BetterUp · 1 day ago
Principal HR Business Partner, R&D
New York, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff
$216K/yr - $270K/yr
12+ years expBetterUp is a company focused on human transformation, and they are seeking a Principal HR Business Partner for R&D. This role involves serving as a transformational consultant and trusted advisor to engineering, product, and design leadership, leading enterprise-wide people transformations to enhance their R&D organization and drive innovation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)ConsultingCorporate TrainingHuman ResourcesPersonal Development
Responsibilities
Lead large-scale R&D transformations including platform engineering reorganizations, product-led growth initiatives, and technical architecture realignments that require deep understanding of modern software development methodologies
Architect organizational structures that optimize for speed, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration in complex technical environments—from designing dual-track career ladders to creating new specialized roles for emerging technologies
Serve as internal management consultant to VP+ and C-level R&D leaders on the most complex people challenges
Design and execute end-to-end change strategies for major transitions including 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 (API strategies, infrastructure modernization, DevOps transformation) into organizational design, capability building, and talent acquisition roadmaps
Assess 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—from AI-assisted recruiting and skills mapping to predictive attrition modeling and workforce scenario planning
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
Influence ELT discussions on R&D effectiveness, technical talent strategy, innovation velocity, and competitive positioning in the talent market
Shape company-wide people practices by piloting innovative approaches in R&D that can be scaled enterprise-wide—from continuous performance management to radical transparency to skills-based talent models
Develop multi-year talent strategies aligned with R&D product roadmaps, including workforce planning for emerging skill needs (AI/ML, platform engineering, data engineering, etc.)
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 (e.g., transitioning from IC to manager, leading through technical uncertainty, building inclusive engineering cultures)
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
Qualification
Preferred
12+ years of HRBP or consulting experience supporting Engineering, Product, or R&D organizations in high-growth tech companies
Led R&D organizations through platform transformations—technical migrations or organizational platform models
Deep organizational design and consulting expertise including systems thinking, change management, and hypothesis-driven problem-solving
Strategic consultant to C-suite/VP leaders influencing complex decisions through data and business acumen
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
Benefits
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
4 BetterUp Inner Workdays (https://www.betterup.co/inner-work)
5 Volunteer Days to give back
Learning and Development stipend
Company wide Summer & Winter breaks
Year-round charitable contribution of your choice on behalf of BetterUp
401(k) self contribution
Company
BetterUp
BetterUp provides AI and human coaching to improve leadership, management, and employee performance across organizations.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
BetterUp has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (5)
2024 (3)
2023 (6)
2022 (7)
2021 (4)
2020 (5)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$570.01MKey Investors
ICONIQ GrowthLightspeed Venture PartnersThreshold
2024-02-28Series Unknown· $0.21M
2021-10-08Series E· $300M
2021-02-25Series D· $125M
Leadership Team
Alexi Robichaux
CEO & Co-Founder
Ron Lewis
Senior Vice President - Chief of Staff to CEO & GM EMEA
Recent News
Salesforce Ventures
2025-12-15
Company data provided by crunchbase