Talent Acquisition Associate

About the company Combustion Research Associates (CRA) designs, engineers and manufactures custom-engineered systems for the Energy and Defence sectors. Headquartered in Noida, CRA delivers high-precision, mission-critical equipment where engineering excellence, quality and reliability are non-negotiable. As the organization continues to scale, the Human Resources team plays a central role in building the talent, processes and workplace culture that support this growth — across our shopfloor and corporate teams alike. About the role We are looking for a proactive Talent Acquisition Associate to manage end-to-end recruitment at CRA, with a strong focus on manufacturing and blue-collar hiring alongside white-collar roles. The role involves sourcing, screening, interview coordination and offer management, while also handling day to day HR operations activities. The ideal candidate is comfortable working in a fast-paced engineering/manufacturing environment and brings strong coordination, communication and execution skills. Key Responsibilities • Manage end-to-end recruitment for junior and mid-level positions across functions. • Coordinate with hiring managers to understand manpower requirements and finalize job descriptions. • Source candidates through job portals, social media, referrals, employee networks and recruitment consultants. • Screen resumes and shortlist candidates against role requirements. • Maintain and continuously build a candidate database/talent pipeline for recurring and future openings. • Manage hiring for shopfloor and blue-collar positions, including Technicians, Operators, Fitters, Welders and Helpers. • Coordinate with local ITIs, manpower consultants and labour contractors for blue-collar sourcing. • Plan and execute walk-in drives and bulk/mass hiring events for production and shopfloor roles. • Coordinate with department heads for technical screening and trade-test scheduling of shopfloor candidates. • Schedule and coordinate interviews, technical rounds and managerial discussions. • Conduct initial telephonic/preliminary screening of candidates. • Manage candidate communication throughout the recruitment process, ensuring timely updates. • Support salary discussions and negotiation inputs in coordination with hiring managers. HR operations • Manage day-to-day HR operations and employee queries, maintaining accurate and updated employee records and documentation. • Coordinate employee joining, transfers, confirmations, promotions and separation-related processes, and maintain personnel files. • Coordinate employee lifecycle activities from joining to exit, and support preparation of HR letters, certificates and other documentation. • Manage and monitor daily employee attendance, coordinating with employees and managers on attendance-related requirements. • Support and manage employee enrolment under EPF and ESIC, and maintain accurate PF/ESIC records. • Keep track of applicable labour law and statutory requirements, escalating compliance gaps where required. • Prepare monthly and periodic HR reports for management review. • Plan and coordinate employee engagement activities, including celebrations, events, festivals and team-building initiatives. Requirements • 1–3 years of experience in recruitment/talent acquisition. • Experience hiring in a manufacturing or engineering environment preferred. • Experience with blue-collar/shopfloor hiring preferred. • Working knowledge of job portals and sourcing platforms (e.g. Naukri, LinkedIn, WorkIndia, Apna) preferred. • Good working knowledge of MS Excel for trackers and recruitment MIS. • Strong coordination and follow-up skills, with the ability to manage multiple open positions simultaneously. • Good written and verbal communication skills. • Proactive, organized and execution-oriented approach. • Ability to maintain confidentiality of candidate and hiring information. Benefits • Competitive compensation package • Comprehensive group medical insurance • Generous leave policy • Mentorship from experienced HR professionals • Front-row seat to building HR systems in a high-growth engineering business • Clear path for advancement as our company grows • Collaborative and dynamic work environment.