Hire AI talent at 12% — not the standard 20%.
Most AI searches cost 20% of first-year salary and take 6–10 weeks. We run structured searches at 12% — with a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Direct Hire is 12% for non-executive AI roles — compared with the standard 20%. That's a 40% reduction on every hire.
AI skills are now the #1 shortage area globally. Closing that gap — for AI roles specifically — is the only thing we do. (ManpowerGroup 2026, 39,000 employers across 41 countries)
Our Role Readiness Framework catches misalignment before sourcing begins — not after an offer falls through.
AI hiring takes more than keyword matching
AI hiring is more complex than traditional hiring. Job titles are inconsistent, candidate signals are noisy, and the market is moving quickly. The difference between someone who has used AI tools and someone who can build AI systems is rarely obvious from a resume.
Titles are inconsistent
The same work hides behind a dozen different job titles. Mapping the real role matters more than matching a keyword.
Candidate signals are noisy
Resumes blur the line between people who have used AI tools and people who can build, integrate, and scale AI systems.
The market moves fast
Skills, comp, and supply shift quickly. Real-time market intelligence keeps a search calibrated as it runs.
It takes recruiting experience, technical understanding, market intelligence, and a structured process — so clients hire with clarity.
Trusted by technology and AI-driven teams at every stage — from Series A to enterprise
One specialty. Three ways to hire. Which one is you?
Each model is built for a specific hiring situation. Pick yours and we'll show you exactly how it works.
Direct Hire
No retainer. No upfront cost. Submit your JD, get a free Role Readiness Report, and we'll have a shortlist to you in 7–10 business days. You only pay at 12% when you hire.
- AI Engineer
- Machine Learning Engineer
- LLM Engineer
- Applied AI Engineer
- MLOps Engineer
- Data Scientist
- AI Product Manager
- AI Solutions Architect
- AI Automation Engineer
Recruiting Partner
Dedicated recruiting support, active candidate pipeline, and weekly visibility across all your AI roles. From $5,000/mo with a 3% hire fee — a fraction of traditional agency cost at scale.
- AI team buildouts
- Multiple AI roles
- Recurring hiring needs
- Recruiting capacity without a full internal team
- Consistent pipeline visibility & market feedback
Executive Search
Retained search with full discretion. We map the market, reach passive leaders, and manage the process confidentially from first outreach to signed offer.
- Head of AI
- VP of AI
- Chief AI Officer
- AI Practice Leader
- AI Transformation Leader
- Head of Data & AI
- Confidential leadership searches
Submit your role. Get your report. Decide from there.
Paste your JD and answer 3 questions. Your Role Readiness Report is generated instantly — read it, use it, and reach out if you want to move forward.
No signup. Nobody calls you until you ask.
You always know where your search stands — and what happens next
Every search runs on the same structured path. Full visibility at every step and no surprises at the end.
Every search starts with a 5-dimension calibration
Most searches don't slow down because sourcing starts late — they slow down because the role wasn't aligned first. Our proprietary framework, built over 25+ years, scores every individual-contributor and team role across five dimensions before any outreach.
We align on exactly what you need — before we source anyone
Before sourcing begins, our proprietary Role Readiness Framework aligns the role across five dimensions and flags anything that could slow the search.
We find candidates your job posting never would
Use AI-native workflows to identify, prioritize, and engage relevant AI talent faster across the market, while recruiters guide targeting, messaging, and quality.
We screen for real AI ability — not just keywords
Evaluate fit beyond keywords: AI experience, implementation exposure, motivation, communication, compensation expectations, and readiness to move.
Every candidate comes with a clear fit summary — no guessing
Clear summaries explaining why each candidate fits, where they may have gaps, and exactly what to validate during interviews.
You hear from us every week — pipeline, signals, what's working
Consistent updates on progress, response signals, market feedback, compensation issues, and any role adjustments needed to improve outcomes.
We stay in until the offer is signed and accepted
Support through feedback, candidate communication, offer alignment, and closing — so momentum is never lost at the final stage.
Our goal is not to send more resumes. It is to help you hire the right AI talent — with full visibility at every step and no surprises at the end.
Not an old agency with AI tools.
A recruitment team, rebuilt around AI.
We are a recruitment team with 25+ years of experience, reinvented around an AI-native operating model. That gives clients three clear advantages.
A better experience
More visibility, clearer communication, stronger market feedback, and a recruiting partner who understands both talent and technology.
A faster path to qualified candidates
AI-powered sourcing, market mapping, and candidate intelligence help us move faster — while experienced recruiters keep quality and judgment at the center.
Better value for clients
Because our operating model is more efficient, we pass that value back through more aligned pricing for non-executive AI roles.
No surprises. Just clear ways to engage.
Transparent pricing for every model — so you always know exactly what a hire will cost before you start.
Not sure which model fits? Tell us about the role and we'll recommend the right approach.
Frequently asked questions
How our search process works, when each model fits, and how we use AI alongside experienced recruiter judgment.
For most Direct Hire AI roles, we deliver an initial shortlist within 7–10 business days of the search starting — after role calibration and the agreement are in place. More specialized roles or senior leadership searches take longer and we'll tell you upfront if that's the case. We don't submit candidates until we're confident they're genuinely qualified for your specific role.
Every search includes a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the person we place leaves or is let go for performance reasons within 90 days of their start date, we run a replacement search at no additional fee. This applies to all three models — Direct Hire, Recruiting Partner, and Executive Search.
Most of our clients are technology companies between 20 and 500 employees — teams serious about AI but without a dedicated internal AI recruiting function. We also support larger enterprises on specific AI team builds. If you're not sure whether we're the right fit, submit your role and we'll be straight with you.
