Technical search — engineering placement & engineering leadership
If you're here, there's a pretty good chance you're dealing with one of three situations.
I'm Vito Chesky. Mike and I do one thing: technical search. We place the engineers who build intelligent systems — and the leaders who build those teams. Companies retain us when the hire shapes the company: a transformation to staff, a founding team to sequence, a leadership bench to build. The work is bespoke, it is counsel as much as search, and it runs on a process we have refined for twenty-nine years.
Retained and specialist search across AI/ML, autonomy & robotics, engineering leadership, software & platform, and hardware & embedded systems.
If you're on this page, there's a pretty good chance you're dealing with one of three situations.
One: you need to hire a technical leader, and you know what the wrong one costs.
Two: you're hiring engineers, and the people you most want aren't answering job posts.
Three: you're building from zero, and the first five hires will decide whether the company makes it.
I'm Vito Chesky. Mike and I do one thing: technical search. Each situation above leads somewhere specific — how we run that work, what it has produced, and the process behind it. One commitment before you choose: every search we take runs the same way — bespoke, personally conducted, and judged a year later by whether the placement worked.
If none of the three fits, call anyway. If we can't help you, we'll tell you who can.
Three situations. Three different searches.
“We need to hire a technical leader — and getting it wrong isn't an option.”
A mis-hire at this level doesn't cost a salary; it costs momentum, culture, and competitive position. One transformation we staffed turned on a distinction the client put in a single line: "Creators and evolvers are different people." Hire a brilliant creator for an evolver's role and you have made the expensive mistake with the best intentions. And when the question is bigger than one hire — what talent, in what order, over what horizon — we advise on that too.
How we run executive search“We're hiring engineers — and the real top 15% won't answer our job posts.”
They are not answering anyone's. The strongest engineers are rarely looking. We recruit professionals who are not on the market, and we develop their interest properly: by the time you meet them, they understand your opportunity and want the conversation.
How engineering placement works“We're building from zero, and the first five hires decide whether we make it.”
The earlier the startup, the more senior the requirement — the first leaders need the standing to say no to most of what crosses their desk. We have placed founding teams, their first non-coding manager, and the Vice Presidents of Engineering who followed. In that order, for a reason.
Startup & venture practiceEngineering, product, and leadership — across all five practices.
Final interview-to-hire ratio: 2:1*
*On many searches — not every one. The ratio varies by role, level, and market.
What We Place
Two offers, one firm
Engineering placement
The engineers who build the product.
- ML engineers & research scientists
- robotics & perception engineers
- embedded & firmware engineers
- platform & SRE engineers
- staff & principal engineers
Engineering leadership
The leaders who build the teams.
- CTO
- VP Engineering
- VP AI/ML
- VP Product
- Directors & Heads of Engineering
Search Practices
Deep specialization, not broad coverage.
We operate structured practices across the technical domains where AI, autonomy, and engineering leadership are reshaping industries. Each practice is led by recruiters who understand the architecture, not just the acronyms. Our Inbound Recruitment Playbook® ensures you get the top 15% — not the other 85%.
AI/ML & Foundation Models
Research scientists, ML engineers, LLM infrastructure leads, AI safety researchers, and agentic systems architects. From pre-training at scale to RLHF, fine-tuning, RAG pipelines, and multi-agent orchestration. We recruit across the full model lifecycle — training, serving, alignment, and productionization.
- PyTorch
- TensorFlow
- JAX
- Hugging Face
- LangChain
- LlamaIndex
- vLLM
- TensorRT
- Triton
- CUDA
- ONNX
- MLflow
- Weights & Biases
- Ray
- DeepSpeed
- Megatron-LM
- RLHF / DPO
- RAG
- Fine-tuning
- Agentic Systems
- MCP
- Multi-agent Orchestration
- AI Safety & Alignment
Autonomy & Robotics
Perception engineers, SLAM specialists, motion planners, simulation leads, and robotics software architects. Across autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, service robotics, drones/eVTOL, and defense. ROS 2, Isaac Sim, CARLA, sensor fusion, and safety-critical systems (ISO 26262, DO-178C).
- ROS / ROS 2
- Computer Vision
- LiDAR
- SLAM
- Sensor Fusion
- Motion Planning
- Reinforcement Learning
- NVIDIA Isaac Sim
- CARLA
- Gazebo
- C++ / Rust
- Embedded Linux
- Edge AI
- OpenCV
- Perception Stacks
- ISO 26262
Engineering Leadership
CTOs, VPs of Engineering, Heads of AI/ML, Directors of Engineering, Staff and Principal Engineers, Chief Architects, and Technical Product leaders. We source executives who can build and scale engineering organizations from zero-to-one or series B through IPO.
