Talisman Talent
Specialist engineering talent
without the noise
We help project stakeholders and decision-makers build the right engineering teams by finding and vetting specialist talent across Europe—saving you from wasting time on bloated, irrelevant shortlists.
How it works
Tell us about your project
We will help you narrow down your requirements.
We get back to you in 3 days
with vetted pre-interviewed profiles.
You hire them
and have a team in place in a matter of weeks.
Rare breeds such as project controls require a specialist.
Your human-powered executive search partner.
AI will help you hire AI. We are here for people.
What our clients say
Talisman Talent has done a very professional intermediation between my new customer and me, especially when it came to matching the requirements of both parties. Well done.
Eleuterio Rodriguez
Senior Quantity Surveyor
An extremely personable and engaging professional with an enthusiastic and proactive approach that yielded results in a very short time frame.
Stuart Mealing
Engineering Safety Management and Systems Assurance
Talisman Talent is a valuable partner able to coordinate and solve all the bottlenecks with ease and professionalism. It was really a pleasure working with him, a great experience providing added value to both parties.
Mircea Sandru, MBA, PhD
Senior Planning Engineer, Project Controller
Why Talisman Talent?
We believe in a human-first approach to recruitment. In an era of AI-driven, automated solutions, we champion genuine human interaction and expertise.
Our core philosophy is built on understanding the nuances of specialist engineering roles and the people who excel in them. We don't just fill vacancies; we build careers and strengthen teams.
This means no more bloated shortlists, no more endless screening calls. Just direct access to vetted, high-calibre professionals who are genuinely suited to your needs.
Who are we
I'm Tobias Thompson, founder of Talisman Talent — a specialist headhunting consultancy focused on project controls within the engineering sector.
With over eight years of experience in engineering recruitment, I work with clients operating in complex, highly regulated environments where precision, trust, and judgment matter more than volume.
Talisman Talent was founded to raise recruitment standards through professionalism, integrity, and a genuinely human approach.
Sectors we specialise in
Datacentres
Mission-critical infrastructure demands precise scheduling, cost forecasting, and risk management. We source planners, cost managers, and project controllers who understand uptime requirements, modular builds, and fast-track delivery in hyperscale and colocation environments.
Infrastructure
From highways to rail, ports to utilities—infrastructure projects require long-term planning expertise and stakeholder coordination across complex frameworks. We place professionals experienced in NEC contracts, Earned Value Management, and large-scale civils delivery.
Renewable energy
The energy transition is accelerating, and so is demand for controls talent who can manage CAPEX-intensive projects with tight timelines and regulatory oversight. We recruit across solar, battery storage, hydrogen, and grid connection programmes.
Wind
Onshore and offshore wind farms involve multi-phase scheduling, marine logistics, and turbine integration. We connect clients with planners and controllers familiar with FIDIC, EPCI models, and the operational realities of wind farm construction.
Nuclear
Nuclear projects operate under the highest levels of regulation, documentation, and assurance. We recruit project controllers, planners, and commercial managers who understand nuclear new build, decommissioning, and defence-related programmes within the UK and Europe.
Oil and Gas
Whether upstream, midstream, or downstream, oil and gas projects require rigorous cost control, change management, and schedule discipline. We place professionals with expertise in brownfield modifications, FPSO projects, and major capital works in regulated environments.
Building services
MEP coordination, BIM integration, and M&E project controls are increasingly complex. We source quantity surveyors, planners, and project controllers who specialise in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems across commercial, healthcare, and mixed-use developments.