People Operations Director

About the role

Atoms builds Physical AI — real-world robots for industries that move civilization forward, starting with food, mining, and transport. The company designs systems that understand, predict, and control the real world with precision, turning complex physical operations into something more reliable, scalable, and productive. This role sits at the intersection of people operations and scaling a high‑growth, hard‑tech organization.

Responsibilities

• Own the employee lifecycle: manage pre‑onboarding, onboarding, employee changes, promotions, data management, and offboarding end to end.
• Lead two teams: a People Operations Center of Excellence (process design, governance, compliance, communications) and a shared services team delivering high‑volume employee support against SLA and CSAT targets.
• Drive process and compliance excellence: design, improve, and govern critical processes spanning I‑9, background checks, benefits service delivery, workforce compliance, and audits.
• Partner with Payroll as it integrates into the People organization, with potential to expand direct ownership over time.
• Modernize systems and automation: deepen HRIS capabilities, particularly in Workday, and build automation and efficiency across the employee lifecycle.
• Redesign processes built for a smaller company to support a doubling of headcount; establish an operating rhythm grounded in metrics, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• 8+ years of People Operations experience, including leadership of core People Operations and a shared services or HR operations delivery team.
• Experience operating in a complex organization supporting frontline, corporate, and executive populations across multiple locations, entities, or countries.
• Background that spans both scaled, mature operations within a large organization and scrappy, high‑growth environments where processes are still being built.
• Depth in HRIS—Workday preferred—automation, and building efficient, metrics‑driven operations.
• Experience leading offshore or shared services delivery teams; captive offshore teams and payroll operations are strong pluses.
• Comfortable staying hands‑on while leading and developing a team, and thriving in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plans, incl. HSA options).
• Company‑paid life and disability insurance (short‑ and long‑term).
• Voluntary insurance: accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity.
• Optional supplemental life insurance for self, spouse, and children.
• Pet insurance discount.
• 401(k).
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter).
• Time Off policies: discretionary vacation days, 8 paid holidays per year, paid sick time, paid bereavement leave, and paid parental leave.

Pay

The base salary range for this role is $185,000 – $240,000 per year. Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, qualifications, and work location. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package; you may also be eligible for equity awards and an annual performance‑based bonus.

Schedule

This role can be based in our San Francisco office locations. As a company driven by innovation and continuous change, close collaboration is essential; all office‑based teams work onsite five days a week.