Software & Platform Engineering
Full-stack, backend, frontend, DevOps/SRE, and platform engineers across Python, TypeScript, Go, Rust, Java/Kotlin, and C/C++. Distributed systems, event-driven architecture, gRPC, Kafka, and microservices. From early-stage startups to scaled platform companies.
- Python
- TypeScript
- Go
- Rust
- Java / Kotlin
- C / C++
- React / Next.js
- Node.js
- GraphQL
- gRPC
- PostgreSQL
- Redis
- Kafka
- Microservices
- Event-Driven Architecture
- Distributed Systems
Hardware & Embedded Systems
ASIC/FPGA designers, embedded firmware engineers (C/C++, Rust, Zephyr, FreeRTOS), signal processing specialists, RF engineers, PCB designers, and chip verification leads (UVM, SystemVerilog). The silicon and sensors that power intelligent machines.
- ASIC / FPGA
- Verilog / SystemVerilog
- Embedded C / C++ / Rust
- FreeRTOS / Zephyr
- PCB Design
- DSP
- RF Engineering
- Power Electronics
- Chip Verification (UVM)
- IoT / Edge
- Sensor Integration
Contract & Team Augmentation
Scalable contract staffing for project-based work, interim leadership, and rapid capacity expansion. Contract-to-hire, retained search, and nearshore delivery models across LATAM, EMEA, and APAC. 64% of advanced tech hiring is now contract or project-based — we staff accordingly.
Technical Expertise
We speak the language your teams speak.
Deep, current domain knowledge across the technologies defining modern engineering. Not keyword matching — real technical calibration.
AI/ML & Large Language Models
- PyTorch
- TensorFlow
- JAX
- Hugging Face
- LangChain
- LlamaIndex
- vLLM
- TensorRT
- Triton
- CUDA
- ONNX
- MLflow
- Weights & Biases
- Ray
- DeepSpeed
- Megatron-LM
- RLHF / DPO
- RAG
- Fine-tuning
- Agentic Systems
- MCP
- Multi-agent Orchestration
- AI Safety & Alignment
Autonomy & Robotics
- ROS / ROS 2
- Computer Vision
- LiDAR
- SLAM
- Sensor Fusion
- Motion Planning
- Reinforcement Learning
- NVIDIA Isaac Sim
- CARLA
- Gazebo
- C++ / Rust
- Embedded Linux
- Edge AI
- OpenCV
- Perception Stacks
- ISO 26262
Cloud & GPU Infrastructure
- AWS (SageMaker, Bedrock, EKS)
- GCP (Vertex AI, GKE)
- Azure (Azure ML, AKS)
- Kubernetes
- Docker
- Terraform
- Pulumi
- ArgoCD
- Datadog
- Prometheus / Grafana
- OpenTelemetry
- GPU Clusters (Slurm, Ray)
- SRE
- Platform Engineering
Software Engineering
- Python
- TypeScript
- Go
- Rust
- Java / Kotlin
- C / C++
- React / Next.js
- Node.js
- GraphQL
- gRPC
- PostgreSQL
- Redis
- Kafka
- Microservices
- Event-Driven Architecture
- Distributed Systems
Data & ML Infrastructure
- Spark
- Databricks
- Snowflake
- dbt
- Airflow
- Apache Flink
- Feature Stores
- Vector DBs (Pinecone, Weaviate, Qdrant)
- Delta Lake / Iceberg
- MLOps Pipelines
- Model Serving
Hardware & Embedded
- ASIC / FPGA
- Verilog / SystemVerilog
- Embedded C / C++ / Rust
- FreeRTOS / Zephyr
- PCB Design
- DSP
- RF Engineering
- Power Electronics
- Chip Verification (UVM)
- IoT / Edge
- Sensor Integration
Executive Search
Leadership that shapes the trajectory.
The wrong hire at the executive level doesn't just cost a salary — it costs momentum, culture, and competitive position. We bring the rigor of retained executive search to the technical leadership roles where the stakes are highest.
C-Suite
CEO, CTO, CIO, CISO, CPO, VP of Engineering, VP of AI/ML. We assess leadership capability, strategic vision, cultural alignment, and the capacity to scale organizations through inflection points. Our network spans founders, operators, and board-level talent across deep tech, defense, and high-growth sectors.
VP & Director
The operational layer where strategy meets execution. We recruit directors and VPs who build high-performing teams, set technical direction, and bridge the gap between the C-suite and the engineering floor. Roles that require both technical credibility and organizational leadership.
