People Operations

People Operations Specialist

HappyRobot is the AI-native operating system for the real economy—a system that closes the circuit between intelligence and action. By combining real-time truth, specialized AI workers, and an orchestrating intelligence, we help enterprises run complex, mission-critical operations with true autonomy.

Our AI OS compounds knowledge, optimizes at every level, and evolves over time. We're starting with supply chain and industrial-scale operations, where resilience, speed, and continuous improvement matter most—freeing humans to focus on strategy, creativity, and other high-value tasks.

We are looking for a highly motivated People Operations Specialist to join our growing team. In this role, you will play a key part in supporting our employees and scaling our organization by managing core People Ops functions and contributing to people-related projects across the company.

What You'll Do

• Own core People Operations activities, including payroll processing, onboarding and offboarding, benefits and leave administration.
• Serve as a point of contact for employees, handling complex employee situations with professionalism, empathy, and discretion.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and internal policies, partnering with leadership as needed.
• Support and manage People Ops processes and documentation to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on people-related initiatives and projects.
• Assist with or own additional HR projects as the company grows, including potential immigration coordination.

Must Have

• Extremely detail-oriented and meticulous, with a strong focus on accuracy and follow-through.
• High degree of ownership and initiative; able to operate independently and proactively identify improvements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization.
• 3+ years of experience in an HR, People Ops, or talent-related role, ideally within a fast-paced company or high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive and confidential employee information.
• Hands-on experience managing HRIS platforms (Rippling and/or Deel strongly preferred)
• Comfort using AI-powered tools and modern HR technology to improve efficiency and workflows.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to work at a high-growth AI startup, backed by top investors.
• Fast Growth - Backed by a16z and YC, on track for eight figure ARR.
• Ownership & Autonomy - Take full ownership of projects and ship fast.
• Top-Tier Compensation - Competitive salary + equity in a high-growth startup.
• Comprehensive Benefits - Healthcare, dental, vision coverage.
• Work With the Best - Join a world-class team of engineers and builders.

Our Operating Principles

Extreme Ownership

We take full responsibility for our work, outcomes, and team success. No excuses, no blame-shifting — if something needs fixing, we own it and make it better. This means stepping up, even when it's not "your job." If a ball is dropped, we pick it up. If a customer is unhappy, we fix it. If a process is broken, we redesign it. We don't wait for someone else to solve it — we lead with accountability and expect the same from those around us.

Craftsmanship

Putting care and intention into every task, striving for excellence, and taking deep ownership of the quality and outcome of your work. Craftsmanship means never settling for "just fine." We sweat the details because details compound. Whether it's a product feature, an internal doc, or a sales call — we treat it as a reflection of our standards. We aim to deliver jaw-dropping customer experiences by being curious, meticulous, and proud of what we build — even when nobody's watching.

We are "majos"

Be friendly & have fun with your coworkers. Always be genuine & honest, but kind. "Majo" is our way of saying: be a good human. Be approachable, helpful, and warm. We're building something ambitious, and it's easier (and more fun) when we enjoy the ride together. We give feedback with kindness, challenge each other with respect, and celebrate wins together without ego.

Urgency with Focus

Create the highest impact in the shortest amount of time. Move fast, but in the right direction. We operate with speed because time is our most limited resource. But speed without focus is chaos. We prioritize ruthlessly, act decisively, and stay aligned. We aim for high leverage: the biggest results from the simplest, smartest actions. We're running a high-speed marathon — not a sprint with no strategy.

Talent Density and Meritocracy

Hire only people who can raise the average; 'exceptional performance is the passing grade.' Ability trumps seniority. We believe the best teams are built on talent density — every hire should raise the bar. We reward contribution, not titles or tenure. We give ownership to those who earn it, and we all hold each other to a high standard. A-players want to work with other A-players — that's how we win.

First-Principles Thinking

Strip a problem to physics-level facts, ignore industry dogma, rebuild the solution from scratch. We don't copy-paste solutions. We go back to basics, ask why things are the way they are, and rebuild from the ground up if needed. This mindset pushes us to innovate, challenge stale assumptions, and move faster than incumbents. It's how we build what others think is impossible.