Human Resources Director

We are working with a venture-backed space technology start-up developing advanced software and engineering systems for the space industry. The company is currently a small, elite team and expects to grow significantly over the next 12–24 months as new programs and funding close. The company is seeking a hands-on HR Director who can build and lead the people function while supporting rapid growth. The Role This role will serve as the company’s first dedicated HR leader, responsible for establishing scalable HR processes while maintaining a strong culture in a highly technical start-up environment. The HR Director will work closely with leadership to ensure compliance, support hiring growth, and manage employee relations. This role is expected to grow into a future VP of HR position as the company scales. Responsibilities HR Operations & Compliance Ensure compliance with California and federal employment law. Maintain HR policies, procedures, and documentation. Oversee HR compliance in a defense-regulated environment. Support onboarding, employee lifecycle management, and HR systems. Employee Relations Lead employee relations matters. Manage performance discussions, disciplinary processes, and terminations. Provide guidance to leadership on sensitive HR issues. Maintain a healthy workplace culture while ensuring legal compliance. Hiring & Talent Scaling Support rapid hiring growth (15–20 hires expected in the near term). Coordinate with recruiters and hiring managers. Assist with job descriptions, hiring processes, and workforce planning. Ensure strong hiring practices and candidate experience. Culture & Organizational Development Support leadership in maintaining a strong company culture. Partner with leadership on employee engagement initiatives. Help create scalable HR processes as the company grows. Must Have 7+ years of experience in HR leadership roles. Strong knowledge of California and federal employment law. Direct experience managing hiring and firing decisions. Experience handling employee relations and difficult conversations. Experience supporting growing companies (15–100 employee range) Ability to operate as a hands-on HR leader in a startup environment. Nice to Have Experience with Rippling HRIS. Experience working in aerospace, defense, or regulated industries. Experience supporting organizations requiring facility clearance. Experience building HR processes from scratch Must be a U.S. Citizen eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance Due to the number of applicants, if you have not had any feedback after 2 weeks of applying, then unfortunately you have been unsuccessful. #J-18808-Ljbffr