The Challenge

An existing client from the defence & public security sector required short-term support in filling six highly specialised IT freelance positions.

We were looking for:

• 2 AI Engineers

• 1 MLOps Engineer

• 1 Backend Engineer

• 2 Test Architects

In addition to technical expertise, all candidates had to speak German at native level, meet the requirements for a security clearance (SÜ2) and be interested in projects in the defence and public sector. This significantly reduced the already small candidate pool.

Additional time pressure arose from the fact that the project was commissioned on Friday evening and the first qualified profiles were already expected by Sunday evening.

Our Approach

Immediately after the project started, two specialised recruiters began searching for suitable freelancers.

By Saturday morning, we presented the first qualified profiles. In addition to our existing network, we used targeted active sourcing to identify and pre-qualify specialists with experience in AI / LLM, Java & Spring Boot, Kubernetes, Azure, MLOps and test automation with Selenium and Gherkin.

Throughout the project, we maintained close communication with the client, enabling suitable candidates to be presented within a very short timeframe and interview dates to be coordinated efficiently. Although a total of three recruitment agencies were involved in the placement process, NovaSearch was able to fill the positions fastest and with the highest match rate.

The Result

• Over 60 qualified freelancer profiles presented within the deadline

• 18 interviews organised for the six open positions

• All six positions successfully filled within seven days

Conclusion

Time-critical projects in the defence & public security sector require more than a large candidate database. What matters is a resilient network, fast decision-making processes and the ability to identify the right specialists even under high time pressure.

With over 60 qualified profiles, 18 organised interviews and six successful placements within one week, NovaSearch was able to assist the client in staffing a business-critical project without delay.