Specialist engineering recruitment across Ireland. We place mechanical, electrical, civil, and process engineers with manufacturers, contractors, and consulting firms nationwide.
Foresight is a specialist engineering recruitment agency in Ireland, placing mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, process, and quality engineers with manufacturers, consultancies, contractors, and multinationals nationwide. Whether you need a validation engineer for a Cork pharma plant, a civil engineer for a Dublin infrastructure scheme, or an automation engineer for a midlands manufacturing line, we source, technically vet, and place the right person — locally where we can, internationally where we must.
Engineering is a globally competitive talent market, and Ireland is short of qualified people across nearly every discipline. That's why our international sourcing capability matters: when the right engineer isn't available here, we draw on vetted candidate pools across Europe, Brazil, and the Philippines and manage the work-permit process end-to-end, so your new hire arrives ready to contribute.
Our consultants understand the technical requirements of each discipline, not just the job title. We recruit:
From graduate to chartered and management level, every candidate is assessed for qualifications, certifications, and genuine technical competence before they reach your shortlist. You can also browse our live engineering jobs to see who's moving through our network.
Ireland's engineering demand is concentrated in a handful of high-investment sectors, and they're all competing for the same people:
Ireland has a well-documented shortage of qualified engineers. Engineers Ireland has repeatedly highlighted the gap between graduate output and industry demand, and competition from the technology sector — which pays premium salaries for the same problem-solving skill set — has made traditional engineering employers' hiring harder still. Posting a job locally only reaches engineers who are already in Ireland and already looking. Foresight reaches the rest: passive candidates in our network, and qualified engineers abroad who are open to relocating. For the full picture, read our analysis of the engineering skills shortage in Ireland.
When the Irish market can't supply the engineer you need, our international network closes the gap — and unlike most agencies, we name our sourcing markets and run a structured process. We recruit qualified engineers from across Europe, Brazil, and the Philippines, verifying academic qualifications and professional accreditation, assessing technical competence against your specific requirements, and coordinating travel, accommodation, and onboarding. The result is a job-ready engineer, not a CV. Learn more about our international engineering recruitment service.
Most professional engineering roles qualify for the Critical Skills Employment Permit, Ireland's fastest and most advantageous permit — it carries no Labour Market Needs Test, allows immediate family reunification, and offers a two-year route toward long-term residency, all of which strengthen retention. Roles outside the critical-skills list are typically covered by the General Employment Permit. We manage either route end-to-end on the employer's behalf: application, documentation, and DETE submission. See how our work permit management works, or read our full guide to the Critical Skills Employment Permit.
We keep the process transparent and technically rigorous:
Realistic timelines: a shortlist for roles with available local talent is typically presented within 7–14 working days; international or permit-dependent hires usually take 3–6 weeks from brief to offer stage. See our recruitment process in detail.
We place engineers on permanent, contract, and fixed-term bases. Contract and fixed-term placements are ideal for project peaks, commissioning and validation phases, or maternity and specialist cover; permanent search is suited to core team roles where long-term fit matters. We recruit nationwide — Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, and from our Co. Meath base across the midlands — so wherever your facility is, we can reach the talent. Request engineering staff or get in touch to discuss your requirements.
We are seeking an experienced Steel Fabricator on behalf of our client, a well-established steel fabrication company based in Ballycoogue, Arklow, Co. Wicklow. The company delivers high-quality structural and bespoke steelwork across a range of commercial, industrial, and construction projects. With a strong reputation for craftsmanship and precision engineering, the team works to exacting standards in a busy, professional workshop environment. The successful candidate will work from technical drawings to measure, cut, form, and assemble structural steel components to a high standard, operating a range of workshop machinery and carrying out MIG/Stick welding as required.
Our Client, is seeking two experienced TIG Welders / Pipe Fabricators to join its skilled workshop and site team. The successful candidates will work independently and as part of a small, experienced team on the fabrication of stainless steel vessels, tanks, platforms, and process pipework to a consistently high standard. This is a hands-on role requiring proven TIG welding ability, strong knowledge of stainless steel fabrication techniques, and the capacity to work from and interpret fabrication drawings without direct supervision.
A family-owned agricultural machinery manufacturer in Carlow is looking for two experienced MIG Welders. The company designs and builds livestock handling equipment and farm machinery for the Irish and export markets. You will work in a modern production facility alongside a skilled team, welding mild steel components to precise specifications.
An aerospace and precision engineering company in Shannon, Co. Clare is seeking a Coded Welder with current EN ISO 9606 certification. The company manufactures components for aviation, energy, and industrial sectors to exacting quality standards. This role requires a welder capable of working to aerospace-grade specifications in a controlled production environment.
Engineering recruitment in Ireland: what you need to know.
Whether you need a single placement or ongoing recruitment support, we'd love to hear from you. Tell us what you need and a specialist consultant will be in touch within 24 hours.
Brief us on your requirements and we'll come back with a plan. No obligation.