How Gizmo hired a Lead AI/NLP Engineer in 19 days

About Gizmo.

Gizmo is a London-based ed-tech startup using generative AI to transform study materials into interactive flashcards and quizzes. Founded in 2021 by Cambridge University alumni, the platform combines spaced repetition and active recall techniques to help users learn faster and retain information more effectively.

We partnered with Gizmo to appoint a Lead AI & NLP Engineer, supporting the continued development of their AI-powered learning platform and helping strengthen internal technical capability during a key stage of growth.

Securing a business-critical AI leadership hire.

Gizmo needed to hire a Lead AI/NLP Engineer to strengthen the core of its AI-powered learning platform. The role would play a key part in shaping the future direction of the product, making it one of the most important hires in the business.

Hiring at this level carries significant responsibility. Beyond the technical expertise required, the successful candidate needed to provide leadership, influence product development and contribute to long-term technical decision-making.

The challenge was not simply finding someone with the right AI and NLP experience. Gizmo also needed an individual who could thrive in a fast-moving startup environment and work closely with the leadership team as the business continued to grow.

With the role sitting at the centre of the product roadmap, securing the right person quickly was essential. Gizmo needed a recruitment partner that understood the importance of the hire and could deliver a targeted search process capable of identifying the right fit.

A focused search for a critical Lead AI hire.

We worked closely with Gizmo to understand the brief in detail. This included the technical requirements, the existing team the hire would join and how the role would shape the product roadmap.

Working with the leadership team, we built a clear picture of what success looked like for the role. This included the expertise required, the leadership qualities needed in a Lead position and the type of individual who would thrive within a startup environment.

Once the brief was agreed, we carried out a targeted search focused on senior professionals with relevant experience in AI and Natural Language Processing. Particular attention was given to individuals who had successfully operated within startup and scale-up environments.

Throughout the process, we managed candidate engagement, interview coordination and feedback, helping Gizmo move efficiently through the hiring process and maintain momentum on a business-critical appointment.

Lead AI/NLP Engineer hired in 19 days.

Within 19 days, Gizmo successfully hired a Lead AI/NLP Engineer to support the continued development of its AI-powered learning platform.

The successful candidate brought the expertise and leadership capability required for the role, strengthening the business's technical function and supporting the future direction of the product.

By securing the right hire in just 19 days, Gizmo was able to continue investing in the development of its AI-powered learning platform without delaying key product initiatives. The appointment strengthened technical leadership within the business while supporting future growth plans.

Key outcomes:

The partnership helped Gizmo secure a business-critical AI leadership hire quickly, strengthening technical capability and supporting the continued development of its AI-powered learning platform. Here are the key outcomes:

• Lead AI/NLP Engineer hired in 19 days
• Senior AI and NLP expertise secured
• Strengthened technical leadership capability
• Supported the continued development of Gizmo's AI-powered learning platform
• Delivered through a contingency recruitment partnership

"We were hiring a Lead AI/NLP Engineer to strengthen the core of our product, which is the kind of hire we couldn't afford to get wrong. The quality of candidates Digital Waffle put in front of us stood out, and they understood exactly what we needed from both a technical and team-fit perspective. They had us hiring inside 3 weeks, and the process was smooth from start to finish."

- CEO

By taking the time to understand both the technical requirements and wider importance of the role, we helped Gizmo secure a Lead AI/NLP Engineer in just 19 days. The appointment strengthened technical leadership within the business and supported the continued development of its AI-powered learning platform.

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