Questions. Answered Directly.

We specialize exclusively in aerospace, defense, and space. We're not generalists. We understand ITAR, CMMC, government customers, DoD supply chains, and the unique challenges of A&D hiring.

We also believe in transparency. No spam candidate lists. No promises we can't keep. You get a dedicated consultant who understands your role and industry, and we'll tell you upfront if we can't help.

Yes. We focus exclusively on aerospace, defense, and space companies—including Tier 1-3 DoD suppliers, PE-backed manufacturers, space systems firms, and government contractors.

This deep specialization means we understand your market, your customers, and the talent you need better than generalist recruiters.

For retained searches, you work with a dedicated search consultant from start to finish. That's your primary contact for every conversation, every candidate, every update.

For direct hire, you'll work with a search manager who coordinates sourcing and screening. For advisory, you'll work with a strategic consultant who owns the engagement.

We work with companies from 50 people to 5,000+. We've worked with startups, PE-backed portfolio companies, mid-market manufacturers, and large government contractors.

The common thread: they're all in aerospace, defense, or space, and they understand that recruiting leaders is a strategic investment, not a cost to minimize.

Direct Hire: 4-6 weeks from start date to offer acceptance.

Retained Search: 6-10 weeks for executive-level roles, depending on market competition and your selectivity.

The timeline assumes you respond quickly to candidate presentations and coordinate interviews efficiently. Slow feedback loops extend timelines.

Retained Search: We present unlimited candidates until your role is filled. You never run out of options. We're focused on finding the right fit, not rushing you to close.

Direct Hire: We typically present 3-5 qualified candidates in the first shortlist, then additional candidates if needed.

Quality over quantity. We're not here to spam you with resumes—we're here to find people who actually fit your role.

Every candidate gets a phone screen where we assess:

• Technical qualifications and role fit
• Compensation alignment
• Culture fit with your team
• Career motivation and timeline
• Reference quality and check clarity

You only see candidates who have passed this filter. We don't waste your time with unqualified people.

We stay committed. If your top candidate falls out, we go back to the pipeline and continue presenting. Stalls happen—market conditions change, candidates get counter-offers, roles shift.

We stand behind our work with placement protection terms outlined in every engagement agreement. If a search stalls, we stay on it until the role is filled right.

Retained Search: Retainer (advance payment) + variable fee at placement. The retainer is applied to the final fee.

Direct Hire: Contingency fee based on salary. No fee until hire day.

Advisory: Fixed project fee. Delivered outcomes, not billable hours.

We'll discuss exact numbers on your initial call. No hidden fees.

Every engagement includes placement protection terms tailored to the search type. The specifics are outlined in your agreement, but the principle is simple: we have skin in the game and stand behind the quality of every placement we make.

We invest heavily in screening, culture-fit assessment, and reference checks upfront so the protection clause rarely comes into play. When it does, we move quickly.

Retained Search: No. That's the nature of retained engagement—we're exclusive. We're not competing with five other firms for the same role. That's how we invest in deep sourcing.

Direct Hire: Yes. Non-exclusive. You can work with other firms simultaneously. This is fine with us.

Just let us know upfront so we can align expectations on timeline and fee responsibility.

You don't need to do anything—we're always sourcing. We build relationships with leaders across aerospace, defense, and space, whether they're actively looking or not.

If you want to connect directly, reach out at alex@exotalentpartners.com or connect on LinkedIn. We always appreciate hearing from strong operators.

Yes. We never share your information with your current employer or anyone else without explicit permission. Your confidentiality is our responsibility.

If we're recruiting you for a role, we'll be clear about process and timeline before we start conversations with hiring managers.

You might not be looking, but there's a difference between not-looking and unavailable. We build relationships with top operators in A&D because the right role at the right company can be worth exploring.

A 20-minute conversation costs nothing. No pressure, no sales pitch—just a chance to stay on our radar for future opportunities that might interest you.