HR Business Partner

Lightning AI is the company reimagining the way AI is built. After creating and releasing PyTorch Lightning in 2019, Lightning AI was launched to reshape the development of artificial intelligence products for commercial and academic use.

Focusing on simplicity, sustainability, modularity, and extensibility, Lightning AI streamlines the lifecycle of machine learning development to expand widespread AI adoption. Our aim is to enable individual and enterprise users to build deployment-ready AI tools without having to hire experts or sink resources into in-house infrastructure.

Lightning AI has offices in New York City, Palo Alto, and London, and is backed by $58.6 million in funding from Coatue, Index Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and Firstminute.

We are building a company of people who care deeply about the impact of AI on our society. We value:

• Integrity: AI is bound to change how we interact with computers, each other, and the world—for the better. We are committed to building an inclusive company and developing ethical AI that improves humanity.
• Perseverance: Be bold, take the initiative, and make decisions with confidence. We empower our community, clients, and colleagues to tackle the impossible.
• Curiosity: We are genuinely interested in finding solutions to advance the state of AI research and foster its application in novel products. It's not about whether we can solve the problem, but how.

We also recognize the genuine lack of diversity in our industry, which has to change. One of our goals is to help drive that change. Lightning AI is fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its practices, especially when it comes to growing our team. Our culture promotes inclusion, and we embrace how rewarding it is to work with people from all walks of life.

What We're Looking For:

We are seeking a versatile and experienced HR Business Partner or Senior HR Business Partner to support our growing organization and drive strategic HR initiatives across both technical and business teams. Depending on experience and qualifications, the role may be at the HRBP or Senior HRBP level. This role requires expertise in HR best practices, talent management, employee relations, and organizational development with prior experience supporting high-performing tech teams (engineering, data science, product) as well as business functions (sales, marketing, operations).

The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced startup environment, be comfortable with ambiguity, and have a passion for developing scalable HR strategies that align with business goals. This is an opportunity to collaborate with leadership and contribute to building an exceptional company culture while supporting teams at the forefront of groundbreaking technology in the machine learning ecosystem.

You will be joining the People Team and report to our CEO & Founder. This is a hybrid role based in our New York City office, with in-office requirements of 2 days per week. The salary range for this role is $145,000 - $205,000, depending on experience and role level.

What You’ll Do:

• Drive talent management, employee engagement, and performance management, with added focus on supporting engineering and product teams, and other technical functions.
• Partner with technical leaders to understand the unique challenges of building and scaling AI-driven teams, and provide tailored HR support to meet the needs of a tech-focused organization.
• Collaborate with business leaders across sales, marketing, operations, and other functions to provide strategic HR guidance that aligns with overall business objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to managers on all HR-related matters, including conflict resolution, employee development, and organizational change.
• Analyze HR metrics to provide insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute People initiatives throughout the employee lifecycle, ensuring that technical and business teams are equally supported in their development and growth.
• Champion Lightning’s culture through recognition and support programs, and conduct regular surveys and feedback sessions to enhance employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to improve work relations, build morale, and increase employee retention and engagement across both technical and business units.
• Address employee concerns and grievances with empathy, integrity, and confidentiality, fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• Provide specialized support for highly skilled technical hires, including PhDs transitioning into their first roles, to ensure a smooth integration into the company and successful career development (experience with this is a plus).
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, company policies, and industry regulations while maintaining accurate employee records and managing HR documentation.
• Work closely with the Senior Manager of People Operations, providing coverage in their absence (OOO). Prior experience as a generalist and/or working in or managing people operations functions is a plus.
  
  

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of HR or People Operations experience supporting both technical and business teams, with a focus on talent management and employee relations.
• 3+ years of experience partnering with engineering, product, and technical teams.
• Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth tech company. AI company experience is a plus.
• Experience supporting highly educated individuals, such as PhDs entering their first professional roles, is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of HR laws and regulations in the US. UK knowledge is a plus.
• Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks and projects efficiently without compromising attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Excellent communication (verbal & written) and interpersonal skills, comfortable interacting with all levels, including C-Suite and frontline staff.
• Sound judgment and integrity in handling sensitive information with confidentiality.
• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) is a plus.

We offer competitive base salaries and stock options with a 25% one year cliff and monthly vesting thereafter. For our international employees, we work with Velocity Global to pay you in your local currency and provide equitable benefits across the globe.

In the US, we offer:

• 90% monthly premium contributions towards medical and 100% monthly premium contributions towards select dental and vision plans for you and your dependents
• Life and AD&D insurance 
• Flexible paid time off plus 1 week of winter closure
• Generous paid family leave benefits
• $500 monthly meal reimbursement, including groceries & food delivery services
• $1,000 home office stipend
• $1,000 annual learning & development stipend 
• 100% Citibike membership (NYC only)
• $45/month gym membership 
• Additional various medical and mental health services