Head of People & Talent

Turion is developing the critical infrastructure of the space economy. We're doing this by building vertically integrated hardware and software: DROID, our line of space vehicles, and Starfire, our software suite covering simulation, modeling, planning, and operations.
We're a group of people who fell in love with the future sci-fi promised us, and we're building it into reality. We build hard things. We build them well. And we're just getting started.

As the Head of People & Talent, you will build and lead the people strategy that powers Turion’s next phase of growth. You’ll be both architect and operator: setting the vision for how we attract, develop, and retain the engineers, builders, and mission-driven leaders who will define the future of space operations, while rolling up your sleeves to hire, advise, and solve problems directly. You’ll lead a small, high-impact team, partner closely with the executive team, and create the systems, culture, and talent engine that let us scale without losing the speed and ownership that make Turion special.

This is a full-time, exempt position based on-site at our Irvine, California headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

• Team leadership. Lead, develop, and hold the HR and Talent Acquisition teams accountable for operational excellence, efficiency, and measurable results.

• Own the people and talent strategy. Build and execute a multi-year roadmap that aligns workforce planning, organizational design, and culture with Turion’s business and mission goals.

• Lead and scale talent acquisition. Build a recruiting engine for hard-to-find engineering, technical, and leadership talent, and personally lead searches for critical and senior roles.

• Budget management. Own the People & Talent budget, including forecasting, expense management, employee equity, workforce costs, and resource allocation.

• Be a strategic business partner. Advise the executive team and functional leaders on org structure, leadership development, performance, and change management as the company grows.

• Run People Operations. Oversee HRIS, payroll, benefits, compliance, onboarding, and employee relations, balancing scalable processes with a high-touch experience.

• Multi-state compliance. Serve as the subject matter expert on federal, state, and local employment laws, payroll tax compliance, state registrations, wage and hour regulations, and HR risk management.

• Build the performance and development framework. Design career architecture, compensation philosophy, performance management, and leadership programs that attract, grow, and retain top talent.

• Shape and protect our culture. Reinforce the values, engagement, and high-accountability environment that drive execution, and keep that culture intact through rapid growth.

• Lead by doing. Act as a high-output individual contributor while leading the team: independently own complex projects, solve operational challenges, and deliver critical work hands-on across recruiting, HR operations, and employee support.

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience across People Operations, Talent Acquisition, and HR Business Partnership, including leadership of a combined People function.

• Proven track record at high-growth companies, with direct experience scaling headcount and organizational complexity (e.g., doubling or tripling team size). Experience in Aerospace & Defense a plus.

• Deep, hands-on experience with multi-state employment compliance and payroll tax, including registering in new states, managing state withholding and unemployment insurance, and navigating varying wage-and-hour, leave, and pay transparency laws.

• Experience building and owning headcount plans and HR/recruiting budgets in partnership with Finance, including forecasting hiring costs and tracking plan-vs.-actual.

• Demonstrated success recruiting and retaining highly technical talent, especially engineers and specialized technical professionals.

• Experience building people programs and infrastructure from the ground up, including compensation, performance management, HRIS, and compliance, with strong working knowledge of California and U.S. employment law.

• A hands-on leadership style: you can set strategy and build a team, and you’re equally comfortable executing day-to-day work yourself.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defense, space, or another deep-tech or hardware-intensive industry.

• Familiarity with working in government-regulated environments, including ITAR/EAR, security clearance processes, and U.S.-person hiring requirements.

• Experience supporting a company through major inflection points, such as a funding round, rapid contract growth, M&A, or a transition from startup to scale-up.

• Strong executive presence, with experience advising founders, C-suite leaders, and boards on talent and organizational matters.

• A bachelor’s degree in HR, business, organizational psychology, or a related field, and/or professional certifications (SHRM-SCP, SPHR).

Head of People & Talent Salary Range: $175,000 - $225,000 USD

Employees may be asked to support alternate shifts, extended shifts, and/or travel during peak work periods.

ITAR Requirements:

This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of our employees. In addition to a competitive base salary and company stock, determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, and market demand, full-time employees are eligible for:

• Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.

• Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan with a 3% Employer Direct Contribution to help you plan for your future.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.

• Parental Leave: Paid parental leave following the birth of a newborn or adoption.

• Emotional Wellbeing: A no-cost Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your household’s emotional health and wellbeing.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing internal training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.

• Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.

We are dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching environment for our team members, recognizing that our collective success is built upon the well-being and satisfaction of each individual.

Turion Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Turion Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.