Your Talent Partner for What's Next
Your C-Suite Is Set.
We Build What's Next.
We recruit your next builders: senior individual contributors, Directors, and VPs across engineering, product, AI, and data.
Trusted by VC- and PE-backed companies
By the Numbers
Outcomes, not activity
Senior+, Director, and VP hires placed
of Director+ placements still in seat after 18 months
of clients return for their next leadership and Senior+ hire
Engineers placed
at growth-stage companies
Offer acceptance rate
candidates close, not ghost
Engagement Models
How We Partner
However we partner, we act as an extension of your team: close enough to know it, light enough to never slow it down.
Embedded Recruiting
Our team works inside your hiring process as an extension of your TA function. We join your tools, your rhythms, and your hiring conversations.
- Works in your tools and cadence
- Extends your TA function
- Scales with your hiring plan
Retained Search
A dedicated, full-team search for your most critical senior individual contributor, Director, and VP hires.
- A full team on every search
- Senior individual contributors through VPs
- Deep vetting and close support
Project-Based Support
Focused help for a specific hiring push, team build-out, or set of hard-to-fill roles. Roles in a project aren't locked in. If priorities shift, your roles can shift with them.
- Defined scope and timeline
- Team build-outs
- Hard-to-fill roles
Wherever you're starting from
We work with venture-backed, PE-backed, and publicly traded companies at every stage of building talent acquisition — no TA function yet, a small team already stretched thin, or a mature function that still needs specialized help on the hardest roles. Wherever you're starting from, that's where we start too.
When You're Starting From Scratch
- Own recruiting strategy and execution end-to-end
- Bring our own systems and process, so you don't have to build them
- Save the cost of standing up an internal function
When You Have a Team Already
- Supplement with specialized recruiters for your hardest roles
- Work alongside your team, not around it
- Bring outside market intelligence and reach
Not sure which model fits? We'll help you pick the right starting point.
Start HiringThe Difference
Why teams choose Thrively
Whether you start with embedded recruiting, a retained search, or a project, the way we work doesn't change.
What People Say
Client Testimonials
"They placed our VP of Data—who immediately chose to partner with Thrively to build out his own team."
"Thrively belongs on a very short list of recruiters and recruiting agencies I've worked with over the past 15 years that I would recommend without hesitation. They know technical roles inside and out, make opening new positions incredibly easy, and consistently bring us highly qualified candidates. By the time our engineering leaders are speaking with candidates, they're already excited about the opportunity and have a strong understanding of our company, product, and culture. It feels like a true partnership throughout the entire hiring process."
Goss Nuzzo-Jones
Head of Engineering, Topline Pro
"Thrively doesn't feel like an agency. They invest so deeply in understanding our people, culture, and product that I genuinely forget they have other clients. Whether we're fully scoped or still figuring out what we need, the outcome is always the same: high-quality talent, thoughtful market guidance, and a true partnership. They helped us hire a Senior Engineering Manager in under four weeks and even placed our VP of Data—who immediately chose to partner with Thrively to build out his own team."
Maya Alperin
Head of People, Topline Pro
"We landed an incredibly strong executive. Thrively stood out by being fun, genuine, and passionate about their work. The candidates really appreciated working with them—kind, transparent, and helpful."
Pete G.
CEO, Series A Company
"Since partnering with Thrively, the quality of candidates we've seen and hired has been significantly better than any other agency. The candidates sourced by Thrively have been game changers, truly moving the needle for our business."
Ryan D.
Director of Data Engineering
"The folks at Thrively are the real deal. I've had the opportunity to work with both founders and hope to continue collaborating with them throughout the rest of my career."
Dr. Ashley P.
Principal Data Scientist & Engineering Manager
Industries We Specialize In
Clinical, payer, provider, and digital health platforms
Silicon photonics, AI data centers, modern data warehousing
Marketplaces, mobile-first products, brand-led platforms
Payments, banking infra, capital markets, embedded finance
Specializations
Roles We Place
Our focus: the strategic senior individual contributors, Directors, and VPs who build and scale once your leadership team is set — across engineering, product, AI, data, and nearly every function as you grow.
Software Engineering
Full stack, frontend, backend, mobile — from modern to legacy tech stacks.
AI Engineering
Applied Scientists, ML Engineers, AI Engineers — driving product innovation.
Data Engineering
Data engineers, analytical engineers, and analysts powering your data stack.
Engineering Management
Engineering Managers, Directors, and VPs who scale technology orgs.
Product, Ops & GTM
Product managers, operations, and go-to-market roles across all functions.
In Practice
How We Work in Practice
VC-backed startup
Built recruiting from scratch
Stood up the hiring function from zero—partnering directly with founders to define roles, build process, and close early, high-impact hires.
We understand the realities of VC-backed companies:
- Speed matters more than perfection
- Every hire changes the trajectory of the business
- Talent is often the biggest constraint to growth
We help you move fast without lowering the bar.
PE-backed company
Owned hiring across the business
Embedded across functions to run recruiting end-to-end during a critical growth and optimization phase.
We understand how PE-backed companies operate:
- Hiring must align with efficiency and EBITDA goals
- Headcount decisions are highly scrutinized
- Execution needs to be predictable and measurable
We bring structure, visibility, and disciplined execution to hiring.
Technical hiring
Filled high-bar engineering roles
Closed senior engineering, data, and AI roles where both technical depth and speed were required.
We understand technical hiring:
- Strong candidates are selective and hard to engage
- Signal is difficult to assess without the right process
- Closing requires credibility, not just coordination
We combine structured evaluation with high-touch candidate experience.
Hiring for Teams Disrupting Infrastructure
From silicon photonics to next-generation AI data centers, we find the rare technical talent building the physical and data layers of modern infrastructure. Our practice is led by Brett Connell, Executive Talent Partner.
Areas We Hire In
Hiring Truth, Straight from the Last Round
Real conversations about hiring, careers, and what it takes to break through — from people who have sat on both sides of the table. Hosted by Jason Medley & Jeremy Schmidt.
Let's Talk About Your Next Critical Hire
Whether it's one search or a full team build-out, we'll help you find the right starting point.
Start HiringLet's Talk
Contact Us
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