Director, Total Rewards

Apptronik•Austin, TX

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Apptronik is building robots that will change how humanity works — and we’re building the people function to match. As our Director, Total Rewards, you’ll be a founding architect of how we attract, reward, and retain world-class talent in one of the most competitive markets on the planet. You’ll own compensation and benefits strategy end-to-end, partnering with Finance, Legal, and People Partners, and reporting to the VP, People Operations. Level will be calibrated to your experience and what you’re ready to own from day one.

Requirements

10+ years in compensation, total rewards, or a related people operations role, ideally in a high-growth or tech environment.
Breadth across comp strategy, equity, and benefits matters more than any single credential.
You build models, identify trends, and translate complex data into clear insights for Finance, Legal, and Board-level audiences.
You bring structure to ambiguity and take ownership through to execution — no playbook required.
You handle sensitive data with discretion and translate complex comp concepts into plain language for employees, managers, and executives alike.
You naturally embody our core values (Curiosity, Humility, Integrity, Passion, and Creativity) — how we make decisions every day.
10+ years in compensation, total rewards, or a combined people operations role
Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Nice To Haves

CCP, CEBS, or PHR/SPHR certification is a plus, not a requirement
Experience in a venture-backed or high-growth company strongly preferred; transferable depth from other dynamic environments welcome

Responsibilities

Own job architecture, leveling frameworks, and salary structures across engineering, business, and operations functions
Lead compensation cycles (merit, equity refresh, promotions), including modeling, calibration, and manager communications
Conduct regular market benchmarking using Radford or comparable surveys; maintain salary bands and refresh annually
Partner with Talent Acquisition on offer strategy, competitive positioning, and real-time compensation intelligence
Partner with Legal and Finance on equity mechanics, liquidity events, and board materials; build education resources that help employees understand and value their ownership
Own the full benefits lifecycle — broker relationships, annual renewal, plan design, cost modeling, and employee communication; serve as the escalation point for complex claims and coverage questions
Evaluate and evolve the benefits portfolio to remain competitive in the tech and robotics talent market
Oversee leave of absence administration and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state regulations
Ensure programs comply with FLSA, ACA, ERISA, and applicable state laws; maintain plan documents, SPDs, and governance documentation
Build dashboards and conduct pay equity analyses that give leadership clear visibility into total rewards spend and support a fair, data-informed workplace