Stakeholder Alignment
We meet with the board, CEO, or hiring committee to define not just the role, but the strategic context — what the business needs from this leader in the next 12 to 36 months.
Leadership Profile
We build a detailed success profile: technical depth required, leadership style, cultural markers, and the specific challenges this leader will face. Modeled after the rigorous assessment frameworks used by Spencer Stuart and Egon Zehnder.
Confidential Search
Our 29-year network gives us direct access to passive executive talent. We approach candidates through trusted relationships — not cold outreach. Every conversation is handled with complete discretion.
Assessment & Close
We evaluate candidates across technical capability, leadership trajectory, and organizational fit. We guide the offer with executive compensation intelligence and counsel both sides through acceptance and onboarding.
Startup & Venture Practice
From zero to one — and beyond.
We've built founding engineering teams from scratch for startups that went on to dominate their markets. When you're pre-product or pre-revenue, every hire defines the trajectory. We bring 29 years of pattern recognition to the most consequential hires a company makes.
0-to-1 Team Building
We place the first engineer, the founding ML lead, the CTO who sets the technical DNA. We've repeatedly assembled the initial teams at early-stage companies — teams that defined the architecture, culture, and velocity that carried through scale. When the first five hires determine whether the company succeeds, you need a search partner who understands what "founding-team caliber" actually means.
Seed through Series C
Each funding stage demands a different kind of hire. At seed, you need builders who thrive in ambiguity. At Series A, you need operators who can ship. At B and C, you need leaders who can scale without breaking what works. We calibrate every search to the stage, the burn rate, and the board's expectations.
Deep VC Network
Our relationships extend across the venture community — from seed-stage funds to growth equity. We work directly with portfolio companies on their most critical technical hires, often engaged before the role is even posted. When a partner at a top fund needs a CTO for a portfolio company by next quarter, we're the call they make.
Advisory & Partnership
When it's the right fit, we take advisory roles with our customers — helping shape hiring strategy, organizational design, and technical team topology beyond the individual placement. We've guided startups through their first 50 hires, built interview processes from scratch, and advised on engineering org structures through IPO.
How the Work Runs
The Inbound Recruitment Playbook®
Seven steps, the same on a single retained search and on a fifteen-year engagement.
Plan
Calibration before candidates: what success looks like a year from now, the two walk-away factors, the scorecard the slate will be judged against.
Attract
We don't run ads. Candidates come from a twenty-nine-year network of engineers and leaders who take our calls — a 70%+ response rate from target prospects.
Evaluate
Every candidate personally evaluated in depth against the scorecard. Our candidates come from that network, never from an open applicant pool.
Interview
Structured instruments, built with you. We don't coach our candidates on your criteria — and afterward we reconcile your panel's impressions with our own notes.
Deliver
Two to four candidates per search, each one someone we would hire ourselves. Your time is never a proving ground.
Hire
We put the brakes on before the offer: acceptance verified before anything is extended, so offers land instead of expiring in negotiation.
Retain
We stay in the placement's first year, and we ask the question the search began with: a year from now, what worked?
On multi-year engagements, the process becomes counsel: we advise leadership on how engineering hiring should run, and on the long-term talent strategy the searches serve. The fifteen-year story below is that work.
The Inbound Recruitment Playbook®
The seven-step method behind every search on this page, as a download.
Stories
The work, in full
Creators and Evolvers
For decades this company made hardware — some of the most respected audio hardware in the world. Then software became half the product, and its leadership bench was two directors deep. "It's not like there are seven software directors and everybody is competing for the next spot. There's not a lot of us. There's two." We placed the bench, then the vice president above it, then the quality and automotive leadership — and advised the company on the talent strategy underneath all of it.
Read the full storyThe First Sixty
Before this company existed, we placed one of its founders — as an engineer. When the two founders started a travel company above a pizza shop in Needham, the chief executive called us. We placed their first engineer; he is still there today. Then close to sixty more, over the decade the company became one of the largest travel platforms in the world.
Read the full storyThe Majority of the Company
They found us by word of mouth, through the startup community — an AI company of four people looking for a vice president of engineering. We placed the vice president, then a principal engineer, then the engineers, then the product leadership. At seed stage that is not a sample of the company. It is the core the rest of the company grows around.
Read the full storyWhy They Take the Call
Why they take the call
The scarcest asset in search isn't a database. It's being the call a busy engineering leader answers. Ours was built the slow way: by placing people well, year after year — and watching them become the leaders who hire.
