My point would be that engineering manager, etc are the ones who vett folks to be talked to. I'm pretty sure every job I've gotten in 25 years was initiated by engineering lead or manager.
In my career, some have and some haven't. In my current job, there's a screening by non-tech recruiters, then managers, then me and possibly others for the real tech interview. My EM is technical but cannot go in-depth as we can.
Imagine the recruitment industry around Munich or Melbourne or Singapore. Similar fish, very different kettles.