HR Generalist

Summary GrayMatter Robotics is a well-capitalized Physical AI company headquartered in Los Angeles, building Factory SuperIntelligence (FSI) through systems that learn, adapt, and develop genuine process intelligence across every part they touch. Our robots take on the tedious, hazardous, and ergonomically demanding work that has kept manufacturing dependent on a shrinking skilled workforce, delivering superhuman performance. Robotics has a demo problem. GMR doesn't. Our systems are in active production today, adapting autonomously to real geometries, real materials, and real process variation without reprogramming. We deliver our system through a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model that converts capital expenditure into an operating subscription, making Physical AI accessible to the manufacturers who need it most. We hire people who want to solve hard physical problems at an industrial scale. Hi there! My name is Braelena (she/her), and I lead the People team at GrayMatter Robotics. I love reading as much as I love investing in people, and I couldn't be more excited to welcome the newest addition to our (small but mighty) team! When I started in 2023, we had 25 full-time employees. Today, we've more than quadrupled so, as you can imagine, I'm eager to find a teammate who's excited to build from scratch, finds joy in the details, and — above all — shares my obsession with creating a space where people are excited to show up every day. You'll love this role because... - There's an opportunity to build, break, and build again in a crazy-fast environment - You'll have a lot of influence over culture, process and our HR infrastructure - We are building incredible technology serving an industry that has historically been overlooked by automation...and we're the first to do it You'll hate this role because... - There's an opportunity to build, break, and build again in a crazy-fast environment (not a typo) - A large portion of your role will be putting out fires, fielding questions and always assuming positive intent...especially when it's not easy - You'll be the sole HR Generalist so you'll have to iterate on the processes as we execute against our goals which will test your grit, determination, and resilience We know startups aren't for everyone, especially this one where it is an absolute grind and a high standard of excellence. But if you're someone who deeply loves the HR function, has little patience for fixed mindsets, and is excited to get in at the ground level of one of the fastest growing robotics startups, join me on my mission to build spaces where people enjoy showing up every day, where talent thrives and the meaning of "HR" is redefined. Role & Responsibilities This role will own and shape the entire employee experience at GrayMatter Robotics, from onboarding to off-boarding and everything in between. This is a tactical and hands-on position ideal for someone excited to build people systems from the ground up while ensuring compliance and driving culture. Aspects of this role include: Employee Relations & Engagement - Lead employee engagement efforts, including surveys, recognition, and internal communications. - Plan company events, offsites, and culture-building initiatives. - Oversee employee on-boarding, off-boarding and exit processes. - Partner with cross-functional partners to ensure employees have the required tools, software access and devices for their role. - Optimize new hire orientation and onboarding, and automate processes where possible. Payroll & Benefits Administration - Run payroll end to end each cycle, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across hourly, salaried, and contractor populations. - Reconcile benefits enrollment and billing against carrier invoices, catching and resolving discrepancies before they compound. - Administer and track all types of employee leave (e.g., FMLA, parental, PTO, disability), ensuring compliance and clear communication. HR Compliance & Risk Management - Ensure compliance with employment laws across multiple states, with fluency in the distinct rules governing hourly, contractor, and salaried classifications. - Pull and prepare reports and documentation to support internal and external audits. - Maintain employee handbook and update HR policies as needed. - Lead investigations and handle employee relations issues responsibly. - Manage audit readiness and required documentation. HR Operations & Systems - Serve as GMR's UKG power user and other HRIS tools: own system configuration, workflow automation, and reporting. - Build and maintain UKG email templates (welcome emails, manager reminders, and other lifecycle communications) so the system runs itself. - Own and maintain our HRIS system; ensure data integrity and analytics. - Optimize people processes for scale (onboarding, transitions, documentation). - Deliver HR metrics and insights to support decision-making. - Use A