People Operations Manager

RoboForce•Milpitas, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

RoboForce is an AI robotics company developing Physical AI–powered Robo-Labor for dull, dirty, and dangerous work. The company’s robots are engineered for demanding industrial environments, with a focus on real-world deployment and scalability. We’re seeking our first People Operations Manager to own and evolve the people infrastructure of RoboForce This role has company-wide ownership across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, compensation, performance management, benefits, compliance, and employee experience. The ideal candidate will have extensive People Operations experience in high-growth, technical companies (robotics, hardware, AI), and has operated with a high degree of autonomy while partnering closely with founders and senior leaders. You bring strong judgment and execution discipline, building structure where needed while preserving speed, accountability, and culture.

Requirements

8-10 years of experience in People Operations, HR, or related roles, ideally within a startup or high-growth company.
Broad HR generalist experience across compliance, payroll, benefits, performance management, immigration, recruiting, and employee engagement.
High judgment, discretion, and ability to operate independently.
Experience managing visa processes or partnering with immigration counsel preferred.
Excellent relationship-builder with strong communication and problem-solving skills.
Organized, proactive, and comfortable juggling multiple priorities.
Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
Requires 5 days/week in-office collaboration with the teams.

Nice To Haves

Bonus: holds general HR compliance and employment law certifications

Responsibilities

Own and steward all core People Operations functions, including onboarding, compensation, benefits, performance management, compliance, and offboarding.
Set and maintain people policies and practices that are pragmatic, compliant, and stage-appropriate.
Own and manage employee relations matters, partnering closely with company leadership and legal counsel as appropriate.
Serve as a trusted advisor to founders and senior leaders on organizational design, role clarity, and people strategy.
Provide guidance and support to managers on performance, feedback, and employee development.
Help establish consistent management expectations and operating norms.
Own compensation frameworks and leveling structures.
Partner with finance and leadership on compensation planning and equity administration.
Manage benefits programs and vendor relationships.
Design and operate lightweight performance management and feedback processes.
Support the reinforcement of company values and culture through systems and behaviors.
Ensure a consistent and high-quality employee experience.
Own People Ops systems and tooling (HRIS, payroll, performance tools).
Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations.
Partner with external counsel on immigration and complex employment matters.