Head of People Rewards and Wellbeing

Ambiq Micro, Inc.•Austin, TX

About The Position

We’re on the hunt for a hands-on, numbers-loving hero to join our People & Culture team as our new Head of People Rewards and Wellbeing. This isn’t just any HR role — it’s a chance to design, build, and protect the very systems that keep our team rewarded, recognized, and ready to change the world. In this brand-new role, you’ll take the lead in crafting and managing our total rewards strategy, including global payroll operations. You’ve got a strong grasp of compensation programs, from exempt employees to sales incentives and executive pay. Maybe you’re not a full-blown expert in equity and variable comp yet — but you’ve got the curiosity, initiative, and drive to get there fast. You know your way around U.S. benefits and can spot cost trends before they become kryptonite. We’re a fast-growing company of 200+ amazing humans, and in our close-knit HR squad, everyone gets to shape the story. If you’re ready to flex your superpowers in compensation and benefits while diving into all things People & Culture, we’d love to have you on our team. You’ll join an unstoppable crew of HR heroes: • Rick “The Talent Whisperer” Morales – Head of Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning, finder of exceptional humans. • Gina “The Operations Dynamo” Barres – our master of organization and efficiency (seriously, she runs on pure energy). • Allie “The Austin Avenger” Garza – HR Generalist extraordinaire and fearless commander of our Austin HQ. • Helen “The APAC Guardian” Ng – keeping our global culture thriving across continents. You, our Performance Architect, will bring precision, empathy, and pride to ensuring everyone feels valued and motivated to deliver their best. You know this work isn’t just about numbers — it’s about people’s lives, trust, and wellbeing. And that’s what makes you the real hero of this story.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline. Master’s degree a plus.
Exposure or experience with payroll systems, ideally within a fast-paced or similar industry environment.
Deep understanding of compensation and benefits principles, best practices, and compliance requirements.
Familiarity with modern HR Information Systems, such as Paylocity (or similar platforms).
Strong analytical mindset — skilled at gathering, interpreting, and translating complex data into actionable insights.
Meticulous attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and consistency.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel for data analysis and reporting.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build strong partnerships across teams.
Trusted professional who handles confidential and sensitive information with discretion and integrity.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer. We do not sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas (now or in the future) for this role.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and manage base salary, bonus, commission, and equity programs that align with company goals and reflect industry best practices.
Build and scale global payroll infrastructure, optimizing systems, vendors, and controls to ensure compliant, efficient, and employee-centric pay operations worldwide.
Oversee compensation evaluations for new hires, promotions, internal transfers, and retention initiatives to ensure fairness and consistency.
Lead the annual compensation cycle — including merit increases, bonuses, and equity planning — ensuring systems are ready, data is accurate, and processes run efficiently.
Model and analyze incentive plans to confirm alignment with business objectives and performance goals.
Conduct in-depth compensation analyses and build reports, dashboards, and data models that support decision-making and long-term strategy.
Benchmark roles and pay structures by participating in and analyzing results from global and regional Aon/Radford surveys to maintain market competitiveness.
Drive pay equity and market studies, leading or contributing to audits that promote fairness, transparency, and compliance.
401(k) management and development of ESPP Program
Ensure global compliance by maintaining alignment of compensation programs with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
Continuously evaluate and enhance our benefits offerings to ensure they stay competitive — and always equal to or better than what others in the market provide.
Partner with Gallagher to manage U.S. employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, and disability coverage.
Collaborate with the APAC HR Lead to align non-U.S. benefit programs, promoting a consistent and equitable global employee experience.
Serve as the go-to resource for employees on all things benefits — from enrollment questions to claims support and general inquiries.
Work closely with benefit providers to troubleshoot issues, streamline processes, and ensure smooth, high-quality service for employees.
Support key benefits milestones, including open enrollment, annual renewals, and employee education initiatives that help team members make the most of their benefits.