We keep the process simple and structured.
For Direct Hire and Executive Search, we begin with a 15-minute calibration call. For Recruiting Partner, we begin with an onboarding call to understand your ongoing AI hiring needs.
After the call, we prepare a Role Readiness Summary using our proprietary Role Readiness Framework. Once you accept the recommended search direction and complete the agreement, we initiate the search.
Calibration Call → Role Readiness Summary → Acceptance → Contract → Search Initiated
Most searches don't slow down because sourcing starts too late. They slow down because the role wasn't fully aligned before sourcing began.
When requirements are unclear, too broad, too narrow, or changing after candidates are submitted, everyone loses time — hiring managers, recruiters, candidates, and internal teams. It can also impact employer brand when candidates experience delays, unclear feedback, or shifting expectations.
Before outreach begins, we align on the business problem, role scope, must-have requirements, tradeoffs, AI skill depth, compensation fit, team environment, candidate value proposition, and decision timeline — reducing wasted search cycles and creating a clearer path from role clarity to hire.
The Role Readiness Summary is our pre-search analysis before outreach begins, built from our proprietary Role Readiness Framework developed over 25+ years of recruitment experience. It identifies what is clear, what may slow the search, and what needs to be aligned before sourcing starts.
We evaluate each role across five dimensions:
- Role Scope — business problem, outcomes, and ownership
- Requirements — must-haves, preferences, and tradeoffs
- Team Fit — working style, dynamics, and environment
- Role Attractiveness — candidate motivation and value proposition
- Process & Timeline — decision process, feedback, and urgency
The summary also includes our recommendation based on search feasibility, market signals, likely candidate availability, and the best-fit hiring model.
If the role is not ready for the market, we'll say so before sourcing begins.
The Role Readiness Summary highlights gaps that may slow the search, such as unclear requirements, unrealistic compensation, a weak candidate value proposition, an unclear decision process, or misalignment between the role and the available talent market.
Our goal is to fix those issues early so we don't waste client time, candidate trust, or search effort.
Direct Hire is best when you're hiring for a specific non-executive AI role and want a simple success-based model — AI Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, LLM Engineers, Applied AI Engineers, MLOps Engineers, Data Scientists, AI Product Managers, AI Solutions Architects, and AI Automation Engineers.
Pricing: 12% success fee. You only pay when you hire.
Recruiting Partner is best when you need ongoing AI hiring support across multiple roles — building AI teams, scaling AI product or engineering functions, or needing consistent recruiting capacity without building a full internal recruiting team.
It provides dedicated recruiting support, active pipeline development, weekly visibility, and a fixed hire-fee structure.
Pricing: Monthly retainer + fixed hire fee.
Executive Search is best for senior AI leadership, confidential searches, or strategic roles where judgment, discretion, and leadership assessment matter most — Head of AI, VP of AI, Chief AI Officer, AI Practice Leader, AI Transformation Leader, Head of Data & AI, and other confidential AI leadership searches.
Leadership mandates go beyond our five-dimension Role Readiness Framework (Level 1) into a second, deeper calibration:
Level 2 — Executive Search Calibration
- Leadership mandate — the outcomes and change this leader must drive
- Executive fit — leadership style, gravitas, and stakeholder dynamics
- Market map — where the talent sits and who is realistically reachable
- Compensation — total package, equity, and market benchmarking
- Authority & scope — decision rights, budget, and organizational influence
- Board & founder alignment — consensus among decision-makers before outreach
- Confidential outreach — a discreet, targeted approach to passive leaders
Pricing: 30% retained search fee.
We're not a traditional recruiting agency that simply added AI tools. NativeTalent AI combines 25+ years of recruitment experience with an AI-native operating model built specifically for AI roles. We understand recruitment, we understand technology, and we're building with AI ourselves.
That lets us deliver stronger role calibration, AI-led sourcing and outreach, recruiter-led screening, clearer search visibility, and more aligned pricing for non-executive AI roles.
We use AI to improve sourcing, outreach, market mapping, candidate organization, search preparation, and reporting — but AI does not replace recruiter judgment.
Experienced recruiters still guide role calibration, candidate screening, fit assessment, client communication, and closing. Our model combines AI-led execution with human judgment where it matters most.
NativeTalent AI is focused on AI talent, but we also support data and technology roles closely connected to AI initiatives — machine learning, LLMs, applied AI, MLOps, data science, data engineering, analytics, AI product, software engineering, cloud, automation, and AI-enabled technology leadership.
Our focus is not general IT staffing. We work best when AI, data, or technology capability is central to the business outcome.
Once the calibration call is complete, the Role Readiness Summary is accepted, and the agreement is in place, we can initiate the search quickly.
For Direct Hire roles, the process is designed to move from role clarity to AI-led sourcing without unnecessary delays. The exact timeline depends on role complexity, market availability, compensation alignment, and how quickly client feedback is provided.
Yes. Share your company website or LinkedIn URL and our Personalized Hiring Debrief Agent will prepare a tailored debrief outlining where NativeTalent AI may be able to support your AI hiring needs — likely hiring priorities, role categories, and the best-fit model (Recruiting Partner, Executive Search, or Direct Hire).
See where NativeTalent AI fits your hiring plan — free, instant, no signup →
Tell us about the role.
We'll confirm fit and send you a calendar link for a 15-minute call — no obligation, no sales pitch.
- Recruiters who understand AI hiring, not just AI
- 90-day replacement guarantee on every search
- 15 minutes · we prep on your role before the call
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