CHICAGO, IL, May 29, 2026. 180 Engineering, a specialized engineering and IT recruiting firm, today announced that Forbes has recognized the company on two of its annual best of 2026 rankings. 180 Engineering earned a place on America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms 2026 at #54 and America’s Best Temp Staffing Firms 2026 at #70. The lists are produced by Forbes in partnership with Statista, based on independent surveys of external recruiters, in-house hiring managers and job seekers across the United States.
The dual recognition spans the full range of how 180 Engineering serves technical employers, from temporary and contract staffing through professional direct hire placements and retained executive search. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Chicago, the firm supports manufacturers and technology employers across the Midwest, with regional teams in Akron, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Madison, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. Its recruiters place electrical, mechanical, software, manufacturing, quality, test, field service and sales engineers, along with project and program management and IT professionals.
“Being named to two Forbes lists in the same year reflects everything our team has built around the way we partner with engineers and the companies that hire them,” said George Santos, Managing Director of 180 Engineering. “These rankings come directly from the people we serve every day, which is what makes them so meaningful. We are grateful to every client, candidate and colleague who put our name forward in the survey.”
The Forbes and Statista methodology evaluates recruiting firms on dimensions such as service quality, candidate experience and client satisfaction, with final selections drawn from thousands of independent survey responses. Recognition on a single list is widely regarded as one of the most credible third-party endorsements a recruiting firm can receive, and earning placement on two in the same year is uncommon. The simultaneous wins point to a firm able to perform at a high level across both short-term contract talent and professional direct hires.
180 Engineering serves clients across aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and offers direct hire, contract staffing, retained search, payroll services and technical consulting, including Manufacturing 4.0 audits and CMMC 2.0 cybersecurity assessments. The firm pairs deep engineering domain knowledge with a consultative, relationship-driven approach that has made it a repeat honoree on national recruiting and staffing rankings.
“We have always focused on knowing the engineering disciplines we recruit for as well as the hiring managers themselves, and that is what lets us deliver on speed, quality and long-term fit,” Santos added. “These two Forbes recognitions are a reminder that staying specialized is exactly what allows us to compete with the largest names in our industry while keeping the personal attention our clients count on.”
