Human Resources Manager

Advanced Reentry Technologies

Who We Are:

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions.

The company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry.

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

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in-office presence.

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 .

Equal Employment Opportunity:

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.

Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Notice for further details.