Founding HR Business Partner (AI)

TL;DR

Founding HR Business Partner (AI): Building the foundation of people programs and shaping the employee experience for a fast-growing Series A AI startup with an accent on organizational design, employee relations, and scaling culture. Focus on designing performance management processes, owning compensation strategy, and establishing scalable HR policies.

Location: On-site in San Francisco, CA

Salary: $200k – $270k + Equity

Company

AI research and product company pioneering new model architectures (SSMs) to create AI that interacts with the world like humans.

What you will do

• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on people strategy and organizational health.
• Manage the full employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding.
• Build performance management, talent development, and learning programs.
• Lead compensation planning, including benchmarking and equity cycles.
• Establish scalable, founder-friendly HR policies and workflows.
• Partner with recruiting to align talent strategies with long-term goals.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience as an HRBP.
• 2+ years in a high-growth startup or tech environment.
• Expertise in employee relations and handling sensitive situations.
• Ability to design organizational structures for rapid growth.
• Experience building career ladders and manager training from scratch.
• Visa sponsorship available on a case-by-case basis.

Nice to have

• Experience in AI/ML or deeply technical domains.
• Track record of scaling companies from 50 to 200+ employees.
• Proficiency with modern HRIS, ATS, and engagement tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base salary and attractive equity packages.
• Flexible PTO to ensure employee recharge.
• Daily provided lunch, dinner, and snacks.
• Monthly commuter allowance for office travel.
• Open and inclusive culture focused on mutual support.