Senior HR Generalist

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users. From utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios and beyond.

About Us

We're a fast-growing Bay Area tech company building cutting-edge hardware and software solutions. As a vertically integrated company, we do everything from R&D to manufacturing in-house, with teams ranging from engineers and factory technicians to corporate staff. We're passionate about building a workplace that is inclusive, equitable, and engaging-for every type of worker we employ.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior HR Generalist who brings deep expertise in global benefits strategy and administration, leave of absence (LOA) and accommodations, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions. This role is a strategic partner and operational leader who will play a pivotal role in harmonizing our employee programs globally and supporting our diverse workforce-including our office staff and factory team members.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments and has a passion for building scalable, equitable, and compliant people programs.

Key Responsibilities:

Global Benefits Strategy, Administration & Compliance

• Manage and optimize U.S. health & welfare benefits, and wellness programs, with an eye on scalability and cost-effectiveness.
• Analyze current benefits and broker partners and create a long term strategy to implement over time that will achieve global harmonization and optimization. Own the implementation of the multi-year global strategy.
• Design and implement supplementary and harmonized global benefits programs across existing and future expansion entities.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for brokers and vendors, ensuring accountability, effective service delivery, and regular benchmarking.
• Run Open Enrollment and annual compliance activities.

Leave of Absence & Accommodations

• Oversee LOA processes for U.S. and international employees, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws (including CFRA, FMLA, and ADA).
• Oversee and manage all accommodation requests in compliance with ADA.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of leave, accommodations and benefits continuation.
• Coordinate with worker's compensation, disability, state paid leave benefits and third-party leave administrators and develop playbooks for consistency and employee support.

Training, Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance and complete required reporting for all U.S. and international labor and benefits laws, including, but not limited to, I-9/E-verify, Meal & Rest Break compliance, ACA, EEO-1, VETS-4212, COBRA, Non-Discrimination Testing, mandatory trainings, and OFCCP obligations as a federal contractor.
• Ownership of audits, policy development, and employee handbook updates for global compliance.
• Using Learning & Development best practices, principals and models, build employee and manager enablement training for non-standard content and ownership of administration and training planning within our training platform.
• Maintain required notices and filings (ERISA, 5500, ACA, etc.) and act as a subject matter expert for employment and benefits law changes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Embrace a collaborative and team-oriented environment by participating in cross-training and flexing across HR functions such as onboarding, terminations, immigration, etc. as needed to support team goals and ensure seamless employee experiences.
• Partner with People Operations teammates to ensure comprehensive HR support and shared backup responsibilities across functions including People Partners, Workplace Experience, Facilities and Recruiting.
• Adept at creating and maintaining business processes and workflows; recognizing gaps and changes as the business scales. Partner with People Systems teams for complex system implementations to automate and streamline.
• Provide guidance and tailored support to both exempt and non-exempt workers, recognizing and responding to unique population needs.
• Mentor and train junior team members.
• Payroll resource for resolution of time and attendance related questions.
• Partner with People Managers, Finance and Legal as needed.

Qualifications

Required:

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, with a strong focus on global benefits, LOA and compliance.
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience managing full-life cycle, end-to-end Employee Programs including concept, executive approval, resource/time line planning, implementation, testing, roll out communications, documentation,operationalization, day-to-day management, ROI, impact analysis, program maintenance and continuous incremental improvement.
• Demonstrated experience in global benefits strategy and administration, including working with international vendors and harmonizing plans across geographies.
• In-depth understanding of U.S. employment laws and compliance obligations (ACA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, ERISA, etc.).
• Keep up with changes in compliance, legislation and regulations that impact your scope of programs and responsibilities and prepare action plans and recommendations to prepare the company for necessary impacts and changes.
• Experience working with and optimizing relationships with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators.
• Previous experience standing up a foreign company entity including statutory & voluntary benefits, employee management and foreign compliance.
• Strong HR systems, reporting, analytical and project management skills; strong preference for 3+ years Workday hands on experience.
• Demonstrated mastery of AI tools to optimize and simplify day-to-day operations and work flows.
• Proactively explore and utilize AI tools and automation to streamline HR operations, enhance employee support, and improve program efficiency and scalability.
• Ability to travel to our Hayward factory site as needed and work onsite at least 3 days per week in San Mateo, CA.
• We are a highly collaborative team that values curiosity, critical analysis, ongoing education, knowledge sharing, candidness, caring, humor, and a mindset of urgency, kindness & respect with good intent. We thrive in a fast-paced environment where launching, learning, and iterating is part of how we work. The successful candidate will add to our team and not detract.

Preferred

• Experience working in a dual-use hardware/software or manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with OFCCP and affirmative action compliance for federal contractors.
• Prior experience supporting non-exempt and exempt employee populations.
• Working knowledge of immigration processes and I-9 requirements.
• Systems preferences: Workday, Traliant, Optum, WEX, various global benefit portals
• CPE certified for general ergonomics and experience providing assessments/integrating into accommodation requests
• Physical Requirements
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to travel locally between office locations and walk through a factory environment with appropriate PPE.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $105,000 - $125,000 per year. In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid holidays, generous paid time off, and equity.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Wage Notice (CA Compliance)

Pursuant to the California Equal Pay Act and California Labor Code Section 432.3, we provide the base pay range for all positions. Compensation decisions are based on various factors, including experience, education, and job-related skills.

#LI-AY1

At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.

For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/