Top 13 Data Science Recruiters
Explore a curated list of the leading DS recruiters & headhunters who specialize in finding top talent for advanced analytics and AI-driven roles. ↓
Demand for data scientists, ML engineers, and analytics leaders keeps outrunning supply, and a specialized set of recruiters has made finding them their whole job.
The 13 data science recruiters below range from agency founders and FAANG in-house recruiters to the educators and content creators teaching the next wave how to get hired. Here’s who they are and what each one does.
- Megan Lieu
- Linda Burtch
- Benjamin Mena
- Matt Stabile
- Matt Reaney
- Simon Clarke
- Vanessa Raath
- Roland Pavamani
- Ted O’Brien
- Steen Whidden
- Amy Miller
- Josef Güenthner
- Joost van der Laan
Megan Lieu
Nationality: American
Megan is a Developer Advocate and one of the more relatable voices in data-science careers online.
A former data analyst and recruiter, she now runs “ML Data,” an online community for people breaking into the field, and shares candid advice on applications, interviews, and the struggles of her own early career.
Her supportive style has drawn tens of thousands of followers, and through her “Data Diaries” newsletter she’s mentored many entry-level data scientists trying to connect with the companies hiring them.
- Linkedin: Megan Lieu
Linda Burtch
Nationality: American
Data science is more than just numbers. It’s about understanding the story they tell and translating that into actionable insights for businesses to drive innovation.
Linda founded Burtch Works and runs it as Managing Director, a 30+ year veteran of analytics recruiting who’s placed countless quantitative professionals.
She’s widely cited for her industry read, publishes annual Data Science & Analytics salary reports, and speaks frequently on hiring trends, which makes her a common first call for both candidates and Fortune 500 clients building data teams.
- Linkedin: Linda Burtch
Benjamin Mena
Nationality: American
Benjamin is a Managing Partner at Select Source Solutions with 15+ years in recruiting across cybersecurity and data science. He’s filled elite data roles for US defense contractors and agencies, and now places C-suite data experts for clients in sensitive industries.
He also hosts The Elite Recruiter Podcast, interviewing fellow top recruiters and sharing hiring strategies, and posts on LinkedIn about personal branding, outreach, and how AI is changing recruiting.
- Linkedin: Benjamin Mena
- X (Twitter): @benjamin_l_mena
Matt Stabile
Nationality: American
A former attorney turned recruiter, Matt co-founded Averity (where he’s COO) and built one of New York’s top analytics recruitment teams, placing data scientists at companies like The New York Times and Verizon, which earned him a “#1 rated” reputation in the city for data and AI hiring.
He now also heads his own firm, Stabile Search, and stays active as a speaker and blogger giving straight-talk advice to aspiring data professionals on breaking in.
- Linkedin: Matt Stabile
Matt Reaney
Nationality: British
Matt leads Big Cloud, a global recruitment firm built entirely around data science, AI, and machine learning talent, which he’s grown since 2013 from a UK startup into a worldwide network placing specialists across Europe, the US, and APAC.
He and his team are known for their annual Data Science Salary Surveys and market insights, and his approach weighs both technical skills and culture fit, a data-driven style that’s made Big Cloud a trusted partner to tech companies.
- Linkedin: Matt Reaney
- X (Twitter): @mattreaney_
Simon Clarke
Nationality: British
Simon co-founded Harnham in 2006 and grew it, now as Executive Chairman, into one of the world’s leading data and analytics recruitment agencies, 160+ recruiters across London, New York, San Francisco, and more.
He’s overseen thousands of data science and AI placements, and puts real weight on recruiter training and community, Harnham publishes specialized salary guides and runs an in-house Data & AI Podcast.
Companies building data teams at scale often consult him for his long view of the market.
- Linkedin: Simon Clarke
- X (Twitter): @SimonAtHarnham
Vanessa Raath
Nationality: South African
Vanessa is a globally recognized sourcing and recruitment strategist who’s trained over 1,000 recruiters across 100+ countries.
With a decade-plus in talent acquisition (including scaling one company from 35 to 200 hires), she now focuses on teaching recruiters to find tech and data talent more effectively, running workshops like “AI Training for Recruiters” on using AI for sourcing.
She still recruits actively, champions diversity, and through her LinkedIn content and talks has become a leading voice on engaging data-science candidates.
