Specialty leaderboard · Updated Nov 11, 2026

Tech recruiters, Chicago

Fee models, from the firms' own websites: 2 hybrid. Together they advertise 2,733 open roles.

119

Tech & Engineering firms ranked

Tech & Engineering recruiting firms in Chicago, ranked within the specialty
Rank	Firm	Focus	Fee model	Terms	Open roles	Index score
01	Request Technologysince 1980	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	33	88.1
02	Next Step Systemssince 1995	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	401	78.3
03	CultureFit Talent Partnerssince 2010	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	26	77.2
04	Resource 1since 1982	IT staff augmentation for enterprise software, data, infrastructure and HP NonStop technology roles.	Not stated	Not disclosed	25	72.0
05	Lumicitysince 2016	Engineering, technology, energy transition, construction and life sciences recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	71	68.1
06	Miller Resource GroupNaperville · since 1970	Food manufacturing and industrial-technology recruiting	Not stated	Not disclosed	69	67.0
07	Brooksourcesince 2000	Software engineering, cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI, enterprise applications and technical delivery	Not stated	Not disclosed	137	66.5
08	Arc Scout	Architecture and interior design contract staffing, contract-to-hire and permanent recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	15	63.7
=09	180 EngineeringNaperville	Engineering and IT recruiting	Not stated	Not disclosed	44	62.0
=09	Sirius Human Capitalsince 2019	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	12	62.0
11	Johnson Service Groupsince 1984	Engineering, IT and professional staffing alongside manufacturing recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	296	61.5
12	MMD Services	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	31	60.3
13	Owen Daniels	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	24	58.9
=14	CPS, Inc.since 1973	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	390	56.5
=14	Myticas Consulting	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	116	56.5
16	SmartHiresince 2009	Construction project controls, engineering, legal and professional recruitment	Hybrid	Not disclosed	22	55.3
17	Tri-S Recruiterssince 1992	IT, engineering and professional mid-level to executive recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	5	55.2
18	CyberSearchsince 1996	Technology and professional staffing	Not stated	Not disclosed	20	54.2
19	Employment Process Groupsince 2003	Technology, engineering, construction management and business recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	18	53.1
20	Everforth Apex	Software engineering, cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, AI and technical program delivery	Not stated	Not disclosed	250	52.4
21	The Sterling ChoiceOak Brook	Engineering, quality, and industrial recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	52	51.2
22	Total Tech SpecialistsOak Brook	Permanent and contract engineering recruiting	Not stated	Not disclosed	7	49.7
=23	McCann Partnerssince 2011	IT contract, contract-to-hire, project staffing, permanent placement and executive search	Not stated	Not disclosed	1	47.9
=23	TeamBradleysince 2007	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	8	47.9
25	DAVRON	Engineering, architecture, construction management and manufacturing recruitment.	Hybrid	Not disclosed	50	47.8
26	Momentum Staffing Groupsince 2009	Scientific, engineering and architecture recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	10	47.7
27	System One	Engineering, technology, clinical science and professional workforce recruiting	Not stated	Not disclosed	199	47.2
28	Improvix Inc.	IT, cybersecurity and engineering recruitment, including security-cleared technology roles	Not stated	Not disclosed	6	46.8
29	ESPO Corporation	Engineering, technical and IT recruitment and staffing	Not stated	Not disclosed	115	44.4
30	The Planet Group	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	200	43.4
=31	Activ8 Recruitment & Solutionssince 2000	Bilingual technology, engineering and corporate recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Collaberasince 1996	Technology, engineering and specialist professional staffing	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Corporate Strategic Resourcingsince 2006	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Gochkeys Professional Recruiterssince 2007	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Horizontal Talentsince 2003	IT, digital marketing, creative and business strategy recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Insight Globalsince 2001	Technology, engineering and professional staffing	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	KellyMitchellsince 1998	IT staffing and technology talent across software, cloud, cybersecurity, data and infrastructure	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Kforcesince 1962	Technology staffing and direct hiring, with finance and accounting recruitment.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	M-Works Searchsince 2010	Engineering, technical sales and manufacturing leadership recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Prairie Inc.Naperville · since 1997	IT contract and permanent staffing	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Sierra ITSsince 1994	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Solving ITsince 1992	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	SPECTRAFORCEsince 2004	Professional staffing and direct hire in technology, engineering, financial services and life sciences.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Synecticssince 1984	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Systems Research Inc.Schaumburg · since 1970	Engineering, IT, life sciences, and operations search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Technical Peoplesince 2008	Technical staffing and permanent recruitment in engineering and information technology	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	Thoughtwave Software & Solutionssince 2003	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=31	V-Soft Consultingsince 1997	IT staffing and direct hire for software, cloud, data, cybersecurity and enterprise platforms.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=49	Instant Alliance	Technology, AI, finance and executive recruiting	Not stated	Not disclosed	12	40.4
=49	Messina Talent Advisors	Engineering, IT, finance, lab science, project management and sales recruitment for PE-backed businesses	Not stated	Not disclosed	68	40.4

