Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale.
Why join Handshake now:
We're seeking a driven Contract Technical Sourcer to join our Handshake AI team, partnering closely with recruiting and engineering leadership to own top-of-funnel hiring for critical technical roles.
This is a high-impact, high-velocity role focused on sourcing and engaging candidates across Software Engineering, Machine Learning, and AI Research .
Based in our San Francisco office, you’ll identify and engage top technical talent, taking full ownership of your pipeline in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
Own top-of-funnel sourcing for technical roles across SWE, ML, and AI Research, partnering closely on role requirements, intake, and pipeline priorities
Source and engage passive technical talent through creative outreach, Boolean search, research, and talent mapping across platforms like LinkedIn, GitHub, and research communities
Provide market insights and strategic guidance, advising on talent availability, competitive landscape, and sourcing effectiveness
Collaborate closely with recruiters and hiring managers to refine candidate profiles and iterate on search strategies
Craft thoughtful, tailored outreach that effectively communicates Handshake’s mission and AI vision
Track and report sourcing activity and pipeline health, ensuring data integrity in Ashby and other tools, and using insights to improve outcomes
Experience: ~3–5+ years of technical sourcing experience, ideally focused on Engineering, ML, or AI Research roles in fast-paced or high-growth environments
Sourcing Expertise: Proven ability to find and engage niche, high-demand technical talent using advanced search techniques and research
Technical / Industry Knowledge: Experience sourcing candidates across software engineering, machine learning, or AI research domains
Drive & Urgency: You thrive in fast-moving environments with shifting priorities and aggressive hiring goals
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and build trust with technical candidates and stakeholders
Metrics-Minded: You track your pipeline and outreach performance closely and use data to improve results
Tools: Proficiency with ATS platforms (Ashby a plus), LinkedIn Recruiter, and sourcing tools, with the ability to quickly learn new systems
Experience sourcing for AI/ML research roles or candidates from top labs and universities
Familiarity with open-source communities, technical publications, or platforms like GitHub, Kaggle, or arXiv
Prior agency or contract sourcing experience in competitive technical markets
Comfort with ambiguity and a willingness to help shape sourcing strategy in a fast-moving environment
