HR Operations Lead jobs in United States
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Merlin · 1 week ago

HR Operations Lead

positionBoston
timeFull-time
remoteOnsite
senioritySenior Level
date7+ years exp

Merlin Labs is preparing for rapid growth and a planned public offering in 2026, and they are seeking an HR Operations Lead to serve as the operational backbone of their People function. This role is critical for evolving HR operations from early-stage startup execution to public-company readiness, focusing on building scalable infrastructure while ensuring a human-centered employee experience.

Air TransportationInformation TechnologySoftwareTransportation
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Growth Opportunities

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end HR operational workflows (onboarding through offboarding), ensuring processes are well-documented, repeatable, and scalable
Serve as the system owner for our core People systems, including: Rippling (HRIS): data architecture, workflow automation, approvals, alerts, and process control, and Lever (ATS): data integrity, lifecycle reporting, headcount alignment, and downstream integration with HR systems
Maintain high-quality, compliant employee data, proactively identifying and closing gaps ahead of audits, diligence, and IPO readiness
Design and maintain people analytics and reporting, including: headcount and workforce composition; attrition and retention trends; org structure, role architecture, and growth tracking; compliance, training, and policy attestation reporting
Translate HR and talent data into clear, decision-ready insights for People leadership, Finance, and executive stakeholders
Ensure People data and processes are audit-ready, internally consistent, and aligned with public-company expectations
Own the operational lifecycle of employee handbooks, policies, and procedures, ensuring they are current, compliant, and consistently applied
Partner with Legal, Finance, and People leadership to support governance reviews, risk mitigation, and documentation standards
Establish and maintain process discipline across People programs so policies, systems, and execution stay tightly aligned
Manage and curate the People Operations content in our internal knowledge base (Confluence), ensuring it serves as a reliable source of truth
Monitor and manage multi-state compliance requirements, including documentation, notices, filings, and reporting obligations
Support preparation for internal controls reviews, external audits, and SOX-adjacent readiness activities as we approach IPO
Ensure operational handoffs between People Ops, Total Rewards, Finance, Legal, and Talent functions are clearly defined and consistently executed
Identify compliance risks and process gaps early, and recommend practical, scalable solutions
Provide the operational backbone for core People programs, including: performance review cycles and calibration logistics; engagement surveys and feedback mechanisms; and compliance, policy, and ethics training administration
Use qualitative and quantitative inputs to identify trends, risks, and opportunities across the employee lifecycle
Support clear internal communications related to People Ops processes, system changes, and policy rollouts

Qualification

HR technology ecosystemsPeople data complianceProcess designData analysisCross-functional fluencyOperational judgmentIndependent operationClear communication

Required

7-10 years of experience operating across HR systems, people data, compliance, and process design in high-growth or scaling organizations
Demonstrated cross-functional fluency across HR disciplines (People Ops, Talent, Total Rewards, Finance, Legal), with depth in systems and operations
Strong hands-on experience with HR technology ecosystems (Rippling, Lever, or similar), including reporting, integrations, and workflow automation
High comfort working with data — building dashboards, validating accuracy, and translating insights into action
Clear, confident communicator who can distill complex People topics into practical guidance for leaders and employees
Exceptional operational judgment, integrity, and discretion when handling sensitive data and controls
Ability to operate independently, prioritize effectively, and bring structure to ambiguity in a fast-moving, pre-IPO environment

Company

Merlin

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Merlin is the leading U.S.-based developer of cost-effective, takeoff-to-touchdown autonomy for both legacy and next-generation airborne systems.
dateFounded in 2018
location
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
people-size51-200 employees
web-link
https://www.merlinlabs.com

Funding

Current Stage
Growth Stage
Total Funding
$133.5M
Key Investors
First Round Capital
2025-08-14Acquired
2022-07-13Series B· $105M
2021-05-26Series A· $25M

Leadership Team

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Matthew George
CEO
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Ryan Carrithers
Chief Financial Officer
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Recent News

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2025-11-19
Company data provided by crunchbase