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Lead the People strategy at Astro Mechanica, shaping HR operations and programs in a fast-paced aerospace startup.

Location
San Francisco
Compensation
Not disclosed
Level
director
Type
full time · On-site

Posted by employer 3 days ago

First seen on Joblaze 2 days ago

Last verified on the company career page 2 hours ago

What you'll build

  • Shape the People strategy and roadmap
  • Build programs that enable performance and growth
  • Establish reliable People operations
  • Partner with leaders and employees

Must have

  • 10+ years of progressive HR experience
  • Experience managing employee lifecycle processes
  • Track record of establishing scalable processes
  • Excellent judgment and communication skills

Practical constraints

  • In-office work five days a week

Requirements

Experience
10+ years

Not disclosed in this posting: compensation, visa sponsorship.

Benefits

401k Match Unlimited PTO Equity/Stock Options Remote Work Health Insurance

Joblaze summary

The Director of Human Resources at Astro Mechanica is responsible for shaping the People strategy and overseeing day-to-day HR operations, including employee lifecycle management and compliance. This role requires a strong background in HR strategy, operations, and program development, particularly in early-stage environments. Ideal candidates will have over a decade of experience in HR, with a proven ability to advise leadership and implement scalable processes. The position is situated within a collaborative team that values engineering excellence and a flat organizational structure.

Joblaze insights

  • Listed 2 days ago — first seen on Joblaze October 15, 2026. Last confirmed on Astro Mechanica's careers page October 17, 2026.

Quick facts

Is the Director of People role remote?
No — this is an on-site role in San Francisco.
How much experience is required?
At least 10 years of relevant experience for this Director of People role.
Where is the role based?
Astro Mechanica is hiring for this position in San Francisco.
What seniority level is this role?
Astro Mechanica targets director candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Director of People role at Astro Mechanica.

From the original posting

WHO YOU ARE:

You’re a seasoned People leader who combines strategic perspective, business acumen, and operational rigor. You’ve built in early-stage environments and led at scale, and know how to translate business priorities into effective teams, programs, and systems. You know what great looks like—and how to build toward it through practical, iterative steps. You earn trust through sound judgment, clear communication, and reliable follow-through. You’re as comfortable managing a benefits renewal, resolving an employee issue, or fixing a workflow as you are advising leaders and designing programs.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Shape the People strategy and roadmap

  • Partner with the Head of People and leadership to translate business goals into a focused People roadmap

  • Help define our People philosophy, operating rhythms, decision-making practices, and measures of success

  • Deliver priority initiatives, iterate with feedback, and identify when to add specialist expertise and team capacity

Build programs that enable performance and growth

  • Design, launch, and administer programs across performance, manager development, career growth, and engagement, including communications, manager resources, and follow-through

  • Support compensation planning, market benchmarking, and review cycles in partnership with the Head of People and Finance

  • Equip managers to set expectations, give feedback, and build an employee-first culture with high standards and accountability

Establish reliable People operations

  • Own day-to-day employee lifecycle operations, including onboarding, offboarding, and benefits administration—from employment documentation and triaging questions to open enrollment, renewals, and vendor coordination

  • Establish and maintain multi-state HR compliance practices, proactively identifying gaps and partnering with Legal, Finance, and external advisors to address risk as the company grows

  • Manage and continuously improve Rippling, employee records, workflows, and reporting, building scalable processes and applying thoughtful automation to improve accuracy, reduce administrative work, and deliver a consistent employee experience

Partner with leaders and employees

  • Advise leaders on team structure, talent planning, and organizational change

  • Provide day-to-day guidance on policies and performance; manage sensitive matters with discretion and sound judgment, partnering with the Head of People and/or counsel as needed

  • Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data, employee feedback, and management insights to inform People priorities and organizational decisions

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

  • 10+ years of progressive HR experience spanning People strategy, operations, programs, and business partnership, including building in resource-constrained startups and leading at scale

  • Relevant hands-on experience managing employee lifecycle processes, benefits administration, HR systems, and multi-state compliance, with accountability for both accurate execution and continuous improvement

  • A track record of establishing scalable processes and programs that evolve with the business

  • Excellent judgment, business acumen, and communication skills, with demonstrated success advising senior leaders, navigating complex people decisions, and translating business priorities into effective organizational practices. Strong grounding in multi-state compliance and operational risk

  • Experience leading teams, managing vendors and external partners, and delivering complex initiatives from strategy through execution. You’re equally comfortable setting direction, developing others, and launching programs—and thrive in the details and hands-on work that make them successful

PERKS & BENEFITS:

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

  • 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

  • Flexible work environment

Standard company text repeated across Astro Mechanica's postings is omitted here.

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