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 sophisticated, 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.

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 clear, transparent growth paths for engineers and product managers from Individual Contributor to Principal/Architect levels, including dual paths into Management.
• Foster an R&D environment that balances high-velocity delivery, customer demands, and roadmap deliverables while cultivating a culture that is relentless, competitive, and balanced.
• 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 strong 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 any other tasks assigned to help the company meet its goals.

Requirements

• Deep understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and familiarity with roles such as DevOps engineer and Backend engineer, including concepts like sprints, technical debt, and shipping code.
• 8+ years of HR experience, with at least 3+ years in a senior People Business Partner role specifically supporting R&D within a high-growth technology or SaaS company.
• Proven ability to build trust and influence at the C-suite and VP levels, navigating complex organizational dynamics with poise and professional maturity.
• Track record of working closely with Finance, Accounting, and Operations teams on day-to-day tasks and large-scale projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading People strategies during periods of rapid scale (e.g., doubling headcount, international expansion, or post-IPO).
• Expert-level ability to interpret data and use it to drive executive action.
• Adept at integrating AI-driven insights and automation to streamline organizational design and talent analytics.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex people strategies clearly.

Qualifications

• 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 is not limited to base salary and may include additional rewards such as benefits and stock options.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Family Forming benefits
• Life & 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.

Values

• Unwaveringly Authentic
• Ambitious with Integrity
• Empowered to Grow
• Committed to Collaboration
• Customer Obsessed in All Ways