“He has placed me at two different companies, including my current position. I have also worked with him to find talented people for my team. We have hired many people through him.”
— Distinguished Engineer at a global travel platform; placed twice, then a client
“I'd work with him on a candidate search in a heartbeat, knowing how well he works with candidates themselves.”
— Chief Product Officer; placed by Iconstaff, then a client
“I've worked with many recruiters, both as a hiring manager and as a candidate. None of them are in Vito's league. He's the only one I would think of calling.”
— Software leader; both sides of the table, over six years
“What impresses me most, as a candidate, is that he has never once wasted my time with an opportunity that wasn't a plausible match on both sides.”
— Founder & CEO of an AI company; a candidate before she was a founder
Forty-nine recommendations in full — in the carousel below.
What They Say
Earned trust from our clients and candidates!
Real recommendations from LinkedIn — from both sides of the table.
I had the privilege of working with Vito during my search for a role in the startup ecosystem, and his expertise was truly game-changing. What distinguishes Vito from other recruiters is his deep understanding of the unique dynamics and demands of early-stage companies. Vito took the time to comprehend not just my product skills, but also my appetite for ambiguity, growth mindset, and cultural preferences—factors that are crucial for startup success but often overlooked. Rather than pushing me toward any available position, he carefully selected opportunities at companies whose mission, stage, and team composition aligned with my entrepreneurial spirit. His knowledge of the startup landscape proved invaluable. Vito provided insider perspectives on funding rounds, growth trajectories, and founding team backgrounds that I couldn't have discovered on my own. Before each interview, he equipped me with strategic insights about the company's challenges and vision, allowing me to demonstrate not just my capabilities, but my potential value to their specific journey. What impressed me most was Vito's commitment to finding the right fit for long-term success rather than just making a quick placement. His understanding of startup culture and honest assessment of both opportunities and challenges led me to a role where I can truly thrive and make an impact. For anyone looking to navigate the exciting but complex world of startup careers, Vito is the ally you need in your corner. His combination of industry knowledge, genuine care, and startup-specific expertise makes him an exceptional resource for talent seeking meaningful roles in innovative companies.View on LinkedIn →
I had the pleasure of working with Vito during my last job transition, and his guidance was invaluable. Vito provided insightful career advice, and shared crucial negotiation tips that ultimately led to an exciting career change, and a great offer. Highly recommend Vito to anyone looking to elevate their career strategy and offer negotiation!View on LinkedIn →
Vito is unlike any other recruiter I've worked with. I've worked with many, both as a hiring manager and as a candidate, but it's safe to say none of them are in Vito's league. He has built over many years an impressive network of connections in the software developer world, and has surprised me with truly great introductions and insights. He puts the work in, he takes the time to really get to know me and understand what fits and what doesn't. He's never wasted a moment of my time and has in difficult moments given me wise advice. I've worked with him several times in the last 6 years, and each time he's knocked it out of the park. He's the only one I would think of calling next time I felt the need.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is a really fantastic recruiter: thoughtful, empathetic, and well-connected. He took the time to talk to me a couple times until he truly understood what I was looking for, and then connected me with a few companies (during a fairly dry spell in the market, too!) — one of which was a great match that I'll be joining in just a couple weeks. Vito was an invaluable resource throughout the process, not just during the search and interview process, but also to help me talk through a few different offers I was weighing. I would absolutely turn to Vito again if/when the time comes to look for a new opportunity, and I'd recommend him wholeheartedly to any of my friends who were looking.View on LinkedIn →
Vito was one of the only co-ops students from Northeastern University we ever had come in and learn our business! We were at the time Franklin Pierce Associates, later we became Venturi Partners. Vito was like a sponge absorbing everything we were teaching him and showing him! One of the most important things we taught him to succeed in our business is Integrity and the ethical way of doing business! To this day, that is the only way, he knows how to work! I would like to say I was fully responsible for his success, but we also had a team of some of the best recruiters in the business and Vito picked their brains and then he developed into with his hard work and determination to become one of the Best In our Business! Vito and I still stay in touch to this day for almost 30 years. If you have the opportunity to work with him looking to hire a new employee or looking for your next job? You will glad you did. Oh, one more thing, Vito never forgot where he came from and always makes time to speak to you. And Vito by far is also one of the most knowledgeable professionals in the Staffing and recruiting industry!View on LinkedIn →
