Position Overview:We are a rapidly growing aerospace startup at an inflection point. As our first HR hire, you will build the People function from the ground up designing the systems, programs, and culture infrastructure that will carry us through our next phase of growth.
This role starts as a hands-on individual contributor but is explicitly designed to grow into a people manager within 12-24 months, giving you the opportunity to shape both the function and the team beneath you. You will report directly to the Senior Director of Talent & People and have a true seat at the table on people decisions and interface directly with the CEO.
Given the nature of our work, compliance is non-negotiable. You will be the company's authority on California employment law and federal contractor HR obligations protecting the company while building a culture where people genuinely want to work.
Key Responsibilities:Onboarding & Offboarding- Design and own a structured new hire onboarding program, including orientation, I-9 compliance, and 30/60/90-day check-ins
- Partner with hiring managers to ensure smooth pre-boarding and day-one experiences
- Manage offboarding, exit interviews, and CA-compliant final pay processes
Benefits Administration- Own health, dental, vision, 401(k), and ancillary benefits programs end-to-end
- Manage open enrollment including employee communication and carrier coordination
- Ensure compliance with CA continuation requirements, COBRA, and more
Employee Relations- Serve as a trusted, neutral resource for employee concerns and any workplace issues
- Conduct investigations
- Advise and coach managers on performance
Compliance - California & Federal- Maintain full compliance with CA employment law: E.g. employee data, wage & hour, pay transparency, and mandatory leave
- Support federal contractor compliance: OFCCP, EEO-1 reporting, VEVRAA, Section 503, and applicable FAR HR clauses
- Maintain and annually update the employee handbook and all HR policies
Performance Management- Design and run the performance review cycle: goal setting, mid-year, and annual reviews
- Train and coach managers on feedback frameworks, calibration, and documentation best practices
- Build the infrastructure for career ladders and growth conversations as the company scales
Engagement & Culture- Run employee engagement surveys and translate results into actionable programs
- Partner with leadership on recognition and culture-building initiatives
- Be a visible, trusted presence across all teams. The person employees come to
Team Leadership (Year 1-2)- Define the scope and timing of the HR Generalist role in partnership with the Senior Director of Talent & People
- Establish clear ownership, workflows, and growth paths within the HR function
- Build a team culture of trust, responsiveness, and continuous improvement
HR Operations & Systems- Own day-to-day HRIS administration (Gusto)
- Maintain accurate headcount data, HR metrics, and reporting for leadership
- Partner with Finance on headcount planning and compensation benchmarking
Required Qualifications:- 7+ years of HR generalist experience, with at least 3 years based in California
- Deep, working knowledge of CA employment law
- Experience with federal contractor compliance (OFCCP, EEO-1, VEVRAA, Section 503)
- Demonstrated experience owning benefits administration through open enrollment
- Hands-on employee relations experience including investigations and terminations
- Experience operating as a solo HR professional or within a very lean team
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms
- Exceptional written and verbal communication; high discretion and sound judgment
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.
Desired Qualifications:- Background in aerospace, defense, or technical startup environments
- Experience hiring and onboarding HR team members
The California annual base salary for this role is currently $134,000-$195,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.
ITAR Compliance:To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