01Request Technology88.1
Not statedNot disclosed33 open roles
02Next Step Systems78.3
Not statedNot disclosed401 open roles
03CultureFit Talent Partners77.2
Not statedNot disclosed26 open roles
04Resource 1IT staff augmentation for enterprise software, data, infrastructure and HP NonStop technology roles.72.0
Not statedNot disclosed25 open roles
05LumicityEngineering, technology, energy transition, construction and life sciences recruitment68.1
Not statedNot disclosed71 open roles
06Miller Resource GroupNaperville · Food manufacturing and industrial-technology recruiting67.0
Not statedNot disclosed69 open roles
07BrooksourceSoftware engineering, cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI, enterprise applications and technical delivery66.5
Not statedNot disclosed137 open roles
08Arc ScoutArchitecture and interior design contract staffing, contract-to-hire and permanent recruitment63.7
Not statedNot disclosed15 open roles
=09180 EngineeringNaperville · Engineering and IT recruiting62.0
Not statedNot disclosed44 open roles
=09Sirius Human Capital62.0
Not statedNot disclosed12 open roles
11Johnson Service GroupEngineering, IT and professional staffing alongside manufacturing recruitment61.5
Not statedNot disclosed296 open roles
12MMD Services60.3
Not statedNot disclosed31 open roles
13Owen Daniels58.9
Not statedNot disclosed24 open roles
=14CPS, Inc.56.5
Not statedNot disclosed390 open roles
=14Myticas Consulting56.5
Not statedNot disclosed116 open roles
16SmartHireConstruction project controls, engineering, legal and professional recruitment55.3
HybridNot disclosed22 open roles
17Tri-S RecruitersIT, engineering and professional mid-level to executive recruitment55.2
Not statedNot disclosed5 open roles
18CyberSearchTechnology and professional staffing54.2
Not statedNot disclosed20 open roles
19Employment Process GroupTechnology, engineering, construction management and business recruitment53.1
Not statedNot disclosed18 open roles
20Everforth ApexSoftware engineering, cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, AI and technical program delivery52.4
Not statedNot disclosed250 open roles
21The Sterling ChoiceOak Brook · Engineering, quality, and industrial recruitment51.2
Not statedNot disclosed52 open roles
22Total Tech SpecialistsOak Brook · Permanent and contract engineering recruiting49.7
Not statedNot disclosed7 open roles
=23McCann PartnersIT contract, contract-to-hire, project staffing, permanent placement and executive search47.9
Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
=23TeamBradley47.9
Not statedNot disclosed8 open roles
25DAVRONEngineering, architecture, construction management and manufacturing recruitment.47.8
HybridNot disclosed50 open roles
26Momentum Staffing GroupScientific, engineering and architecture recruitment47.7
Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
27System OneEngineering, technology, clinical science and professional workforce recruiting47.2
Not statedNot disclosed199 open roles
28Improvix Inc.IT, cybersecurity and engineering recruitment, including security-cleared technology roles46.8
Not statedNot disclosed6 open roles
29ESPO CorporationEngineering, technical and IT recruitment and staffing44.4
Not statedNot disclosed115 open roles
30The Planet Group43.4
Not statedNot disclosed200 open roles
=31Activ8 Recruitment & SolutionsBilingual technology, engineering and corporate recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31CollaberaTechnology, engineering and specialist professional staffing41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Corporate Strategic Resourcing41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Gochkeys Professional Recruiters41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Horizontal TalentIT, digital marketing, creative and business strategy recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Insight GlobalTechnology, engineering and professional staffing41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31KellyMitchellIT staffing and technology talent across software, cloud, cybersecurity, data and infrastructure41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31KforceTechnology staffing and direct hiring, with finance and accounting recruitment.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31M-Works SearchEngineering, technical sales and manufacturing leadership recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Prairie Inc.Naperville · IT contract and permanent staffing41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Sierra ITS41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Solving IT41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31SPECTRAFORCEProfessional staffing and direct hire in technology, engineering, financial services and life sciences.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Synectics41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Systems Research Inc.Schaumburg · Engineering, IT, life sciences, and operations search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Technical PeopleTechnical staffing and permanent recruitment in engineering and information technology41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Thoughtwave Software & Solutions41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31V-Soft ConsultingIT staffing and direct hire for software, cloud, data, cybersecurity and enterprise platforms.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=49Instant AllianceTechnology, AI, finance and executive recruiting40.4
Not statedNot disclosed12 open roles
=49Messina Talent AdvisorsEngineering, IT, finance, lab science, project management and sales recruitment for PE-backed businesses40.4
Not statedNot disclosed68 open roles

Score built from public signals · Fee model from firm websites · Terms reported by firms · Terms never affect the score

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How these firms are scored

Rank here is within Tech & Engineering. Every score is built from public signals and measures specialisation and activity, not a guarantee of service quality. Terms, claiming and sponsorship never change it.

Specialist focus: 40%
Market activity: 35%
Track record: 25%

Read the full methodology →

What Tech firms charge

Market context · Fee survey

Collecting responses. No market range until enough firms answer.

0 of 150 NYC firms so farReport publishes at 150

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Hiring in Tech & Engineering?

Describe the role once. We route it to the Chicago firms that specialise in it, and they reply with their approach and terms.

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Tech recruiters in Chicago: questions

How do tech recruiters in Chicago charge?

Of the firms ranked here, by their own websites: 2 hybrid. Most agencies charge a percentage of the hire's first-year base salary. Contingency recruiters are commonly quoted at around 15–25% and are paid only when you hire; retained and executive search firms often charge 25–35%, paid in stages as the search progresses.

How are tech recruiters ranked here?

Rank is within this specialty only. The biggest factor is specialist focus: the share of a firm's open roles that are in this field. Hiring activity and track record make up the rest. No firm can pay for placement.

Should I use more than one recruiter?

For contingency roles many employers brief two or three firms at once. Retained searches are exclusive by design. Posting one brief here sends it to the specialists and lets you compare their approach and terms before you commit.