I was incredibly fortunate enough to be introduced to Vito and Icon Staff roughly five years ago. In all my years prior, and all my years since, I've never met any recruiter or recruitment firm with such dedication to placing candidates into the right position. He worked diligently to match me with the right job as it is incredibly important to him that candidates and companies be the right fit. He accomplishes this by spending quality time getting to know the candidate while simultaneously being tapped into the Boston cloud/IT scene, knowing all of the styles and needs of each hot company in the Boston area. I've also worked with Vito on the other side of the coin -- by using Icon Staff's services for placing candidates into my teams. And they've all been a perfect fit! I can't speak highly enough about Vito. He's the real deal. He's the only guy I turn to when it comes to hiring and professional advice. Not joking, not exaggerating; aces.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is a great recruiter. He will work with you to understand your strengths and will find the best match allowing you to leverage them. He knows a lot of people on both sides of the recruiting business, has great people skills and is very effective at what he is doing. I would certainly highly recommend him.View on LinkedIn →
Vito has all the qualities of a top-notch recruiter: charisma, attention to detail, knowledge of the industry, a strong network, and a great "phone-side" manner, but what impresses me most as a candidate is that he has never once wasted my time with an opportunity that wasn't a plausible match on both sides. And the longer I've worked with him the better these matches have become.View on LinkedIn →
Vito Chesky was one of the most dedicated professionals through his work at ICONSTAFF. Intelligent perfectionist with the ability to make good, sometimes bold decisions. Very good, honest and wise co-worker. Works towards maximal customer satisfaction. Is able to manage tasks of entire team.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. I've worked with him on both sides of recruiting and have been happy with his efforts and results on both fronts.View on LinkedIn →
I have been working with Vito (Icon Staffing) for a very long time now, and I have always had fantastic results. Vito and his team always provide candidates which are worth your time. Vito is a perfect person to bring in to help drive hiring at companies looking to put together teams, especially if you are looking to drive product innovation by finding a unique set of skills within your candidate pool. I have used Vito repeatedly, and always seek opportunities to work with him more.View on LinkedIn →
Vito has proven on many occasions to be a fantastic resource for finding marketing and product management talent. He was able to present only most qualified candidates and manage the entire process seamlessly. I wouldn't hesitate to work with Vito again.View on LinkedIn →
I have worked with Vito for a number of years and have always been very pleased with his results and the results of his team. Vito has been a solid business partner, understands the customer and is one of the few people that you know you can depend on. I highly recommend Vito and his team!View on LinkedIn →
I have known Vito for over 14 years now and have nothing but good things to say about him. He has placed me at two different companies including my current position with TripAdvisor. I have also worked with him to find talented people for TripAdvisor. He is very good at understanding our specific needs and recommending only people who are most likely to be hired. We have hired many people through him, including two in my department. In short, he is good at what he does, and it is a pleasure to know him as a college and a friend..View on LinkedIn →
A long time friend gave my name to Vito and I am happy that he did. Vito took the time to get to know my needs and me. He did not waste any of my time by sending me to his clients that would not have been a fit. The first client he matched me with was the exact position I needed and I was the match they were looking for. After I was on hired, Vito continued to provide our company with excellent prospects. You will not go wrong working with Vito and his team.View on LinkedIn →
I have worked with many recruiters over the years as my company has grown, however there has be no single recruitment firm other than IconStaff that has consistently exceeded my expectations in the quality of candidate and level of service. Vito is a consummate professional and one of the finest professional recruiters in the marketplace today.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is a great recruiter who was very effective in helping me to hire a strong team of engineers under difficult conditions. He was passionate about finding good candidates and able to close the deal. I'd highly recommend him.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is one of the few recruiters that I've had the pleasure to partner with. Simply put, he gets it. He understands the technical needs of our business and the type people that will work best in our environment. Beyond business, he's extremely down to earth and fun to work with.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is a true professional and a pleasure to work with. I have interacted with many recruiters during the course of my career, but Vito is one of the few recruiters who I contact regularly and be sure to stay in touch with. In addition to his professionalism, Vito is very responsive and has always worked hard to try and find me a position that matches my career goals. I would highly recommend Vito to anyone looking for a knowledgeable recruiter who is well-connected in the high-tech industry.View on LinkedIn →
I have known Vito for many years. He is an excellent recruiter who takes the time to deeply understand both the candidate and the hiring company to make sure that the match will be mutually rewarding. Vito has always demonstrated an amazing ability to help candidates really understand the politics and drivers behind the position they are interviewing for. His knowledge of the industry is broad and deep and he has a clear insight into industry trends. And, best of all, he's a great guy.View on LinkedIn →
