IT recruitment agency in Bristol for data, AI and cyber
Specialist hiring for Bristol and the South West since 1999.
Xist4 is a specialist IT recruitment agency in Bristol, working with employers across the South West and the UK. We recruit for data, AI, cyber, cloud, software and technology leadership roles. We work with a handful of clients at a time, by choice, so your role gets our full attention. Tell us what it needs to achieve, and we’ll agree the right way to find the person you need.
IT recruitment in Bristol across our specialisms
Our AI and machine learning recruitment in Bristol covers data scientists, AI engineers and ML specialists for employers across the UK.
Recently filled AI and machine learning roles include an Applied AI Engineer in Cambridge and a Lead Engineer – Machine Learning in London.
Cyber security recruitment in Bristol
A gap in your security team needs the right response, whether that is a security engineer or someone to lead the function. Our cyber security recruiters work with Bristol employers on SOC, security engineering, cloud security and GRC roles, through to CISO and Head of Security appointments.
We start with what the role needs to deliver, the experience that matters and what your team needs from the person. Some roles suit people already looking. Others need us to approach people who are not. Tell us about your vacancy using the form on this page, and we’ll talk it through and agree the best way to find the right person.
How We Fill Your IT or Technology Role
1. Agree the brief
We discuss what your data, AI, cyber, cloud or leadership role must achieve. We agree essential experience and working arrangements, whether you are in Bristol or elsewhere in the UK.
2. Use the approach that fits the role
We advertise your role, use our network and screen applicants in Bristol and beyond. For harder-to-fill roles, we discuss search as an option, mapping the market and approaching people directly.
3. Assess against the role
We assess candidates' relevant technical or leadership experience against your brief, rather than relying on titles. We discuss motivations, expectations and whether the role and working arrangements suit them.
4. Manage the offer and stay involved
We discuss the offer with candidates, checking their thinking, other processes and counter-offers. We keep both sides informed through acceptance and notice, and stay in touch after they start.
Tell us about the role using the form on this page, and we'll agree the right approach with you.
Full detail: our recruitment process.
Case study: Technology Scale-Up (Bristol)
Senior Platform Engineer
A fast-growing Bristol SaaS scale-up needed a senior platform engineer with Kubernetes, Terraform, AWS and CI/CD experience. We ran a retained search, mapped platform engineering talent across the South West and remote UK, and delivered a focused shortlist within six and a half weeks.
The result: the client reports system uptime improved by more than 20 per cent in the first quarter.
What Bristol and regional clients say
“Launching our Bristol office from the US, we needed fast, safe hires; Xist4 delivered pre-interviewed, screened CVs within 24 hours and kept the quality high throughout. Within two weeks we were spoilt for choice and confidently made our selections, and we highly recommend them for complex remote hiring.â€
Senior Director, Globanet (acquired by Veritas)
“Xist4 were a refreshing change, with Gozie taking the time to understand our business and a niche Computational Scientist brief, then delivering an excellent on-profile shortlist. Exceptional service throughout; we will use them again and highly recommend.â€
Finance Director, Rockfield Software
“For over five years, Xist4’s local knowledge and IT pedigree have helped us fill specialist roles in remote locations with thoroughly qualified, on-brief candidates. Gozie is friendly, approachable and prioritises our vacancies, and we are pleased to recommend Xist4 for IT hiring.â€
IS Manager, Numatic International
Hiring in Bristol? Brief us on your role.
Tell us about the role and we'll come back to you to talk it through and agree the best way to fill it. Upload a job description with the form below, or email business@xist4.com.
Looking for a job instead? Visit our candidates page.
Recruiting it yourself?
Our Hiring Campaign Diagnostic is a two-day review of your brief, salary, advert and process before you go to market. £1,500 fixed, with a written readout you can act on.
About the Hiring Campaign Diagnostic
Frequently asked questions
Is Xist4 an IT recruitment agency in Bristol?
