Principal People Business Partner, R&D

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role. This position requires working in the office 3 days per week in San Jose, with potential adjustments based on team and business needs.

About the role

FloQast is seeking a strategically-minded Principal, People Business Partner (R&D) to serve as the lead resource for our R&D Group. In this pivotal role, you will bridge the gap between complex technical objectives and human capital strategy. You will operate as a trusted advisor to the Chief Technology Officer, SVP of Product, and the broader R&D leadership team, ensuring that our organizational structure, leadership pipeline, and talent initiatives are perfectly synchronized with our product roadmap. The ideal candidate possesses deep fluency in the software development lifecycle and a proven ability to navigate the unique cultural nuances of a high-growth technical environment. You will architect the people-systems that enable our most technical minds to perform at their peak.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary consultant to the CTO and SVP of Product, aligning people strategies (workforce planning, org design, culture initiatives) with the technical roadmap and release cycles.
• Lead the evolution of technical career ladders, ensuring engineers and product managers have clear, transparent growth paths from Individual Contributor to Principal/Architect levels, and dual paths into Management.
• Foster an R&D environment that balances high-velocity delivery, customer demands, and roadmap deliverables while cultivating a relentless, competitive, and balanced culture.
• Coach and mentor technical leads and managers—many of whom are first-time people leaders—helping them master feedback, conflict resolution, and team motivation.
• Analyze engagement data, turnover trends, and hiring metrics within the R&D group to provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Build cross-functional relationships with Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, People Ops, and other partners to ensure People programs are effectively implemented and aligned with business needs.
• Partner with Finance, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and People Ops to align on headcount strategy, workforce planning, and organizational scalability.
• Support the execution of People programs, including performance cycles, compensation planning, promotions, and talent reviews within assigned groups.
• Perform additional tasks as needed to help the company meet its goals.

Requirements

• R&D Literacy: Deep understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including distinctions between roles (e.g., DevOps vs. Backend engineers) and fluency in concepts like sprints, technical debt, and shipping code.
• Strategic PBP Experience: 8+ years of HR experience, with at least 3+ years in a senior People Business Partner role supporting R&D within a high-growth technology or SaaS company.
• Executive Presence: Proven ability to build trust and influence at the C-suite and VP levels, navigating complex organizational dynamics with poise.
• Partnerships within G&A: Track record of collaborating with Finance, Accounting, and Operations teams on day-to-day tasks and large-scale projects.
• Scale & Growth Mastery: Demonstrated experience leading People strategies during rapid scale (e.g., doubling headcount, international expansion, or post-IPO).
• Analytical Mindset: Expert-level ability to interpret data and use it to drive executive action.
• AI Mastery: Adept at integrating AI-driven insights and automation to streamline organizational design and talent analytics.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex people strategies clearly.
• Educational Background: BA/BS degree required; Advanced degree (MBA or Master’s in HR/Organizational Development) or high-level HR certification (SHRM-SCP/SPHR) preferred.

Pay

The base pay range for this position is $162,000 - $218,000. Compensation includes base salary and participation in our Total Rewards program, which encompasses benefits and our Employee Stock Program.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Family-forming benefits
• Life and disability insurance
• Unlimited vacation
• Employee Stock Program

About FloQast

FloQast is the leading AI-powered Accounting Transformation Platform, built by former accountants for accountants. We automate complex, recurring accounting workflows—transforming preparers into strategic reviewers and relieving accountants from tedious manual work. Our cloud-based solution is trusted by over 3,500 world-class accounting teams, including Lululemon, Doordash, and the MLB, to drive collaboration and financial accuracy. FloQast is redefining the practice and perception of accounting on a global scale.

Values

• Authentic: Act as a guiding compass, shaping every decision with integrity.
• Ambitious with Integrity: Pursue growth and success without compromising ethical standards.
• Empowered to Grow: Foster an environment where continuous learning and development are prioritized.
• Committed to Collaboration: Work together to achieve shared goals.
• Customer Obsessed in All Ways: Prioritize customer needs and satisfaction in every aspect of the business.