Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist (req-304)

Team CATHEXIS elevates the government contracting experience through rapid response, deep skill, and thoughtful problem-solving and communication. Our core capabilities are our top-tier program and project management, data analytics, and audit services, the backbone of which is our integrated approach to operational excellence. You worked hard to get to where you are. You strive to make every day better than the day before. So do we. Team CATHEXIS operates with an all-in mindset. We are working together to create a company that supports our shared values and individual goals. Our values are centered around leading with integrity, owning the outcome, growing together, and moving with purpose in everything we do for our employees, customers, partners, and communities. We believe success is best when we listen and lead with empathy; model high standards of ethics to provide a rewarding candidate experience; work hard, have fun, and appreciate the strengths we all bring to the team; and empower our employees to create innovative and trusted results. We are seeking an exceptional Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist to join our growing Talent Acquisition team. This is a senior, strategic role — not a transactional recruiting seat. You will own full-lifecycle recruiting for cleared technical positions across our federal client portfolio, with immediate ownership of surge requisitions for AI/ML Engineers and Data Scientists. The ideal candidate is a top performer who operates with a high degree of autonomy, hunts passive cleared talent rather than waiting for applicants, closes offers quickly in a market where every strong candidate has alternatives, and brings a data-driven mindset to every conversation — presenting pipeline insights, market intelligence, and strategic recommendations. This will be a hybrid role with 2 days a week onsite in Tysons, VA. Responsibilities The responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Talent Acquisition & Full-Lifecycle Recruiting Own full-lifecycle delivery for assigned cleared technical requisitions — structured intake, market mapping and sourcing strategy, outreach, technical screening, interview coordination and velocity management, and offers and negotiations. Hunt passive cleared talent — AI/ML Engineers, Data Scientists, and adjacent domains (software engineering, cloud/DevOps, data engineering, etc.) through ClearanceJobs, LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search, professional networks, etc. Recruit across clearance levels (Secret through TS/SCI), with a solid understanding of clearance eligibility. Screen with technical credibility — assess ML frameworks, data pipelines, model deployment, and cloud architecture experience well enough to earn the respect of hiring managers and candidates alike. Run offers like a closer: cleared-market compensation intelligence, expectation-setting from first contact, pre-closing before the offer stage, and structured counteroffer negotiations. AI/ML & Data…