test and provide feedback on the Moon Engine platform, integrating AI into recruiting workflows.

Ready to join Hop?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Lead / Principal Recruiter do at Hop?

As a Lead / Principal Recruiter at Hop, you will: lead full-cycle searches for senior technical roles while building and maintaining client relationships. Test and provide feedback on the Moon Engine platform, integrating AI into recruiting workflows..

Why join Hop as a Lead / Principal Recruiter?

Hop is a leading Staffing and Recruiting company.

Is the Lead / Principal Recruiter position at Hop remote?

The Lead / Principal Recruiter position at Hop is based in San Francisco, United States and Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.

How do I apply for the Lead / Principal Recruiter position at Hop?

You can apply for the Lead / Principal Recruiter position at Hop directly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process. You can also learn more about Hop on their website.