Compensation Specialist
About The Position
At Lightning AI, a rapidly scaling company, compensation is viewed as a modeling problem. We are seeking a Compensation Specialist who will own compensation philosophy, incentive and equity design, and the underlying models and tools. This role involves conducting market research to provide clear recommendations, developing offer and leveling frameworks for People and Finance teams, and offering quick, defensible answers during performance cycles, offer decisions, and retention efforts. The ideal candidate will have a background in strategic finance, FP&A, analytics, or compensation with a strong emphasis on modeling.
Requirements
- 3+ years in compensation, strategic finance, FP&A, analytics, or a comparably quantitative role with ownership of compensation planning and its underlying models.
- Proven ability to align compensation planning with business and People strategy.
- Strong modeling and analytical skills, with experience building and maintaining complex compensation and equity models and translating outputs into clear recommendations for senior leaders.
- Track record of using market data (Radford, Pave, OpenComp, Levels.fyi, Mercer, or similar) for benchmarking and pay calibration.
- Experience partnering with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Deep knowledge of at least one competitive talent market (AI, infrastructure, tech, or similar).
Nice To Haves
- Background in AI, cloud/infrastructure, or data centers.
- Experience in equity and incentive design, including private-versus-public equity frameworks and modeling for pre-IPO scaling.
- Experience operating within a rapid-scaling, pre-IPO environment and understanding how compensation structures evolve at different stages.
Responsibilities
- Build and maintain compensation and equity models, ranges, and scenario tools, including cash-versus-equity tradeoffs.
- Manage annual and off-cycle compensation planning end-to-end, including strategy, budget, and execution.
- Benchmark compensation against AI, infrastructure, and tech companies using market data sources like Radford, Pave, OpenComp, and Levels.fyi, and translate this data into actionable guidance.
- Develop tools for offer decisioning, leveling guidance, and performance-cycle resources for cross-functional teams.
- Ensure compensation inputs for review and calibration processes are accurate, consistent, and aligned with strategy.
- Build reporting and dashboards to track pay equity, offer competitiveness, and retention risk to inform decision-making.
Benefits
- Discretionary bonus
- Meaningful equity component (RSUs)
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) matching (U.S.) and pension contributions (U.K.).
- Flexible Time Off: Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and floating holidays.
- Company-Wide Winter Break: Two weeks of company closure each winter.
- Paid Parental & Family Leave
- Professional Development: Annual learning and development allowance.
- Wellness Benefits: Wellness and work-from-home stipends.
- Sabbatical Program: Four weeks of paid sabbatical leave after four years of service.
- Flexible Work: Flexible schedules and a hybrid work model.
- In-Office Meals: Complimentary meals at office hubs.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