Yes. Xist4 is a specialist IT recruitment agency in Bristol, recruiting data, AI, cyber security, cloud, software and technology leadership roles for employers across Bristol, the South West and the UK.
What other areas do you recruit for?
Alongside Bristol, we recruit for employers across the South West, including Bath, Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton. We also cover South Wales, with roles in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea. Our London office supports employers in the capital, see our IT recruitment in London page. We recruit for employers elsewhere in the UK too, recently filling an Applied AI Engineer role in Cambridge.
What IT and tech roles does Xist4 recruit in Bristol?
We recruit data scientists, AI and machine learning specialists, data engineers and architects, BI and insights professionals, cyber security specialists, cloud and infrastructure engineers, and senior technology leaders.
Does Xist4 recruit security-cleared roles?
Yes. We recruit security-cleared roles at all levels, including BPSS, SC, DV and eDV.
Does Xist4 handle CISO and senior security searches?
Yes. For CISO and other senior or scarce roles, we'll often agree a dedicated search with you.
Does Xist4 recruit permanent or contract roles?
Mainly permanent roles, with some contract recruitment.
How quickly will I see a shortlist?
Our first shortlist typically arrives within one to six weeks, depending on how scarce the skills are.
Can Xist4 help with hybrid and remote roles?
Yes. We recruit for employers across Bristol and the South West, and we look beyond Bristol when a role is hybrid or remote.
Which Bristol organisations do you know best?
We know mission-led, cultural and heritage organisations, greentech firms, and technology start-ups and scale-ups in Bristol and the South West particularly well. These are often small teams working with real constraints, where one poor hire can carry a heavy cost. We bring the same care to Bristol employers beyond those sectors.
How do you find the right tech people for our role?
We advertise your role, use our network and screen applicants against your brief. For harder-to-fill roles, we discuss search as an option, mapping the market and approaching people directly. We recruit for employers in Bristol and across the UK.
How do I register a vacancy with Xist4?
Use the Register your vacancy form on this page, where you can upload a job description, or email business@xist4.com. You can also contact our Bristol or London team.
How do I register my CV with Xist4?
If you are looking for your next role, register your CV here and we will be in touch when a relevant role comes up.
Who we work with in Bristol and the South West
Bristol has one of the strongest tech scenes outside London, and its employers compete hard for the same data, cloud and security talent. Good tech recruitment in Bristol means knowing where those people are, including the ones who are not looking. These are the organisations we know best.
Greentech
We work with selected greentech firms electrifying transport, energy and the built environment, from public EV charging, smart charging and battery analytics to fleet electrification software and smart buildings. They sit where software, data, infrastructure, hardware and operations meet, and need people who can build systems, make sense of complex data and lead teams through growth. That is where we help.
Learn more
Mission-Led, Cultural & Heritage Recruitment
Museums, galleries, archives, charities and heritage organisations are modernising, often with small teams and limited resources. They need data, technology and leadership people who can improve digital access, modernise systems, protect critical information and help the organisation evolve without losing sight of what it exists to do. That is who we help them find, one carefully chosen hire at a time.
Learn more
Startups & Scale-ups
For many startups and scale-ups, hiring is the biggest brake on growth. You need engineers, data specialists, cyber professionals and leaders who can build from scratch, move quickly and decide well under pressure, while competing with larger organisations with deeper pockets. Get the recruitment partner right and you secure the people who move the business forward. Get it wrong and you lose them to someone who did.
Learn moreThe roles we place in Bristol
Data and AI
Cyber security
Cloud, platform and engineering
Technology leadership
Recently filled roles
Applied AI Engineer
Cambridge
£85-110,000
Systems & Data Manager
Bristol
£50-55,000
iOS Software Engineer
London
£75-95,000
Member of Technical Staff
London
£100-150,000
Lead Engineer - Machine Learning
London
£110-140,000
Android Software Engineer
London
£70-90,000
Head of Data
London
£100 – £115,000
Digital Programme Manager
London
£60 – £75,000
Enquire
Register your vacancy
Tell us about the role you need to fill
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