Principal HR Business Partner

About the role

Odyssey is an AI lab pioneering general-purpose world models: causal, multimodal systems that learn to predict and interact with the world over long horizons, while generating real-time, interactive simulations from any starting point. This foundational technology promises to revolutionize robotics, science, healthcare, education, gaming, defense, and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Build the entire people tech stack (HRIS/Rippling, ATS/Ashby, people analytics, and automated workflows).
• Design and execute the end-to-end performance review cycle, calibrated for research, engineering, and business tracks.
• Design and implement mature, compliant onboarding and offboarding toolkits that reflect the company's culture for all hires.
• Own all compensation operations (job leveling, pay equity, variable pay, benefits) and develop an equity education program tailored to diverse employee backgrounds.
• Coach leadership on organizational design, team dynamics, and difficult conversations; develop manager enablement frameworks for first-time people managers.
• Partner with Talent peers to optimize recruiting efforts against Hiring Manager org designs and growth plans.
• Manage all employee relations, investigations, and conflict resolution with speed and discretion, ensuring compliance with California, Federal, Swiss, and UK employment law.
• Lead immigration operations and PEO management, including external counsel and visa sponsorship tracking (H-1B, O-1A, TN, UK tracks) across all jurisdictions.
• Steward and scale the Odyssey culture across global hubs, preserving core values (high-velocity execution, intellectual rigor) through rapid expansion.
• Proactively leverage AI tools to enhance people operations and optimize organizational throughput.

Requirements

• Odyssey is seeking a Senior HRBP to architect and scale our foundational people operations. Currently, infrastructure is in early stages of development - it exists but isn't optimized - or it doesn't exist at all.
• Senior-tier People Partner (10+ years) with a verified track record as a 0-to-1 architect of foundational people functions in high-velocity, venture-backed startups, specifically navigating 30-to-150+ headcount scaling.
• High-velocity, hands-on operator who owns the entire vertical (e.g., Rippling configuration, performance calibration) and operates autonomously with clear communication to all stakeholders.
• Nuanced understanding of environments where elite research talent and business functions converge, able to architect unified programs for diverse tracks (research, engineering, G&A).
• Expertise in employee relations and California employment law. Possess natural coaching instincts for technical and commercial leadership, with the ability to influence senior leaders and articulate operational impact.
• Practical integration of AI tools into daily people operations to optimize throughput and enhance organizational efficiency.
• On-site presence 4-5 days per week in Palo Alto, serving as the cultural steward whose physical visibility and approachability are non-negotiable requirements.
• Bonus
• Prior tenure within a frontier AI laboratory, deep-tech enterprise, or a high-rigor research environment.
• Operational mastery of Rippling, Pulley and Ashby systems.
• Proven success supporting global teams across US, Swiss, and UK jurisdictions, navigating multi-country compliance, international benefits, and cross-hub cultural integration.
• Direct experience managing immigration operations, PEOs, and visa sponsorship (H-1B, O-1A, TN, and UK tracks).
• Architecture of equity programs and total remuneration frameworks within pre-IPO environments.
• History of partnering with leadership through rapid scaling milestones, such as Series B or C funding rounds.

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