I have been fortunate to have worked with Vito and ICONSTAFF for close to ten years. Vito and his team have been able to help me find new and challenging Marketing roles twice in my career. In addition, his team has also helped me identify potential candidates for my own hiring needs. What has always impressed me about Vito and ICONSTAFF is the time they take to really get to know the individual. He's skilled at finding the right person for the right role based on company culture & environment which goes well beyond how someone may appear on a resume. Vito never comes across as pushy to make a placement - his candidates are treated with the highest level of respect with their best interests always in mind. He's highly recommended - a top notch recruiter surrounded by a great team for high tech career placement.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is one of the best in the industry. He delivers the very highest quality and value. I highly recommend his services.View on LinkedIn →
Vito Chesky is a great recruiter and a great person. When I was seeking a job he spent a lot time with me to understand what I looking for and he subsequently found me the perfect job. Also, over the many years we have known each other, he has found me many fantastic people to hire. He operates with highest possible integrity and is genuinely dedicated to finding a strong match that will work for both the employer and the potential hire. It is my pleasure it give him the strongest possible recommendation.View on LinkedIn →
My relationship with Vito goes a bit beyond work. Vito is very committed to making sure he fully understands the needs of an individual before he commits to assisting them. Once he decides he can help you, his determination will far surpass your expectations. And on the flip side if he feels it would not be a productive relationship he is bold enough to let you know that another avenue would be a better choice for your endeavor.View on LinkedIn →
Vito helped me find a job that was a great fit for my skill set and interests. He was very involved throughout the recruitment process, and he followed-up later in the year to see how things were going.View on LinkedIn →
Vito assisted me in finding two very important jobs in my career. At the time that I was looking he helped me by giving me a great overview of current opportunities and then really understood where I would fit in well and helped me explore them and then also helped me through the process. He is honest and easy to talk to and helps find great fits.View on LinkedIn →
Count me as a satisfied 'customer'. Vito helped me land a highly rewarding & challenging job at RSA. He was great at understanding the key hiring criteria and how to position my skills and experiences accordingly. I'd work with him on a candidate search in a heartbeat, knowing how well he works with candidates themselves.View on LinkedIn →
I used Vito for a number of hires at Maker Communications and Mindspeed. He did excellent for us, and I would definitely use him again.View on LinkedIn →
I have hired Vito to help staff positions that I have needed to fill in the telecom industry as well as been placed by him in a job for myself. Vito has a large network and does a superb job at screening companies and canditaes to send you only qualified leads and not waste your time. I would hire Vito again in a second - both for personal placement as well as staffing positions.View on LinkedIn →
Vito helped me and my management team fill a senior director level role. This was a key position and one that we needed filled in an agressive time frame. From the moment I started working with Vito, I could see that he provided more than your average recruiting assistance. Vito is a true business partner. Prior to his involvement we had a light pipeline of candidates. When he came on-board we immediately found ourselves with a robust group of qualified applicants. I am more than happy with the service that Vito and Icon Staff have provided. I recommend Vito without reservation, and would not hesitate to use him and Icon in the future.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is a great professional that has produced excellent results in his staffing engagements. It has been a pleasure to work with Vito over the years.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is passionate, ethical, effective, sincere, and has a great sense of humor. I've enjoyed working with him in many different roles over the years. To each he brings the expertise and energy to get the job done and drive the project forward without being pushy. I recommend him and the services of his company without reservation.View on LinkedIn →
I want to highlight Vito's professionalism - if you go to an interview he set up, you know that there is a significantly good chance of a match. It saves time and energy of both candidates and employers.View on LinkedIn →
Vito has been an excellent resource for our hiring needs. He differentiates himself by more thoroughly seeking to understand our hiring requirements and by the breadth and quality of his professional contacts. Vito is consistently able to insure an efficient and successful hiring process.View on LinkedIn →
Vito is one of the top recruiters I've ever met or worked with. He's got a deep knowledge of the software engineering field, is great to work with (friendly, professional, skilled, patient, honest), and delivers results quickly. I would easily and gladly work with him again in the future.View on LinkedIn →
Vito and his staff at ICONSTAFF are the best recruiter I have work with. They were able to help us staff up in many critical areas of the company, and provided great insight into each candidate. Vito in particular provided great strategic value in helping us hire candidate in the right order and was always available to assist. He provided this expertise and services at a very reasonable cost, which was needed for our startup. I would hire Vito in the future for all my recruiting needs, he is a great asset!View on LinkedIn →
Vito is a straight shooter, and he really knows his business. If a candidate is a stretch, he'll tell you. If a candidate is right and I can't see it, he shows me. No games, just solid business.View on LinkedIn →
I've stayed in touch with him over the past 11 years. He's a very respectable Recruiter, makes a good effort to find jobs appropriate to what you're looking for... provides good feedback to improve your probability of success at interviews. He doesn't waste a lot of your time on needless interviews, and doesn't pressure you to take a position you don't want.View on LinkedIn →
