Principal HR Business Partner, R&D
About the role
The Principal HR Business Partner for R&D at BetterUp is a transformational consultant and trusted advisor to our Engineering, Product, and Design leadership. This role operates at the intersection of human capital strategy, organizational architecture, and technical innovation.
Responsibilities
Lead large-scale R&D transformations including platform engineering reorganizations, product-led growth initiatives, and technical architecture realignments.
Architect organizational structures that optimize for speed, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration in complex technical environments.
Design and execute end-to-end change strategies for major transitions such as global expansion, hybrid/distributed engineering model optimization, and cultural transformation initiatives.
Guide R&D organizations through platform transformation journeys, understanding the talent implications of establishing platform teams.
Translate complex technical initiatives into organizational design, capability building, and talent acquisition roadmaps.
Achieve organizational readiness for platform shifts and proactively design workforce planning, skills development, and team restructuring to accelerate technical transformation outcomes.
Pioneer the adoption of AI and intelligent tooling in all aspects of R&D talent management.
Leverage real-time data and advanced analytics to diagnose systemic organizational health issues, identify leading indicators of performance or engagement concerns, and drive preemptive interventions.
Champion responsible AI adoption in talent processes while ensuring ethical use, transparency, and continuous validation of AI-enabled tools and insights.
Serve as a critical contributor to functional and enterprise strategic planning, bringing deep R&D domain expertise and forward-looking workforce insights to executive-level conversations.
Shape company-wide people practices by piloting innovative approaches in R&D that can be scaled enterprise-wide.
Develop multi-year talent strategies aligned with R&D product roadmaps, including workforce planning for emerging skill needs.
Design capability frameworks and competency models for technical roles that enable clear career progression, accurate leveling, and strategic hiring decisions.
Partner with Talent Acquisition to reimagine sourcing strategies, candidate experience, and hiring processes that attract top technical talent in competitive markets.
Guide leadership on complex talent decisions including organizational restructuring, reduction-in-force planning, span-of-control optimization, and succession planning for critical technical roles.
Provide high-touch coaching and development to VP and Director-level R&D leaders on people leadership, organizational effectiveness, and executive presence.
Design and facilitate leadership development programs tailored to the unique challenges of technical leaders.
Mentor and develop other HRBPs and People team members, elevating decision-making quality and strategic thinking across the function.
Cultivate change resilience in leadership teams during periods of uncertainty, helping technical leaders navigate ambiguity while maintaining team stability and productivity.
Requirements
12+ years of HRBP or consulting experience supporting Engineering, Product, or R&D organizations in high-growth tech companies.
Experience leading R&D organizations through platform transformations—technical migrations or organizational platform models.
Expertise in organizational design and consulting including systems thinking, change management, and hypothesis-driven problem-solving.
Advanced people analytics skills with AI fluency for HR applications including implementing AI tools and understanding responsible AI principles.
Understanding of modern software development.
Credibility with technical leaders and ability to engage in architecture and engineering effectiveness conversations.
Global/multi-site experience with distributed engineering teams.
High-growth environment experience (Series B through IPO).
Strong executive presence and exceptional communication skills.
Self-driven, autonomous, and collaborative in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
Qualifications
Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or related field.
Professional certifications in HR, such as SHRM-CP, PHR, SPHR, or similar.
Experience with AI and its integration into talent management processes.
Experience working in a high-growth tech company setting.
Experience with distributed engineering teams.
Skills
Strategic consulting and transformational leadership.
Systems thinking and hypothesis-driven problem-solving.
Advanced people analytics and AI fluency.
Experience with modern software development methodologies.
Experience with distributed engineering teams.
Benefits
At BetterUp, we provide a comprehensive benefits package including:
Access to BetterUp coaching; one for you and one for a friend or family member.
A competitive compensation plan with opportunity for advancement.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Flexible paid time off.
All federal/statutory holidays observed.
Four BetterUp Inner Workdays per year.
Five volunteer days to give back.
Learning and Development stipend.
Company-wide Summer and Winter breaks.
Year-round charitable contribution of your choice on behalf of BetterUp.
401(k) self-contribution.
Pay
The base salary range for the role is as follows:
- New York and San Francisco: $216,000 - $270,000
- Austin and Arlington (D.C. Area): $194,400 - $243,000
Schedule
We are flexible and understand the importance of work-life balance. We offer a variety of schedules to accommodate your needs.