Full-Time
Technical Recruiter
Posted on 2/4/2026
Zone 5 Technologies
201-500 employees
End-to-end UAS development for DoD
Compensation Overview
$103k - $160k/yr
San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
In Person
Texas roles will be remote at first, then onsite when the DFW location opens in 2026.
 People & HR (1) |
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- 5-7+ years of experience in full-cycle recruiting, with a proven track record of success in the aerospace or defense industry recruiting for highly technical roles (ex: Flight Test Engineering, GNC Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, etc.)
- Prior experience working at a startup or scaling teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build and implement recruiting processes from the ground up.
- Strong sourcing skills, including the ability to identify passive candidates through various tools (LinkedIn Recruiter, Greenhouse, referrals, etc.).
- Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Experience with the technical roles and skill sets required in aerospace engineering and defense sectors.
- Data-driven mindset with experience tracking and reporting recruiting metrics.
- Proficiency with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and other recruiting technologies.
- Own the full-cycle technical recruiting process including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and managing offers, to hire exceptional talent across our programs.
- Partner with hiring managers and people operations to define job requirements, recruitment strategies, and hiring priorities.
- Develop and implement scalable recruiting processes and best practices to ensure an exceptional candidate experience.
- Leverage industry expertise to source passive and active candidates, specifically within the UAS sector.
- Utilize recruiting tools, platforms, and analytics to build and maintain a talent pipeline for current and future needs.
- Track recruiting metrics and provide regular reporting to leadership to improve hiring efficiencies.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to plan for growth and forecast hiring needs.
- Build and maintain relationships with UAS-specific networks and other relevant resources to develop a sustainable talent pipeline.
Zone 5 Technologies designs and builds unmanned aircraft systems for the U.S. Department of Defense as a prime contractor. Its products include air-launched effects, counter-UAS interceptors, next-generation munitions, and low-cost cruise missiles. The PALADIN multi-mission UAS can autonomously intercept drones and deploy munitions, while the Open Weapon Platform provides a modular system to rapidly add new capabilities. The company focuses on vertically integrated development from concept to production and aims for digitally engineered, attritable, affordable aircraft that can scale through a DoD-approved deployment path via the DIU Blue UAS program.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
San Luis Obispo, California
Founded
2011
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Kongsberg 90% acquisition in December 2025 expands into NATO markets.
- DIU Blue UAS certification accelerates PALADIN adoption across DoD branches.
- $100M+ profitable revenue in 2025 supports scalable high-volume manufacturing.
What critics are saying
- Kongsberg redirects PALADIN and OWP to Norwegian Rusty Dagger in 3-6 months.
- CFIUS rejects acquisition in 6-12 months, collapsing deal and blacklisting contracts.
- Anduril's Lattice UAS captures DIU slots, eroding counter-UAS revenue in 12-18 months.
What makes Zone 5 Technologies unique
- PALADIN UAS enables autonomous drone interception and munitions deployment.
- Open Weapon Platform integrates third-party capabilities rapidly into weapon systems.
- Vertically integrated from design to high-rate production of attritable aircraft.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
Company News
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (‘KONGSBERG’) has signed an agreement to acquire the California-based missile company Zone 5 Technologies LLC, which designs and produces affordable, mass producible long-range strike and anti-drone missiles. The value of the transaction is undisclosed.
Norwegian defence company Kongsberg Gruppen has agreed to acquire 90 percent of US-based Zone 5 Technologies, which develops and produces low-cost missiles in large volumes. The purchase price was not disclosed, and the deal requires regulatory approval. Zone 5's management will retain the remaining shares. The company generated over $100 million in sales in 2025 and is profitable. It will operate as an independent subsidiary under Kongsberg. "The acquisition of Zone 5 is an important strategic step for Kongsberg. Zone 5 is at the forefront of developing affordable missiles that can be produced in large volumes," said Geir Håøy, CEO of Kongsberg Gruppen.