People Operations Generalist

• Los Angeles
• On-site
• Yearly salary: $85,000 - $115,000

Job Description

At Heart Aerospace we develop the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, an electric zero-emission range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km. Heart is targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade.

Your mission

As a People Operations Generalist at Heart Aerospace, you’ll help support and scale the team building the future of flight. We’re looking for a hands-on, adaptable HR professional to establish foundational systems, own core people processes and foster a positive employee experience as we grow.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting and is passionate about developing processes that enable people and teams to do their best work. You’ll oversee the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding and compliance to compensation and performance, and partner closely with leadership to ensure our practices are scalable, inclusive, and aligned with our values.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Employee lifecycle management:

• Oversee end-to-end employee lifecycle processes, including onboarding, offboarding, promotions, and contract modifications.
• Draft, review, and process HR documentation such as offer letters, employment verifications, status changes, and termination paperwork.
• Support administration of equity compensation plans in coordination with Finance and Legal teams.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for prospect and employee inquiries, providing timely and accurate guidance on benefits, policies, payroll, and HR tools.
• Lead the offboarding process, including conducting exit interviews and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Manage contractor and temporary workforce relationships, ensuring seamless onboarding, compliance with internal policies, and coordination with third-party staffing partners.

HR administration and compliance:

• Monitor and report on key HR metrics (e.g., turnover, time-to-fill, engagement scores) to support data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations, including regular audits and updates to internal processes.
• Own and maintain HR documentation, including company policies, employee handbooks, and procedural guidelines.
• Address employee relations issues with discretion, escalating concerns appropriately and ensuring adherence to internal policies and labor law.
• Support investigations, documentation, and resolution of workplace concerns in partnership with legal or leadership teams as needed.
• Maintain and update employee records, HR systems and software, and ensure compliance with labor laws.
• Own HR documentation, including policies, employee handbooks, and company guidelines.

Compensation and benefits:

• Partner with leadership to design competitive and equitable compensation structures.
• Administer payroll, benefits programs, and open enrollment in collaboration with external vendors.
• Monitor market benchmarks and make recommendations to remain competitive with compensation and benefits offerings.

Performance and employee development:

• Develop and manage performance review cycles, goal-setting frameworks, and feedback processes.
• Coach managers and employees on performance-related topics and career development.
• Identify training needs and coordinate learning and development opportunities.
• Foster an inclusive and engaging workplace culture through events, surveys, and feedback loops.

Strategic HR initiatives:

• Ensure HR tech tools (e.g., payroll, benefits platforms) are implemented and optimized.
• Build foundational HR processes that scale (e.g., recruiting workflows, organizational planning, performance management).
• Support leadership with workforce planning and talent strategy as the company grows.
• Contribute to company-wide initiatives including internal communications, org development, and change management efforts.

Skills & Requirements

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in HR roles, preferably including generalist or people ops ownership.
• In-depth knowledge of California employment laws and compliance practices.
• Experience with compensation planning, performance management systems, and benefits administration.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills with the ability to build trust at all levels of the organization.
• Resourceful, proactive, and able to operate independently in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have:

• Prior experience working in a startup, aerospace, engineering, or manufacturing environment is a strong plus.
• Previous work in an agency, startup, or hyper-growth company setting
• Familiarity with New York state employment practices or distributed teams across California and New York.
• Passion for aviation and the electrification of flight