People Operations Manager

Help Build Europe’s Hypersonic Capability   At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.   As our People Operations Manager, you will help build the operating system that supports one of Europe’s highest-performing engineering teams. This is not a corporate HR admin role. You will work directly with the Head of People and Performance to keep hiring, onboarding, people processes, performance cycles, documentation, and employee operations running with speed, clarity, and discipline.   We are deliberately talent dense. Every hire matters. Every process should make the company faster, clearer, and more accountable. If you are highly organised, commercially minded, strong on HR fundamentals, and motivated by supporting exceptional people in a high-performance environment, we want to hear from you.

What you'll do Core Mission: Build and operate scalable HR processes for Hypersonica DE using AI automation. Own onboarding, employee lifecycle management, compliance, and performance coordination - with a focus on designing repeatable, AI-enabled workflows that grow with our company.

Support Saskia, our Head of People and Performance across day-to-day people operations like

Onboarding & Lifecycle:

Execute end-to-end new hire onboarding: documentation, contracts, culture, system setup, compliance checks

Design AI-assisted workflows to automate repetitive tasks and scale seamlessly

Data & Systems

Maintain clean, accurate employee records in HiBob/SAP SuccessFactors

Implement AI-driven validation and anomaly detection to ensure data integrity

HR Processes

Coordinate performance cycles (probation, objectives, feedback, documentation)

Ensure compliance with German employment law, security, and data protection

Build reusable templates and workflows managers can execute independently

Automation & Iteration

Identify broken or slow processes; redesign using AI tools for efficiency

Continuously test, measure, and optimize workflows for scale

Reduce manual touchpoints through intelligent automation

Reporting & Insights

Create dashboards for headcount, onboarding, probation, turnover, absence

Use AI to surface trends, risks, and improvement opportunities

Cross-Functional Coordination

Partner with our Talent, IT, Finance, Security, Facilities teams on employee onboardings and transitions

First point of contact for German employees on onboarding, benefits, policies

Who you are Proven HR operations background with German employment law in a start-up or fast-moving business.

Hands-on experience building and using AI tools for HR automation, data analysis, and document generation.

Demonstrated ability to design and implement scalable, complex processes.

Proficiency with HRIS platforms (HiBob, SuccessFactors, or equivalent).

Data-driven mindset, s trong written communication skills. Able to work with senior leaders, managers, engineers, and new starters with confidence and professionalism.

Discreet, mature and trusted with confidential people matters.

Proactive by default. Comfortable operating in a high-performance environment where standards are high, pace is fast, and people decisions matter.

Experience in aerospace, defence, engineering, manufacturing, technology, or another high-consequence environment preferred.

Bachelors degree, or similar professional qualification in HR, Business or similar subject is preferred.

Motivated by building a people function that increases company velocity, protects standards and helps exceptional people do their best work.

Fluent in German and English

What success looks like New starters are onboarded cleanly, quickly and with no avoidable confusion.

HRIS tools and people records are accurate, complete and audit-ready.

Our processes like probation, performance, and onboarding are tracked and followed through and can scale.

HR administration is compliant, fast, and reliable.

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply.

Hypersonica is an equal-opportunity employer and assesses candidates solely on merit, capability, and potential.

You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.