HR Manager

Job Summary: The HR Manager oversees key human resources functions in a defense contracting environment, ensuring compliance with federal regulations while supporting workforce readiness, employee relations, and talent strategies. This role partners with leadership to align HR initiatives with mission objectives, maintain ITAR and labor law compliance, and foster a high-performance, security-conscious culture.

Job Duties:

  HR Leadership and Strategy

• Build and implement the HR systems, processes, and programs needed to support rapid organizational growth in a federal contracting environment, working hands-on across all areas of the function.
• Directly supervise and mentor HR staff, actively developing their skills and serving as their primary resource for HR knowledge and professional growth.
• Partner with the EVP, CFO, and department heads on workforce planning, org design, and people strategy.
• Serve as the primary HR advisor to leadership on employee relations, compensation, and compliance risks.
• Own HR systems administration including Paylocity and related platforms, ensuring data integrity, reporting accuracy, and process efficiency.
• Manage relationships with external HR vendors including benefits brokers, background screening providers, staffing agencies, and legal counsel.

Talent Acquisition and Onboarding

• Oversee full-cycle recruiting for technical and non-technical roles, including cleared and ITAR-sensitive positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to define role requirements, build job descriptions, and develop consistent interview and selection processes.
• Design and improve onboarding programs that get new hires productive quickly and reinforce OKSI’s culture.

Policy, Compliance, and Risk

• · Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies aligned with federal contracting requirements (FAR/DFARS, DCAA, OFCCP) and employment laws across multiple states, accounting for the complexities of a remote and distributed workforce.
• · Maintain audit-ready HR documentation supporting AS9100D, CMMC, and ITAR compliance frameworks.
• · Monitor evolving federal and state regulations and proactively advise leadership on implications.
• · Lead or oversee internal investigations, corrective actions, and disciplinary processes with consistency and fairness.

Compensation and Benefits

• Oversee compensation administration including LCAT-based salary benchmarking, merit reviews, and equity analysis.
• Manage benefits programs across health and welfare, annual renewals, and employee communications, ensuring compliance with ERISA, COBRA, and ACA.
• Partner with the CFO on total compensation strategy as OKSI competes for specialized engineering talent.
• Coordinate with payroll on off-cycle processing, exception handling, and compliance with wage and hour requirements across all operating states.

Employee Relations and Culture

• Foster a high-trust work environment through clear communication, fair processes, and genuine engagement.
• Lead initiatives around recognition, retention, and culture across a mix of on-site and remote employees in multiple locations.
• Guide supervisors through performance management, PIPs, and termination processes with care and compliance.

Training and Development

• Coordinate required compliance training including Ethics, ITAR, and Workplace Safety.
• Identify and support leadership development opportunities as OKSI builds management depth.

HR Analytics and Reporting

• Track and analyze HR metrics including headcount, turnover, time-to-fill, and compensation benchmarks.
• Present data-driven insights and recommendations to leadership to inform business decisions.

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a lead HR role with broad ownership across multiple HR functions.
• Experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or federal contracting environments.
• Demonstrated experience building HR infrastructure from the ground up in a rapidly scaling organization, with the ability to design systems that grow with the business.
• Strong working knowledge of multi-state employment law (including California) and federal contracting HR requirements (FAR, DFARS, DCAA, OFCCP).
• Familiarity with ITAR, export control, and compliance-driven HR environments.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms; Paylocity experience a plus.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting a geographically distributed, multi-state workforce that includes remote employees.
• Background in a startup or high-growth environment where you helped build the HR function, not just maintain it.
• Familiarity with CMMC, AS9100D, or similar quality management or compliance frameworks.
• Genuine interest in mentoring and developing junior HR professionals.

Education: Bachelor's Degree in a field related to the above preferred.

Experience: 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a lead HR role in a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or federal contracting environment.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range:  $105,000 – $160,000 
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage fully paid by the employer for employees.
• Three weeks of vacation to start  
• Automatic company contribution to 401K – 5% of earned wages (no matching required)
• Educational assistance and professional development opportunities
• In-office - Torrance, CA

Additional Requirements

You must have, or be eligible to obtain, a U.S. Department of Defense Secret security clearance. You will be subject to government security investigations and must be able to access classified information. The inability to obtain a security clearance will result in you being ineligible for the position.

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls and must be a U.S. person as defined
by 22 C.F.R.

We are an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in the application and hiring process.

This employer participates in E-Verify.