Your partner in building an engineering career that matters

At Octagon Group, we help engineers and technical professionals find roles where their skills make an actual impact — not just another line on a CV.

We’re a specialist recruitment agency focused on technology and engineering markets, supporting great candidates and great companies across the UK, USA and Europe. Whether you’re looking for your next permanent opportunity, considering contract roles, or want career support, we’re here to help you navigate what comes next.

Who we work with

We partner with companies that are building the future: innovators in aerospace, semiconductor design, medical devices, defence, power electronics, photonics, advanced manufacturing and more. Our work spans permanent, contract and retained hiring, with particular depth in:
Engineering recruitment specialists across R&D, manufacturing and operations
Electronics hardware recruitment and embedded systems
R&D recruitment specialists supporting innovation and product development
Manufacturing recruitment specialists across production, quality, supply chain and leadership
Technical and commercial roles supporting growth and delivery

Whether you’re building a team or looking for your next role, our focus is always on alignment, not volume.

Our mission

The world is changing, and we exist to empower that change. 

At Octagon, we partner with technology and engineering businesses to build the teams behind innovation. We challenge the status quo in talent delivery, creating meaningful opportunities and lasting impact, one person, one role, one project at a time.

It’s not just about recruitment. It’s about enabling progress.

How we do recruitment at Octagon Group

Every great technology business is built twice: first in the minds of its founders, and then by the people who turn ideas into reality.

That belief shapes how we approach recruitment.

Rather than operating as generalists, each consultant at Octagon focuses on a single technical vertical. That means we understand your industry, speak the same technical language, and have access to the top engineering and manufacturing companies.

For clients, this results in:

  • better shortlists
  • faster, more focused hiring processes
  • reduced risk of mis-hires

For candidates, this means:

  • working with recruiters who understand your skills
  • roles that fit your experience and ambitions
  • honest conversations and long-term support

Meet our team

Talent Director / Co-Founder

Steve Bernat

sbernat@octagongroup.global

01525 306 219

Specialisms

Contract Engineering

Fun Fact

I’m a qualified ski instructor and the best skier in the office (debatable)

Talent Director / Co-Founder

Bhav Patel

bpatel@octagongroup.global

01525 306 218

Specialisms

RF, Power and Semiconductor Tech

Fun Fact

Fitness & endurance enthusiast (marathon, triathlon, cross-fit). LFC obsessed. Loves Santa Monica.

Head of Talent

Dale Barnett

dbarnett@octagongroup.global

01525 306 221

Specialisms

Manufacturing & Ops

Fun Fact

I can recite every word to Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings

Senior Talent Partner

Keelan Riley

kriley@octagongroup.global

01525 664852

Specialisms

Aerospace & Defence

Fun Fact

Spent two years in New Zealand, selling adrenaline-fueled activities like skydiving, bungy jumping, helicopter glacier tours, and canyoning.

Talent Partner

Adam Barnett

abarnett@octagongroup.global

01525 664 854

Specialisms

Power Electronics

Fun Fact

I’ve recently taken up golf again after many years and I am consistently getting worse.

Talent Partner

Chloe Edwards

cedwards@octagongroup.global

01525 664 851 

Specialisms

Medical & Life Sciences Technology

Fun Fact

Chloe never broke a bone and absolutely adores her 3-year-old Labrador

Senior Talent Partner

Scott Newcomen

snewcomen@octagongroup.global

01525 659 123

Specialisms

R&D / Engineering

Fun Fact

Loves Arsenal and golf alongside his ‘other career’... being a Pokémon Go trainer. Safe to say, he's always chasing wins, birdies, and rare catches!

Talent Partner

Jennifer Seress

jseress@octagongroup.global

01525 306 220

Specialisms

Fire, Safety & Securities

Fun Fact

Very nearly an Olympic swimmer before giving it all up for a life in Recruitment #JustKeepSwimming

Senior Talent Partner

Tarah Williams

twilliams@octagongroup.global

01525 664 850

Specialisms

Optical & Photonics

Fun Fact

I was born without an appendix... 1 in 100,000 people are born without one!

Senior Talent Partner

Shammi Choudhury

schoudhury@octagongroup.global

01525 206 228

Specialisms

Contract Engineering

Fun Fact

A car enthusiast who could probably list the cars she's had better than most people could describe their pet... sounds like she names all her cars!

Financial Director (Non-Exec)

Stewart Roberts

Specialisms

All things money!

Fun Fact

Fuelled by beer, curry and karaoke

Marketing & Ops Lead

Ksenia Molodych

Specialisms

Marketing & Operations

Fun Fact

Lived in 5 countries and speaks 4 languages (learning the 5th)

What does a specialist technical recruiter do?

A technical recruiter’s job goes far beyond matching keywords on a CV.

At Octagon Group, our team members:

  • understand the work behind the job title
  • assess how skills translate into real delivery
  • evaluate cultural and team fit
  • support both sides through the full hiring process

This is why our candidates don’t just see us as recruiters but as trusted advisors.

 

A global perspective, local expertise

We support UK, USA and Europe recruitment, working with organisations operating locally and internationally.

We’re based in the UK, but our work spans the UK, USA and Europe, connecting you with a broad range of opportunities — from local engineering teams to international technical hubs.

Let’s take the next step together

Whether you’re actively looking for your next engineering role or just curious about what’s possible, we’d love to talk. Candidates receive personalised support that reflects their experience, career goals and market demand.

Fill the form below, or simply email us at info@octagongroup.co.uk or call at 01525 306 225.

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