Human Resources Manager

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next‑generation capabilities from space. Who We Are: Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low‑Earth Orbit into an on‑demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach. Our spacecraft deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds. Inherently dual‑use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital and Lockheed Martin Ventures, we are working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA to push the boundaries of space‑based defense and logistics. 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 and 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, interfacing 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 workplace issues Conduct investigations Advise and coach managers on performance Compliance - California & Federal Maintain full compliance with CA employment law: 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 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 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. 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. Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status or disability. 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