Skilled Trades
The people who build, run and fix your equipment.
- CNC machinists
- Tool and die
- Maintenance techs
- Industrial electricians
- Welders
What we hire
Permanent placements across four disciplines
No temp or contract placements. We keep our client list small on purpose, so every search gets real attention from the people who own the business.
Engineering
Engineers who know a production floor, not just a CAD screen.
- Manufacturing
- Controls and automation
- Quality
- Process
- Design
Industrial IT
The systems that connect machines, plants and the business.
- PLC and SCADA
- MES
- Manufacturing ERP
- OT networks
Operations & Leadership
The leaders who hold safety, output and people together.
- Plant managers
- Production supervisors
- Supply chain
- Planning
- EHS
Why manufacturing
Why we focus on manufacturing
Our recruiting careers were built filling manufacturing and technical roles, and that is all we recruit for now. A recruiter who knows the difference between a CNC programmer and a CNC operator wastes far less of your time.
#1
U.S. state for manufacturing employment per capita.
470,000+
Manufacturing jobs across Wisconsin.
Fabricated metal
A sector where Wisconsin ranks #1 or #2 nationally.
Machinery
A sector where Wisconsin ranks #1 or #2 nationally.
Electrical equipment
A sector where Wisconsin ranks #1 or #2 nationally.
Paper & printing
A sector where Wisconsin ranks #1 or #2 nationally.
Source: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Manufacturing Snapshot 2026 (Lightcast 2025 Q4 data).
Why JND
Fewer interviews. Better hires.
Our goal is a short list your team can hire from, not a stack of resumes to sort through.
Selective client load
We cap how many clients we take on, so every search gets our full attention and commitment.
Direct line to ownership
You know exactly who is working your roles and selling your company to candidates.
We learn your team
Every search sharpens our read on your culture, and we take more off your plate over time.
Manufacturing focused
Skilled trades, engineering, industrial IT and operations. The roles we know best.
Agency + corporate
We have recruited from both sides of the table, as agency recruiters and in-house.
Passive candidate search
We reach strong people who are employed and not applying, not just whoever answered a post.
No need to “try before you buy.” We vet before you meet anyone, sell your opportunity as a career, and back every hire with a 60-day replacement guarantee.
Our process
Six steps from first call to lasting fit
- 01
Discovery & alignment
We learn your business, culture, hiring goals and priority roles.
- 02
Role intake
Recommended, not required. A 30-minute call with the hiring manager or HR partner on each role to learn the non-negotiables and team challenges.
- 03
Search & screening
We find and engage qualified candidates, then assess skills, motivation and fit before presenting anyone.
- 04
Interview coordination
You choose who schedules. We can link calendars and handle it, and we gather and deliver feedback either way.
- 05
Offer & hiring support
We help with offers, negotiation and keeping candidates engaged through acceptance.
- 06
Follow-up & partnership
We stay in touch after the start date to make sure the transition goes smoothly and the hire sticks.
You work with us directly, with no account managers, no hand-offs and no rotating reps.
Our team
The people working your searches
We do this for the same reasons your team does: to provide for our families, support our communities and do work we are proud of. Every client and every candidate gets that same care.
Julia Snow
Co-founder
Agency recruiter with experience across high-level engineering, AI startups and manufacturing. Built for fast-paced searches, and knows what it takes to find, vet and close skilled candidates in a tight market.
Dayton Simenz
Co-founder
Background in operations, data, research and product. Startup co-founder, venture investment analyst, and customer experience and operations lead. Owns the systems, data and process behind every JND search.
Terms
Simple terms, no upfront cost
20%
Placement fee
Based on the candidate's first-year base salary, invoiced on their start date.
$0
Upfront cost
Nothing upfront. You only pay when a hire is successfully made.
Net 15
Payment terms
Payment is due within 15 days of the invoice date.
60 days
Replacement guarantee
If a placement leaves or is let go for performance within 60 days, we search again at no cost.
Full guarantee terms, including exclusions, are set out in our services agreement.
For candidates
Your resume goes nowhere without your say-so
Every role we work is a permanent job with a named employer, and we tell you who it is before we submit you. If you work in manufacturing in Wisconsin or the Midwest, send a note and we'll keep you in mind when the right opening comes up.
Next steps
Let's build the workforce your business needs
Start with a discovery meeting: your hiring goals, workforce challenges and priority positions. No cost and no commitment.
[email protected]
Reaches our team · or call Julia at 414-507-6867