Sr. People Business Partner, Engineering

Company Overview
Performance Drone Works (PDW) builds technologies for the warfighter, by the warfighter. Born out of the Drone Racing League, our roots are competitive, our mindset is tactical, and our mission is clear: deliver purpose-built unmanned systems to those who serve. We are not here to sell vapor; we build and ship real capabilities for real missions.

Now, we're entering a new phase of growth and are looking for a Senior People Business Partner to support our Engineering organization. This role will collaborate with engineering leadership and teams across PDW to help us design & deliver the very best products in the market. In this strategic role, you will provide comprehensive support to your client groups, focusing on talent development, employee engagement, and performance enhancement at all levels.

In this role, you'll report to the Chief People Officer who places high value on supporting people as they grow their career. This role has the potential to develop in multiple ways based on your personal career goals. This person can be located in Denver or Huntsville and be in-office 4 days a week. Occasional travel is anticipated.

What You'll Do

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CTO, Chief Engineers and other engineering people managers on people-related solutions to business challenges.
  Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute an annual People Strategy and Plan for your client group, and be agile enough to make multiple adjustments to it throughout the year.
• Drive and advise on engineering organizational design, workforce planning, role clarity, and succession planning for technical roles.
• Shape and drive company goals by aligning people strategy to business objectives, applying knowledge in creative, practical, and forward-thinking ways.
• Coach leaders and teams on best practices and foster deep relationships to cultivate trust.
• Conduct thorough and objective investigations, working closely with management to improve work relationships and morale.
• Be an appropriate employee advocate, balancing employee and business needs equally.
• Identify patterns in employee feedback, engagement data, and team dynamics and partner with engineering leaders to proactively address areas of friction or risk.
• Own the rollout of company-wide talent initiatives for your client group, including performance management, promotion cycles, voice of employee, and manager development initiatives.
• Serve as a thought leader and implement ad hoc people programs that will address your client group's needs.
• Drive process improvements in a dynamic, often ambiguous, high-growth environment.
• Address complex, high-stakes challenges by evaluating nuanced and often intangible factors.
• Facilitate talent calibrations and compensation planning, utilizing people metrics & insights to influence outcomes.
• Use workforce data, engagement insights, and performance trends to identify retention risks and support strategies to attract, develop, and retain high-performing technical talent.

Requirements

• Tech-Driven HR Experience: 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with a specific focus on supporting Engineering, Product, or R&D organizations in a high-growth environment
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience.
• Expertise across various HR/People channels, including talent management programs, compensation and learning and development.
• Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure, outcome-oriented environments.
• Strong follow-through and project management discipline
• Clear, empathetic, and effective communicator, adept at adjusting approaches based on audience needs.
• Strong collaborator and coach, delivering feedback that fosters trust and cooperation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence.
• Data-driven and detail-oriented, with a strategic mindset.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance or higher, as required

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day and lift / carry up to 25 pounds. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment. Must be physically capable of the assigned duties.

Work Environment

This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office and manufacturing equipment and may require occasional travel to customer locations or facilities. This position may have exposure to outdoor weather conditions, noise, and non-climate-controlled environments. May require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the environment. This is a fast-paced work environment and requires cross-differential collaboration with independent and team-based responsibilities. Standard work hours for this position are 8:30am-5:00pm with occasional overtime as operational needs demand.

Benefits

PDW values our team, and we offer a compensation package reflective of your experience and capabilities. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage; 80% sponsored by the company.
• Safe Harbor 401(K) with company match.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• On-site gym at our Huntsville, AL location.
• Employer provided life insurance.
• Robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• A work environment that encourages teamwork and innovation.
• Competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), and flexible leave options.

EEO Statement

PDW is an equal opportunity employer that upholds all federal and state non-discrimination laws. We ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation for employment for all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.