Senior PeopleOps Generalist

About this role

About Harmonic Security

AI doesn't run in one place anymore. It runs in the browser tab, the desktop app, the agent your engineers kicked off, and the copilot embedded in the tools you already pay for. Harmonic Security governs all of it.

Our AI Governance and Control (AIGC) platform sits on the device, inside the interaction, at the moment of action, reading what AI is actually doing (not just the traffic around it) and acting in under 200ms. Security teams get full visibility and control across every AI surface, including the agentic and MCP layer that traditional tools can't see. Their people get to innovate without guardrails slowing them down.

We're gaining serious traction at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, and backed by investors who know the space: N47, Ten Eleven Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. As AI adoption inside the enterprise accelerates, the ability to safely observe, control, and enforce policy in real time isn't a nice-to-have. It's

HOW WE WORK: AI-FIRST BY DESIGN

Harmonic exists to help enterprises adopt AI safely and at scale. We hold ourselves to that same standard. Everyone here actively uses AI tools to do their best work, from research and writing to building automated workflows. We expect every new hire to bring genuine curiosity for AI and a commitment to working smarter and faster with it.

For some, this means staying open to new tools. For others, it means architecting new systems with AI at the core. We're transparent about expectations for every role, and we give you the tools and support to thrive.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Our People team is small but mighty.

There's me (Head of People Operations), our Founding Recruiter Kareema (based in the US) and hopefully you.

You'll be our first People hire in the UK. You'll own the day-to-day People function here, but you won't be on an island. We work closely together, share ideas, and jump in to help each other when needed.

Reporting directly to the Head of People Operations, you'll partner closely with our UK leaders and collaborate with teams across the business.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Almost half of Harmonic is based in the UK, but we don't have anyone from People sitting with them today.

That's why this role exists.

You'll become the trusted People partner for our UK team. You'll coach managers, support employees, own UK compliance, improve our processes, help with hiring, and make sure the London office is a place people enjoy coming to.

You'll have a lot of ownership. We trust people to make good decisions, and we expect you to help shape how People Operations evolves in the UK, not just execute someone else's playbook.

This is a true generalist role. You'll probably enjoy it if you like switching context, wearing a lot of hats, and building things from scratch.

Some days you'll be helping a manager navigate a difficult employee conversation. Other days you'll be screening candidates, auditing our HRIS (Rippling), reviewing benefits, supporting payroll, planning an office event, or figuring out whether we need a bigger office.

If you're looking for a role where you only do strategic work, this probably isn't it.

You'll get to work with incredibly smart, kind people who care deeply about what they're building. It's fast paced, there's always something new to learn, and you'll have far more ownership than you'd get at a larger company.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

- Partner with managers across the UK as their first point of contact for people matters.

- Coach managers through performance, feedback, development, and day-to-day people challenges.

- Be our in-house expert on UK employment law and make sure we stay compliant as we grow.

- Manage employee relations issues, including performance, absence, disciplinary, and grievance processes.

- Own UK benefits and work with brokers and vendors throughout the year.

- Support recruiting by screening candidates and partnering with hiring managers on UK roles.

- Help new hires get off to a great start.

- Keep the London office running well, from team events to office supplies to helping us plan for future growth.

- Work closely with Finance to support payroll and pensions.

- Build simple, scalable People processes that help us grow without adding unnecessary complexity

WHAT YOU BRING

You don't need to tick every box, but you'll probably have experience in most of these areas.

- Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices.

- Experience working as an HR Generalist, HR Business Partner, or People Partner in a growing company.

- Confidence handling employee relations issues independently.

- Sound judgment and the ability to make decisions without needing lots of direction.

- Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to earn trust across different personalities and working styles.

- Experience partnering with engineering or technical teams.

- Comfortable supporting payroll, benefits, and HR operations.

- Experience using Rippling or another modern HR system.

- Enjoy building new processes instead of simply following existing ones.

Nice to Have

- Experience supporting UK payroll, pensions, and benefits.

- Experience with visas and right-to-work processes.

- CIPD qualification (or equivalent practical experience).

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

After your first 6 months, you'll know you're succeeding when...

- Managers come to you for advice because they trust your judgment.

- Employees know who to go to and feel supported.

- Our UK policies, benefits, and compliance processes are well documented and running smoothly.

- Payroll and benefits are accurate and predictable.

- Hiring managers receive better support throughout the hiring process.

- The London office feels organized, welcoming, and connected to the rest of the company.

- You've made the People team stronger than you found it.

YOU MIGHT BE A FIT IF…

You’ll probably enjoy working on this team if…

- Your first instinct is "I'll figure…