- Linkedin: Vanessa Raath
Roland Pavamani
Nationality: Indian
Roland was an early pioneer of social-media recruiting in India, building Roljobs since 2002 into a leading tech-talent agency by using online networks to reach passive data-science candidates.
A former defense scientist, he brings analytical rigor to hiring, is highly active on social media sharing openings and recruiting “mantras,” and is listed as a member-owner of the NPAworldwide network.
He’s mentored many recruiters and advised companies from startups to the Fortune 500 on scaling data teams through creative sourcing.
- Linkedin: Roland Pavamani
Ted O’Brien
Nationality: American
Ted founded Starbridge Partners to focus entirely on data science and analytics executive search, and 25+ years in recruiting have given him a deep network of senior data scientists, quantitative analysts, and AI leaders.
The firm has spent a decade building data teams for Fortune 100 financial, healthcare, and tech clients, and Ted personally leads many of its C-level searches.
He writes and speaks regularly on AI/ML talent-market trends, and clients point to his team’s depth in the data domain for hard-to-fill roles.
- Linkedin: Ted O’Brien
Steen Whidden
Nationality: American
Steen is a lead data-science recruiter at Google, hiring data scientists and ML engineers for one of the most selective companies in tech, from San Francisco, after earlier success at high-growth startups.
Candidates know him for transparent communication and a deep grasp of Google’s hiring process for analytics roles, and internally he’s helped build the company’s campus-outreach and diversity recruiting for data science, with a knack for finding people who clear Google’s technical bar and fit its culture.
- Linkedin: Steen Whidden
Amy Miller
Nationality: American
Amy is a Silicon Valley recruiting veteran who’s spent the past decade hiring engineers and data scientists at Microsoft, Google, and now Amazon (where she builds the satellite/Kuiper team).
She’s just as well known for her “Recruiting in Yoga Pants” YouTube channel and blog, where she plays “recruiting mythbuster,” using humor and candor to explain how FAANG hiring really works.
A 2022 LinkedIn Top Voice, she’s built a following among aspiring data scientists by debunking myths like the ATS “resume black hole.”
- Linkedin: Amy Miller
Josef Güenthner
Nationality: German
Josef co-founded the boutique German firm Paltron in 2015 and runs it with a heavily data-driven process, including a partially automated multi-channel search and an exclusive network of 600k+ tech experts, to match specialists with employers.
The team’s strength is knowing exactly how to find scarce data-science profiles, and with operations across the DACH region and wider Europe, Paltron has become a reliable partner for companies hiring data engineers, AI specialists, and analysts.
- Linkedin: Josef Güenthner
Joost van der Laan
Nationality: Dutch
Joost founded Search X Recruitment and positions himself as a specialist in Data Science and Data Engineering hiring.
He’s been running the firm since 2013, drawing on a recruitment background that spans technical and commercial roles, and is typically associated with building specialist teams and filling hard-to-source technical profiles, with data and AI hiring as the visible center of his niche.
- Linkedin: Joost van der Laan
Sum Up
Between them, the recruiters above place a large share of the data-science and analytics talent moving through tech, from entry-level hires to C-level data leaders. The catch is access: they’re in heavy demand and rarely cheap.
A practical alternative is partnering with EchoGlobal, where our industry expertise and global network can connect you with the right data-science talent to grow your team.
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are highly useful for companies seeking specialized talent in analytics, AI, and machine learning. These recruiters maintain extensive networks of data professionals and understand the technical nuances of roles like data scientist, MLOps engineer, or analytics lead. For candidates, they provide access to curated job opportunities and guidance on interview preparation and salary negotiation.
Top agencies and firms include Burtch Works, Select Source Solutions, Averity, Big Cloud, EchoGlobal and Harnham.
Most agencies work on contingency or retained search models, typically billing employers 20% to 30% of the candidate’s first-year salary. Executive-level placements or niche AI roles can command higher fees. Some recruiters also offer contract staffing or advisory services on workforce planning.
Focus on agencies with proven experience placing professionals in your industry. Finance, healthcare, or SaaS, for example. Checking client testimonials, salary surveys, or community involvement (such as data career events) can indicate credibility. A good recruiter should understand both the technical and business sides of data roles.
They advise organizations on building and optimizing data teams, analytics pipelines, and machine learning systems. Some also assist with strategy, workforce training, and talent assessment. Their goal is to help companies make better use of data and attract experts who can deliver measurable impact.
