Cleantech Infrastructure Start-up

Sourcing a Senior Infrastructure Engineer to Build Scalable Cloud Systems for Energy Analytics

The Challenge

Our client, an early-stage Cleantech start-up, was developing a digital platform to help utilities and grid operators analyse high-volume renewable energy data in real time. To deliver on this mission, the company required a Senior Infrastructure Engineer to design scalable, secure, and efficient cloud systems.

The ideal candidate needed experience in AWS, Kubernetes, and Terraform, with a passion for sustainability and start-up agility. The main challenge was attracting talent from established firms while understanding market positioning in the emerging Cleantech space.

The Solution

Xist4 led a retained technical search supported by its Recruitment Insight Audit Report, providing visibility into the Cleantech infrastructure talent landscape.

Key actions included:

• Role Definition: Partnered with founders to translate vision into defined technical outcomes.

• Recruitment Insight Audit: Profiled over 90 infrastructure engineers across climate-tech and IoT firms, analysing compensation and skills overlap.

• Market Mapping and Outreach: Targeted engineers motivated by purpose-led work.

• EVP Development: Crafted messaging to highlight impact and ownership opportunities.

• Screening: Assessed cloud architecture and infrastructure-as-code expertise.

The Result

Within five and a half weeks, Xist4 presented a shortlist of experienced infrastructure engineers.

The successful candidate delivered the company’s first scalable cloud environment, enabling faster product iterations and improved system reliability.

This project demonstrated how combining recruitment intelligence with high-touch sourcing helps start-ups attract infrastructure talent critical to the clean energy transition.