Vito Chesky is one of the most professional recruiters I have ever worked with. He truly understands the needs of today's high technology based companies and works closely with clients to identify employees that fit perfectly.View on LinkedIn →
Having worked with Vito Chesky both side-by-side and as a business partner for more than 12 years, I unreservedly recommend the quality of his services. He is a craftsman when it comes to helping both client companies and top candidates extract their REAL needs from staffing/career objectives and realistic skill inventories.View on LinkedIn →
I had the privilege of working with Denise when she reached out to me about an opportunity in the startup ecosystem, and her talent-spotting abilities proved truly exceptional. What distinguishes Denise from other recruiters is her remarkable intuition for matching candidates with early-stage companies where they can genuinely thrive. From our first conversation, it was clear that Denise had taken the time to thoroughly research my background before making contact. She had already identified alignment between my experience and the innovative company she represented. Rather than pushing a generic opportunity, she thoughtfully articulated why my specific skills and approach would complement the startup's mission and culture. Her knowledge of the startup landscape proved invaluable. Denise provided insider perspectives on the company's funding situation, growth trajectory, and founding team dynamics that I couldn't have discovered independently. She was refreshingly transparent about both the exciting opportunities and potential challenges of joining a growing venture. What impressed me most was Denise's commitment to finding genuine mutual fit rather than just filling a position. She served as an honest advocate for both sides of the equation—ensuring the startup found the talent they needed while making certain the role would advance my career goals and leverage my strengths. For anyone looking to navigate the exciting but complex world of startup careers, Denise is the connector you want in your corner. Her combination of proactive outreach, authentic communication, and startup-specific expertise makes her an exceptional talent partner for professionals seeking meaningful roles in innovative companies.View on LinkedIn →
Denise has been a HUGE help for me on two separate occasions about five years apart. First, she helped me land the perfect job which lead to a fulfilling career in marketing. Fast forward 5 years and now I am managing a growing search engine marketing team but having a difficult time acquiring the right talent. After months of searching, I was given the go ahead to use a recruiting service and Denise was my first call. Within days she sent me two excellent candidates, and a week later I was making an offer. She understands the online marketing industry like no other recruiter that I have ever worked with, and does an excellent job of screening potential matches before sending them over, saving me a great deal of time. The whole experience was efficient and effective, and I know my company will be calling Denise for all future hires. Thank you for all of your help!View on LinkedIn →
I had the pleasure of working with Denise in our search to find a Director of Marketing for our company and was very pleased with both her process, from beginning to end, as well as the results. She really did her due diligence in getting to know our company, our culture, our needs and what we were looking for in an ideal candidate as well as screening candidates that fit our company. I found the candidates she served up were of a high quality level and Denise really helped coordinate things throughout the process so that it was efficient and we finished ahead of schedule. Denise was also professional, ethical, open and honest with us and told us what we 'needed' to hear and not necessarily what we 'wanted' to hear and was very helpful making recommendations about everything from updating our position description to making suggestions about the interview process and more. And even after finding someone for us, she followed up to ask how things are going. I had a great experience working with Denise and would be happy to discuss this more with anyone who has any questions.View on LinkedIn →
Denise helped fill some of our critical paid search roles at BuyerZone and the hires were all fabulous. I highly recommend working with Denise! She's a pleasure to work with and gets the job done.View on LinkedIn →
Denise spends time up-front to fully understand the hiring manager and candidate objectives while also factoring the need for a cultural fit. She successfully placed me at Akamai and has since provided me with excellent candidates for my own searches. She excels in finding the right candidate for each position - highly recommended.View on LinkedIn →
Denise was instrumental in helping me build a great product management & marketing team at Akami Technologies.View on LinkedIn →
Denise takes the time to get to know her clients and the candidates that she represents. Her contacts and experience are second to none and I can't recommend her highly enough. She consistently delivers the right candidate no matter how tough the requirements.View on LinkedIn →
Denise has been instrumental in assisting me over the years with various product marketing, project management, sales, marketing, etc. staffing needs. She is thoroughly engaged throughout the recruitment life-cycle, providing highly qualified candidates, who have been pre-screened, pre-closed, and offer referenced prior to being submitted for consideration. Denise takes pride in her work, listens to her clients needs, provides the appropriate guidance when necessary, and commits only when she truly has the ability to deliver. I would strongly recommend Denise and would never hesitate to engage her services when required.View on LinkedIn →
Denise did a great job of locating talent for my company despite the challenge of the companies location. I found her to be hard working and willing to go the extra mile to achieve the desired results.View on LinkedIn →
Trusted by leadership at
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White Papers
Thinking, in writing
The First 60 Hires
What sequencing a founding team teaches that no job description captures.
