Aerospace and Defense Recruitment

Radio telescopes with sunset in background

Aerospace. Satellite. Defense.

Elray Search is A&D recruitment.

Elray Search is a second-generation, women-owned talent acquisition firm, not only focused on the lightspeed world of aerospace but also specialized in securing the highly capable and valuable leaders vital to the advancement and evolution of the industry.

We know this space and the talent who can truly make your organization a visible, productive, and disruptive force. We approach every search and every candidate with a clear path forward, built with extensive preparation and research, and fueled by a non-stop drive to deliver.

At Elray Search, we aren’t interested in reliving the past but in defining the future with our unique brand of progressive, informed, dynamic, and relentless aerospace and defense recruitment.

Let's Talk

Our Leadership

Meet the driving force behind Elray Search

At 12 years old, Katherine Jerald skipped school—but not to play hooky. She spent the day wiring up computers at her dad’s recruiting firm, launching a lifelong career in executive search.

Today, she leads Elray Search, a boutique firm placing leaders in operations, engineering, business development, and finance across aerospace, defense, and satellite. Her passion for exploration runs deep. Space missions and documentaries don’t just inspire her—they reflect the spirit behind her work.

Katherine helps companies grow and candidates thrive. Over 50% of her placements are women, far above industry averages. 89% of first-time clients return for additional searches. One highlight: helping a client reach government compliance in 120 days, opening the door to a $140M NASA contract.

In 2024, she achieved a longtime goal: joining the Pinnacle Society, which recognizes the top 80 specialized recruiters in the U.S. Elray is the only firm in the group focused exclusively on aerospace and defense.

More than half of Elray’s team are second-generation recruiters. Curiosity, integrity, and ambition drive everything they do.

For Katherine, recruiting isn’t just a profession. It’s in her DNA.

Meet the Elray Team

Driven Experts in Aerospace and Defense Recruitment

Our team brings deep industry knowledge and relentless dedication to every search. Together, we connect transformative talent with mission-critical roles.