HR Business Partner

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage. About the Role:  As an HR Business Partner at Hermeus you will work closely with leaders to align people strategy with business goals. You will support team structure, performance management, and organizational planning while ensuring smooth HR operations and compliance at the Los Angeles site. This role balances strategic partnership with hands-on execution, driving efficiency, supporting growth, and creating an exceptional employee experience in a fast-paced aerospace environment. Responsibilities: HR Business Partnership & Organizational Design • Partner with leadership to align team structures, leveling, and headcount planning with program priorities. • Drive consistency in hiring practices by ensuring roles, levels, and compensation align with our internal frameworks. • Lead local performance management efforts, including calibration, promotion readiness, and development planning. • Use people data to provide insights and recommendations that improve team efficiency, structure, and performance. • Identify and resolve organizational friction points - ensuring processes, decisions, and approvals move quickly and cleanly. • Act as advisor to leaders and managers on team structure, talent movement, and organizational planning. HR Operations & Execution • Serve as the local People Ops point of contact for the Los Angeles office, ensuring employees and managers are supported in day-to-day needs. • Partner with the HR Operations Manager to ensure smooth execution of onboarding/offboarding, compliance, payroll coordination, and HRIS workflows. • Support People Ops programs (e.g., performance reviews, compensation planning, engagement surveys) by localizing communication and implementation for Los Angeles. • Maintain compliance with labor laws and ensure site-level alignment on policy execution. • Collaborate with Facilities, IT, and Security to provide a safe, compliant, and high-quality employee experience. Requirements: • 5-6 years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, with at least 2 years supporting technical or manufacturing organizations. • Strong understanding of employment law and HR compliance. • Experience with workforce planning, leveling frameworks, and organizational design. • Proven ability to partner effectively with leaders, balancing business priorities with people considerations. • Demonstrated success in improving processes and reducing friction across HR systems and programs. • A bias for action and the ability to move seamlessly between strategic partnership and tactical execution. Preferred Skills and Experience: • Experience supporting high-growth engineering or manufacturing teams. • Familiarity with tools such as ADP, Lattice, Lever, and Jira. • SHRM-CP, PHR, or similar certification is a plus. Working Conditions: • Role is based on-site at the Los Angeles facility to ensure strong collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams. • Primarily office-based, with regular engagement on the production floor to support workforce initiatives and employee relations. • Occasional travel to other Hermeus locations may be required for meetings, training, or company events. • May involve extended hours during peak business cycles or critical program milestones. • Fast-paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative environment aligned with Hermeus’ rapid design, build, and test culture. The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs. At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team. Benefits: Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms   U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS  The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.    EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.