If you do not see your situation, email hello@datajobs.ai with role and stage in the subject line.
How is this different from a traditional recruiter?+
Traditional agencies often optimize for volume and keyword matches. We optimize for technical depth on AI stacks, smaller shortlists, and sourcing outside LinkedIn noise. Every candidate is vetted against a scorecard we co-write with your team before outreach starts.
When do I pay?+
On contingency tiers, you pay the success fee after the candidate starts, on Net 30 terms. Tier 4 retained executive search uses milestone installments starting at one hundred thousand dollars total, documented before kickoff.
What if the candidate does not work out?+
If separation happens within ninety days under the agreement conditions, we run a replacement search for the same role definition at no additional success fee. Details are spelled out in the contract so there is no ambiguity.
How long until I see my first candidates?+
Most searches deliver the first shortlist within seven to fourteen days after the deep dive, depending on niche scarcity and your feedback SLA. If the market is genuinely thin, we say so early with evidence, not excuses.
Do you work with non-AI startups?+
If the role is not materially AI or ML centric, we refer you to generalist firms. Our edge is technical credibility in model systems, evaluation, and production ML. Stretching outside that hurts you and us.
Can I work with other recruiters at the same time?+
We accept non-exclusive contingency in some cases, but duplicate submissions create confusion on fee attribution. We document ownership rules up front. If you want a dedicated lane, exclusivity improves speed and signal.
What is your typical placement timeline?+
Thirty to sixty days from kickoff to signed offer is common when interview loops stay tight. Longer cycles usually trace to internal scheduling, compensation resets, or visa constraints, which we flag as risks early.
Why is your pricing public when other recruiters hide theirs?+
You are not buying a black box. Public ranges let finance and executives sanity-check budget before the first call. If we are mispriced for your situation, you learn that in thirty minutes, not after three sales meetings.
Do you place fully remote, hybrid, or in-office only?+
We work across modalities as long as compensation and bar match the market for that modality. Remote senior AI roles still command premium bands, we calibrate sourcing accordingly and do not pretend SF Bay comp applies everywhere.
What if my role does not fit any of your four tiers?+
We either adjust the bracket with you in writing or pass. Mislabeling seniority to force a tier helps nobody and burns trust with candidates.
Do you offer references from past placements?+
Where NDAs allow, yes. Many clients prefer confidentiality, so we also share anonymized case patterns and pipeline artifacts instead of named references.
What if I need to fill five roles at once?+
We sequence or parallelize based on your interview capacity. Fees apply per successful placement. For high-volume needs, we design a cadence so your team is not reviewing five unrelated pipelines in the same week.