Head of People
Rainmaker is pioneering a modern cloud seeding system to mitigate water scarcity and inclement weather. We develop and incorporate radar and satellite validation, weather-resistant UAS, weather modeling, and novel sensors and dispersions into an effective precipitation enhancement solution.
The Head of People is responsible for building and maintaining the people systems that allow Rainmaker to operate effectively as a high-performance research, engineering and operations organization. This role leads all human resources functions across the company, including recruiting, performance management, compensation, benefits administration, and compliance. The Head of People works closely with the CEO and executive leadership to ensure that hiring, culture, and organizational processes align with the company’s long-term goals and operational requirements.
This role requires someone capable of balancing strategic thinking with operational execution. The Head of People will help define how the company recruits, evaluates, develops, and retains talent while maintaining clear standards of accountability and professionalism as the organization grows.
Recruiting experience is required for this role. Broader human resources experience is preferred but not required.
What You'll Do
Develop and execute hiring strategies across research, engineering, operations, and administrative functions. Build structured recruiting processes, manage candidate pipelines, coordinate interviews, and ensure consistent evaluation standards.
Work with executive leadership to design organizational structures, reporting lines, and career development pathways. Establish clear expectations around roles, responsibilities, and performance.
Design and implement performance tracking processes. Ensure that feedback, promotion criteria, and improvement plans are clearly defined and consistently applied.
Manage salary structures, equity programs, and benefits administration. Ensure compensation remains competitive while aligning with company financial planning.
Oversee employment documentation, onboarding and offboarding processes, workplace policies, and regulatory compliance. Ensure the company maintains appropriate employment practices across all jurisdictions in which it operates.
Maintain a culture of accountability, professionalism, and collaboration. Develop programs and internal processes that support employee retention, engagement, and clear communication across teams.
Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership on workforce planning, organizational challenges, and people-related risks as the company grows.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in human resources, organizational leadership, business administration, or a related field.
Significant experience leading hiring & recruiting functions at a high-growth company or technology organization.
Demonstrated ability to build recruiting systems and scale teams in fast-moving environments.
Experience managing compensation frameworks, benefits programs, and HR compliance.
Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to work closely with technical and operational teams.
Experience advising senior leadership on organizational structure and talent strategy.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting engineering, aerospace, robotics, or hardware-focused organizations.
Experience managing HR systems and tools used for recruiting, performance management, and employee records.
Familiarity with employment regulations and HR operations in California and other U.S. jurisdictions.