First, who are we?

We're AquaAirX Autonomous Systems - a Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup building autonomous underwater and amphibious robots. Think inspection-class hovering AUVs that map dams and offshore assets (NEXOR), amphibious platforms that transition between air and water (AVATAAR), and an AI native ocean data platform (DeepNimbus).

“Oh, and we're funded by Rainmatter (Zerodha) — so yes, the people who backed us know a thing or two about building for the long haul.”

We work with defence, energy, and maritime customers on problems that genuinely matter, underwater infrastructure that nobody can see, but everybody depends on. Our founders are Forbes Asia 30 Under 30. Our robots have real deployments behind them, not just renders. The vibe is: small team, huge ambition, zero tolerance for “that's not my job.”

If "I closed a hard-to-fill engineering role in a sector nobody else could crack" sounds like a flex you want on your bio — keep reading.

The role, minus the corporate fluff

We need a Talent Acquisition Specialist who is equal parts detective, closer, and the person every hiring manager actually wants in their corner.

You'll own hiring end to end — from understanding a role to getting an offer signed — working closely with founders and hiring managers at startup speed.

This is not a "post and pray" role. This is a build-the-pipeline-yourself, chase-the-right candidate role at a company where every hire changes what the team can build next.

Your three big missions

1. The Closer — End-to-End Recruitment (You own it from "we need someone" to "they start Monday.")

Own the full recruitment cycle: role scoping, job postings,



sourcing, screening, interview coordination, offer and onboarding handoff.

Partner with hiring managers to translate role requirements into clear job descriptions and interview plans.

Track open positions, pipeline health and time-to-fill, and keep hiring managers updated proactively.

2. The Talent Scout — Sourcing & Pipeline Building (The best candidates aren't always the ones who apply).

Use a mix of sourcing strategies — job portals, LinkedIn, referrals, communities, campus and niche engineering networks — to build strong, diverse pipelines.

Proactively map talent for hard-to-fill and engineering/technical roles, including candidates from the engineering services and hardware/robotics space.

Build and maintain a talent pool for recurring or future hiring needs.

3. The Diplomat — Stakeholder Management (Everyone in the process has different expectations).

You keep them all aligned. Act as the main point of contact between candidates, hiring managers and founders throughout the hiring process. Manage expectations on timelines, role fitment and offer negotiations with clarity and honesty.

Coordinate closely with cross-functional teams to align hiring plans with business priorities.

What you bring

The hard skills:





2 to 4 years of experience in talent acquisition or recruitment, with end-to-end ownership of the hiring cycle.

Experience hiring for or exposure to the engineering services, manufacturing, hardware or robotics domain is preferred.

Demonstrated ability to build and execute multiple sourcing strategies, not just post and-pray.

Working knowledge of ATS/recruitment tools, LinkedIn Recruiter and MS Office/Google Workspace.

Hands-on experience with KEKA Hire (or similar ATS platforms) is an advantage.

The human skills (non-negotiable):

Strong stakeholder management — comfortable working directly with founders and technical hiring managers.

Comfort in a fast-paced, resource-lean setting where priorities shift quickly.

Excellent written and verbal communication, and strong organisational skills.

Persistence with tact — you follow up without being a pest.

Bonus points if you...

Have prior experience recruiting for a deep-tech, robotics, aerospace or defence adjacent company.

Have experience hiring niche engineering talent (embedded systems, robotics, mechanical, aerospace).

Have startup experience and comfort wearing more than one hat, including light HR ops support.

What's in it for you

Real ownership — every hire you close directly shapes the team building our robots.

Direct access to founders — see how hiring decisions are made at the top of a deep-tech company.

Work on roles that matter — from robotics engineers to operations, in a company with real deployments.

A small team ambitious enough to keep you sharp.

📌 Associate - Talent Acquisition (Bengaluru)
🏢 Aquaairx Autonomous Systems
📍 Bengaluru