Matt Baden
Managing Director, Technical
Matt Baden is the Managing Director of Technical recruitment at The Search Experience, with over 15 years of experience scaling engineering, product, and design teams for early-stage founders. He partners with Seed–Series C startups across the US and APAC, combining deep technical expertise with a founder-first advisory approach. His focus is on identifying engineering and product leaders who strengthen technical capability, shape culture, and provide the leadership required to scale.
Meet Matt
Matt has spent nearly two decades building high-performing engineering and product teams for early-stage startups. As Managing Director of Technical Recruitment at The Search Experience, he partners with founders to hire the technical leaders and specialist talent that shape the next stage of growth.
Before joining TSE, Matt recruited across fintech, AI, developer infrastructure, and enterprise software, working with venture-backed startups through to global technology companies. His experience across businesses at different stages of growth gives him a practical understanding of how engineering organizations evolve and the leadership required at each stage.
Matt began his career after studying Human Resources, joining a leading recruitment firm in APAC before relocating to New York to build and lead technical recruitment teams. Those experiences continue to shape his approach today, combining the rigor of global search with the pace, commercial judgment, and adaptability required by early-stage founders.
Focus: Engineering, Product & Technical Leadership
Matt specializes in senior and executive-level technical hiring, partnering with founders to build foundational leadership in:
Engineering leadership
Product management and product design
AI, DevTools, and cloud infrastructure roles
VP and Head of Engineering positions
Technical and product IC roles
His clients are typically AI-native or software-first startups scaling from Seed to Series C. Matthew's approach combines data-led search with founder-level collaboration, ensuring every hire directly supports product and revenue milestones.
Working with Matt
Matt takes a highly consultative, transparent, and data-led approach to technical hiring. He works directly with founders throughout every search, providing clear market insight, honest guidance, and complete visibility into candidate conversations, hiring trends, and the trade-offs behind every decision. His goal is to give founders the confidence to move quickly without sacrificing quality or control.
With nearly 20 years of technical recruitment experience, Matt has led engineering and product searches across AI-native businesses, DevTools, fintech, and emerging technology companies. He is known for operating as a trusted advisor rather than a traditional recruiter, combining deep technical market knowledge with rigorous search execution and remaining personally accountable from the first strategy conversation through to offer acceptance.
Perspectives & Media
Matt regularly shares insights on technical hiring, AI talent trends, and how emerging technologies are reshaping the future of work. His perspectives have been featured across industry publications covering AI adoption, workforce transformation, and the evolving technology talent market.
Featured In:
Tech Startup Network - 2026 State of Tech Predictions
Matt shared his perspectives on the technology trends and hiring shifts expected to shape the startup ecosystem in 2026.
Spiceworks - Cybersecurity Roles Lead the Pack in Tech Hiring
Matt explored the growing demand for cybersecurity talent and the factors driving hiring priorities across technology teams.
Matt discussed the broader market forces influencing hiring trends and why changes in the tech workforce extend beyond AI adoption alone.
Recent Insights from Matt:
Sales Engineer vs Solutions Engineer vs Hybrid: Which Should You Hire First?
Top 5 In-Demand Jobs in AI Pre-Training (And When to Hire Them)
Startup H1B Visas: What Startup Founders Need to Know About the September 2025 Changes
Building a Data Team in the AI Era: Who Should You Hire First?
Chief Experience Officer, eCommerce, Series B
"Matt sets the standard for recruitment leadership. He brings clarity, focus, and a clear plan, and mobilises teams quickly to deliver outcomes. Even at high hiring volumes, he dove in and got it done. He's always my first call for building teams and recruiting guidance."
VP of Engineering, Cyber Security, Seed
"Matt is an exceptional technical recruiter. He manages multiple roles with ease, brings strong technical judgment, and takes a hands-on approach to delivering great hires quickly. His candidates consistently have positive experiences, and his guidance helps ensure the right hire in the shortest time."
Talent Partner, Public Safety, Series F
"I've worked with Matt for several years across roles ranging from niche engineering to senior leadership. His deep industry knowledge, and genuine care for both candidates and clients consistently lead to strong hires. Candidates regularly comment on how positive their experience with him was."
Beyond the Search
Outside of work, Matt is a lifelong learner and proud tech enthusiast. He's personally invested in several startups alongside TSE's leadership team, giving him a founder's perspective on risk and growth.
When he's not advising founders or reviewing search data, he's spending time with family, watching cricket, soccer, or football, or competing in fantasy sports leagues. A gamer at heart, he still finds time for strategy games and follows the evolution of AI-driven tech closely. His curiosity, empathy, and pragmatic mindset make him a trusted partner to technical founders who value both data and intuition in the hiring process.
FAQs
What technical and engineering roles does Matt specialize in?
VP and Head of Engineering, product leaders, and cross-functional technical hires in AI, SaaS, and DevTools startups.
What experience does Matt bring to startup hiring?
Over 20 years of experience across the US and APAC, leading searches that have scaled engineering and product teams for venture-backed startups.
How does Matt support founders building tech leadership teams?
By acting as an embedded advisor - combining data-driven insights with founder-first partnership to align hires with business goals.
What types of technical founders or investors does Matt usually partner with?
Founders in AI-native, DevTools, and product-led startups, often backed by early-stage venture capital.
How can I connect with Matt for PR or media opportunities?
Matt is available for comments, speaking opportunities, and partnership enquiries. The best way to connect is by contacting the marketing team.
How can I connect with Matt about a search?
Reach out via email or connect with him on LinkedIn.