Creators and Evolvers Are Different People
The costliest mistake in a transformation hire.
Your Applicant Pool Is Lying to You
Identity fraud in the hiring funnel, and the structural answer.
Put the Brakes On Before the Offer
The Earlier the Startup, the More Senior the Hire
Our People
Senior operators. Small team. Deep networks.
Every member of the Iconstaff team has direct industry relationships and operates with the autonomy to move fast on your behalf.
Vito founded Iconstaff in 1997. Since then he has placed over 1,000 people, building initial teams at some of the top brands in technology today. Previously ranked #1 of 30+ recruiters at The Kleven Group, a pioneer in technical search. Vito graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Marketing and International Business. He is a mentor at Techstars, Harvard Innovation Labs, and the Northeastern Venture Mentoring Network. His clients enjoy access to the best talent, market dominance, and dramatic growth. After 29 years he still enjoys the ability to serve and hustle on behalf of his clients and candidates.
Over her 18-year recruiting career, Denise has held positions as a researcher, sourcing specialist, software product and technology staffing specialist, as well as creative and digital marketing recruiter. She has leveraged her passion for the arts and creative process by carving a niche in digital marketing and web development (UI/UX) recruiting. Denise holds a B.F.A. from Montclair State University.
As the top engineering recruiter at Iconstaff, Mike specializes in placing software engineers and executives. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island and is known for his ability to lead and be an excellent team player. Mike is a steady and reliable partner who has positively impacted thousands of lives.
Current Openings
Active searches.
We're currently recruiting for these roles across AI/ML, autonomy, embedded, cloud, and engineering leadership. Each listing links directly to our application portal.
Front-end Engineer
Boston, MA · Full Time
View roleDirector of Engineering
Remote · Full Time
View roleLead Software Engineer
Boston, MA · Full Time
View roleBackend Engineer
Remote · Full Time
View roleElectrical Engineer
Cambridge, MA · Full Time
View roleSenior Product Manager
New York City, NY · Full Time
View roleFAQ
Common questions.
Who pays for your services?
The hiring company. Candidates are never charged. We're compensated by the organizations we help build — our incentives are aligned with finding the best long-term fit for both sides.
What technical domains do you cover?
AI/ML and foundation models, autonomous systems and robotics (including embedded), full-stack software engineering, platform and DevOps/SRE, hardware and chip design, data engineering and ML infrastructure, and technical executive leadership (CTO through Staff+). We place IC through C-suite across all of these.
Do you place outside the Boston area?
Yes. National US coverage plus international practice in Germany, Taiwan, and other markets. Remote and hybrid roles are a significant portion of our placements.
What engagement models do you offer?
Retained search, contingent placement, contract staffing, contract-to-hire, and nearshore team augmentation. For executive and senior technical roles, we recommend retained engagements for the most thorough and confidential process.
What makes Iconstaff different?
29 years and 1,100+ placements gives us a network that can't be replicated in any database. Our Inbound Recruitment Playbook® is a 7-step methodology designed to identify, engage, and recruit the top 15% of technical talent while excluding the other 85%. We don't keyword-match. We operate with our own AI-augmented pipeline and every search is technically calibrated by senior recruiters who understand the architecture, not just the titles.
Can you help with compensation benchmarking?
Yes. We provide current market data, equity benchmarking, and counsel throughout the offer process. 29 years of placement data and active market intelligence gives us a real-time view of what competitive offers look like across every domain we cover.
Do I need a resume to get started?
Not necessarily. Many of the strongest candidates we've placed started with a conversation and a GitHub profile. A well-crafted resume helps accelerate introductions, but it's not a prerequisite for working with us.
Not ready for a call?
The Quarterly AI Talent Market Brief
Which roles are heating up, where compensation is moving, what top technical talent actually wants. Published quarterly.
Get in Touch
Every search we run starts with one question.
"If this placement is a success a year from now, what will we be pointing to that really worked?" That is where calibration starts. Tell us where you are headed — we will tell you honestly whether we are the right firm to get you there. If we are not, we will tell you who is.
Your message goes straight to Vito's inbox — no email app needed. He replies personally. Rather talk now? Call the number above.