Global Audio Business: Specialist Firmware Hires

An international audio technology business developing consumer products needed to strengthen the hands-on expertise within its UK engineering team.

• Four CVs reviewed across two recruitment briefs
• Two specialist firmware appointments secured
• Repeat engagement following the success of the first hire

The Challenge

The Head of Engineering needed an experienced firmware engineer who could combine deep audio knowledge with hands-on coding expertise. The successful candidate also needed the seniority to work with technical architects and third-party partners across a complex international organisation.

This was a highly specific brief. Relevant audio experience, embedded programming skills and the ability to influence technical decisions narrowed the talent pool considerably. Regular office attendance in a location outside of London added a further constraint, making a targeted search essential.

Our Approach

We drew on an established network across audio and connected consumer products to identify engineers with the right combination of technical capability, sector experience and personal motivation.

Our assessment went beyond job titles, instead we explored how closely candidates remained involved in coding, their experience working with external partners and their reasons for considering a move. This enabled us to present a focused shortlist of two candidates.

Following the first successful appointment, the client returned with a similar brief. We presented two further candidates, including an experienced engineer whose earlier audio background and motivation to return to the sector made her a strong fit.

The Results

The first engineer joined successfully and later participated in interviewing candidates for the second appointment. The second hire has accepted the offer and is due to join.

By combining specialist market knowledge with established candidate relationships, we helped the client secure scarce technical expertise through concise, relevant shortlists, reducing the time its engineering leaders needed to spend reviewing candidates.