Senior tech placements · SF · NY · LA
Your next role, matched to who you are — not just your resume.
Ascend connects exceptional technology professionals with early-stage, well-funded startups. Curated matches, direct access to hiring managers, and an advocate in your corner.
Typical time to employer feedback
Markets: SF, NY, LA
One dedicated advocate per candidate
Open roles right now
The market today
Great candidates are drowning in noise.
Top professionals receive dozens of recruiter messages every week, most of them generic and poorly matched. Meanwhile, the best roles at the fastest-growing startups are rarely posted where you'll see them.
We do the opposite.
We work with a small number of candidates at a time. Using our partner platform's data on thousands of open roles and what companies actually hire for, we bring you only the few opportunities where you're a genuine fit — then personally advocate for you.
How it works
A more direct path forward.
Share your background
Send us your resume and tell us what you're looking for: role, location, work style, and compensation.
Receive curated matches
We send a short list of open roles that fit your preferences and where you're a strong match.
Express interest
For roles you like, tell us you're interested and answer a few brief questions from the employer.
Meet the hiring manager
We submit you directly to the decision-maker. You'll typically hear back within 48 hours.
Expertise
Senior talent for consequential roles.
Engineering
Senior and staff engineers, infrastructure, ML/AI engineering
Product
Senior PMs, product leads, and product operations
AI Deployment & Solutions
Deployment strategists, forward-deployed, and solutions roles
Go-to-Market
Sales, partnerships, and customer success leadership
Legal
In-house counsel, commercial, and technology transactions
Operations & Strategy
Bizops, strategy, and chief-of-staff roles
Open roles
Selected current searches.
The newest roles we're recruiting for at venture-backed startups and leading firms. Company names are shared once there's mutual interest.
Operations Manager
Hardware company · SF Bay Area
$80K – $160K + equity
1–3 years experience
Posted Oct 26, 2026
Backend Engineer
Early-stage AI company · SF Bay Area
$150K – $250K + equity
3–10 years experience
Posted Oct 30, 2026
Director of Federal Sales
Growth-stage cybersecurity company · Remote (US)
$200K – $220K + equity
10–15 years experience
Posted Oct 26, 2026
Senior Visual Designer
Early-stage cybersecurity company · New York City
$150K – $210K + equity
3–8 years experience
Posted Oct 29, 2026
Enterprise Account Executive
Early-stage AI company · New York City
$140K – $175K + equity
8–12 years experience
Posted Oct 26, 2026
Robotics Machine Learning Engineer
Early-stage robotics company · SF Bay Area
$150K – $250K + equity
0–7 years experience
Posted Oct 29, 2026
Don't see the right fit? New roles are added daily, and we hear about many before they're widely advertised. Tell us what you're looking for →
Where we place
Built for the startup hubs.
We partner with early-stage, well-funded companies across the three major U.S. startup markets, with on-site, hybrid, and remote roles available.
San Francisco
Los Angeles
New York
Why Ascend
A partner in your corner.
Signal over noise
No mass outreach. Every role we send is chosen for you.
Direct access
Your profile goes straight to the hiring manager, not a black-box applicant portal.
A true advocate
We prepare you, position your strengths, and work through requirements with the employer on your behalf.
Testimonials
What candidates say
Thank you so much for your efforts throughout all of this… You have been a pleasure to work with.
— Founding Engineer, San Francisco
Thanks for being upfront about the feedback… I appreciate the clarity on where the market is right now. I agree with your assessment… I also have a friend… would you be open to helping her out as well?
— Product Manager, San Jose
Who you'll work with
Jeffrey Nortman
Founder, Ascend Placements
Jeffrey has spent his career connecting exceptional people with the companies that need them. He founded Ascend Placements to help fast-growing startups and leading technology companies hire senior engineering, product, AI, legal, and go-to-market talent.
He is also the founder and CEO of Hire Talent Events, which runs more than 25 alumni-only career fairs across the country in partnership with over 500 universities, bringing together thousands of employers and tens of thousands of job seekers each year. He also owns AlumOnly.com, a job board for college-educated professionals, and previously built and ran Delta Force, one of New York City's largest temporary legal staffing firms.
Today, Jeffrey works one-on-one with a small number of senior candidates at a time, matching them with early-stage, well-funded startups in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, and advocating for them through every step of the process.
Let's find your next move.
Share a few details and we'll be in touch within one business day.