People Operations Manager

Cyngn • Mountain View, CA

1d • $110,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Cyngn is seeking a People Operations Manager to serve as a high-stakes executor and enforcer of our operational standards. You will be responsible for the mechanical, technical, and legal integrity of our People function. We need a high-agency professional with the backbone to drive decisive action, optimize our tech stack without external guidance, and maintain the precision required for autonomous vehicle technology.

Requirements

• 6+ years of HR/People Operations experience in a fast-growing tech environment.
• Rippling Expert: Advanced, hands-on experience with Rippling PEO, payroll, and 401(k) administration.
• CA Labor Law Mastery: Deep functional knowledge of California-specific regulations and compliance requirements.
• Extreme Ownership & Resourcefulness: Proven ability to solve complex problems independently and deliver results in high-pressure environments.
• The "Enforcer" Mentality: Ability to have difficult conversations, stand your ground, and enforce policies with professional firmness.
• Strict Organization: High discipline in documentation and file management; you are not okay with things being out of place.
• Education: BA/BS Degree.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hardware, manufacturing, or robotics teams.
• Familiarity with regulated or export-controlled (ITAR/EAR) environments.
• Experience scaling a startup from mid-stage to commercial deployment.

Responsibilities

• Systems Mastery: Own Rippling (PEO, 401(k), and integrations) as the primary power user, ensuring absolute data integrity and seamless system architecture.
• Onboarding Excellence: Oversee the technical and administrative logistics of the end-to-end employee lifecycle, with a focus on high-velocity, structured onboarding in a technical environment.
• Program Architecture: Build and scale automated, legally sound frameworks for Performance Management, Comp Cycles, and Equity.
• Policy Enforcement: Act as the final authority on HR policies, ensuring company-wide adherence to standards, safety protocols, and mandates.
• Compliance: Maintain rigorous compliance with Federal and California labor laws; proactively mitigate risks.
• Operational Execution: Direct administrative handling of complex employee relations, including leaves, ADA, and terminations.
• Framework Ownership: Evolve compensation bands and leveling guidelines in partnership with Business Ops.
• Payroll & Benefits: Manage end-to-end processing of payroll and benefits with high precision and attention to detail.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner with Recruiting, Finance, and Legal on audits, workforce planning, and export-control (ITAR/EAR) compliance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees