Direct Hire

The Right Candidate. 4–6 Weeks.

Not every search requires a full retained engagement. Direct hire is built for roles where you know what you need, the position is well-defined, and the window to fill it is short. We move fast without cutting corners.

4–6
Weeks average fill time
100+
A&D placements completed
8 Yrs
Sector-specific experience

Discuss a Role

Functional Depth Across
the A&D Industrial Base

We place senior individual contributors and first-level leaders across the functional areas that keep defense manufacturers running.

Operations

Plant & Site Leaders

Operations Directors, Manufacturing Managers, Plant Managers, and Production Supervisors with cleared manufacturing experience.

Program Management

Program & Project Managers

EVMS-certified PMs, IPMD Program Managers, and Project Engineers managing complex government contracts.

Finance

Controllers & Finance Directors

Manufacturing-experienced Controllers with GAAP close ownership, cost accounting depth, and plant-level P&L exposure. No FP&A-only profiles.

Engineering

Engineering Leaders

Chief Engineers, Engineering Managers, and Systems Engineers in propulsion, avionics, structures, and defense electronics.

Business Development

BD & Capture Managers

Business Development Managers and Capture Directors with DoD program knowledge and existing customer relationships in their sector.

Supply Chain

Supply Chain & Procurement

Supply Chain Directors, Procurement Managers, and Subcontracts Administrators experienced in AS9100, ITAR, and DoD supply chains.

From Brief to Offer in Weeks

Direct hire moves quickly because we already know the candidate market. Most searches begin with names within 48 hours.

Day 1–2: Role Brief

30-minute intake call. We capture the technical requirements, culture signals, comp range, and decision timeline. The brief is confirmed in writing before we source.

No lengthy RFP process. We get in fast.

Day 3–7: Candidate Targeting

Active sourcing from our proprietary cleared candidate network and direct outreach to passive candidates. We don't post and pray.

Week 2: Qualified Shortlist

3–5 screened, voice-assessed candidates delivered with a Search Intelligence Brief. You see the person, the context, and our take — not just a resume.

Only candidates that meet the disqualifier standard are presented.

Week 3–4: Interviews & Selection

We coordinate schedules, prep candidates, and give you a debrief framework. You interview with clarity, not guesswork.

Week 4–6: Offer & Close

We structure the offer to close. Counter-offer management, resignation coaching, and start-date confirmation. We stay in until the candidate is seated.

Direct Hire vs. Retained Search

Both models include full EXO service quality. The difference is engagement structure, exclusivity, and the level of strategic support.

Direct Hire — Right When

Role is well-defined and scoped — no architecture work needed

Director-level and below with clear functional requirements

Timeline is tight and speed matters more than exclusivity

Compensation range is already benchmarked internally

Contingency structure works for your finance model

Retained Search — Right When

VP, GM, or C-suite hire with org-level consequence

Role has been open 60+ days or prior firms have failed

Exclusive engagement and full EXO focus is required

Role architecture, compensation benchmarking, or succession planning is part of the need

The cost of a mis-hire exceeds the cost of the search


See Full Engagement Model Comparison

Where We Place

Aerospace Structures Defense Electronics Avionics & Navigation Propulsion Systems Space Systems Advanced Manufacturing MRO & Sustainment Defense IT & Cyber Sensors & Radar Missile Defense Naval Systems Cleared Manufacturing

Have a Role to Fill?

Tell us what you need. We'll confirm the fit and give you an honest timeline — usually within 24 hours of the intake call.

Discuss a Role