Principal HR Business Partner, BetterUp
R&D
$194.4-270k
Salary varies depending on location
2+ days a week in office (E. 5th Street, TX, 42nd St, NY or Mission Street, CA)
AI-driven employee coaching platform
Open for applications
AI-driven employee coaching platform
1001+ employees
Open for applications
$194.4-270k
Salary varies depending on location
2+ days a week in office (E. 5th Street, TX, 42nd St, NY or Mission Street, CA)
1001+ employees
Company mission
To unlock greater clarity, potential, purpose, and passion for every one of their members, with an innovative approach to coaching and leadership development.
Role
Who you are
- 12+ years of HRBP or consulting experience supporting Engineering, Product, or R&D organizations in high-growth tech companies
- Led R&D organizations through platform transformations—technical migrations or organizational platform models
- Deep organizational design and consulting expertise including systems thinking, change management, and hypothesis-driven problem-solving
- Strategic consultant to C-suite/VP leaders influencing complex decisions through data and business acumen
- Advanced people analytics skills with AI fluency for HR applications including implementing AI tools and understanding responsible AI principles
- Understanding of modern software development
- Credibility with technical leaders and ability to engage in architecture and engineering effectiveness conversations
- Global/multi-site experience with distributed engineering teams
- High-growth environment experience (Series B through IPO)
- Strong executive presence and exceptional communication skills
- Self-driven, autonomous, and collaborative in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
- We're looking for teammates who are excited to evolve alongside technology – people who experiment boldly, share their discoveries openly, and help define best practices for AI-augmented work
- We know applying for a job can be intimidating, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we encourage everyone interested in joining us to apply
What the job involves
- As the Principal HR Business Partner for R&D, you will serve as a transformational consultant and trusted advisor to our Engineering, Product, and Design leadership, operating at the intersection of human capital strategy, organizational architecture, and technical innovation
- This is not a traditional HRBP role—you will architect and lead enterprise-wide people transformations that enable our R&D organization to compete at the forefront of AI-enabled product development
- You will be the architect of reinvention for our R&D function, bringing deep consulting acumen and systems-level thinking to drive platform transformations, organizational redesigns, and the strategic adoption of AI and data analytics across our talent practices
- You'll mobilize multiple functions to retire low-value practices, scale new workflows, and position BetterUp's R&D organization as an industry pace-setter for innovation velocity and engineering excellence
- This role requires someone who can see around corners—spotting shifts in technology, talent markets, and organizational needs before they land—and who can translate those insights into data-backed proposals that fundamentally reimagine how our R&D teams are structured, led, and developed
- Lead large-scale R&D transformations including platform engineering reorganizations, product-led growth initiatives, and technical architecture realignments that require deep understanding of modern software development methodologies
- Architect organizational structures that optimize for speed, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration in complex technical environments—from designing dual-track career ladders to creating new specialized roles for emerging technologies
- Serve as internal management consultant to VP+ and C-level R&D leaders on the most complex people challenges
- Design and execute end-to-end change strategies for major transitions including global expansion, hybrid/distributed engineering model optimization, and cultural transformation initiatives
- Guide R&D organizations through platform transformation journeys, understanding the talent implications of establishing platform teams
- Translate complex technical initiatives (API strategies, infrastructure modernization, DevOps transformation) into organizational design, capability building, and talent acquisition roadmaps
- Assess organizational readiness for platform shifts and proactively design workforce planning, skills development, and team restructuring to accelerate technical transformation outcomes
- Pioneer the adoption of AI and intelligent tooling in all aspects of R&D talent management—from AI-assisted recruiting and skills mapping to predictive attrition modeling and workforce scenario planning
- Leverage real-time data and advanced analytics to diagnose systemic organizational health issues, identify leading indicators of performance or engagement concerns, and drive preemptive interventions
- Champion responsible AI adoption in talent processes while ensuring ethical use, transparency, and continuous validation of AI-enabled tools and insights
- Serve as a critical contributor to functional and enterprise strategic planning, bringing deep R&D domain expertise and forward-looking workforce insights to executive-level conversations
- Influence ELT discussions on R&D effectiveness, technical talent strategy, innovation velocity, and competitive positioning in the talent market
- Shape company-wide people practices by piloting innovative approaches in R&D that can be scaled enterprise-wide—from continuous performance management to radical transparency to skills-based talent models
- Develop multi-year talent strategies aligned with R&D product roadmaps, including workforce planning for emerging skill needs (AI/ML, platform engineering, data engineering, etc.)
- Design capability frameworks and competency models for technical roles that enable clear career progression, accurate leveling, and strategic hiring decisions
- Partner with Talent Acquisition to reimagine sourcing strategies, candidate experience, and hiring processes that attract top technical talent in competitive markets
- Guide leadership on complex talent decisions including organizational restructuring, reduction-in-force planning, span-of-control optimization, and succession planning for critical technical roles
- Provide high-touch coaching and development to VP and Director-level R&D leaders on people leadership, organizational effectiveness, and executive presence
- Design and facilitate leadership development programs tailored to the unique challenges of technical leaders (e.g., transitioning from IC to manager, leading through technical uncertainty, building inclusive engineering cultures)
- Mentor and develop other HRBPs and People team members, elevating decision-making quality and strategic thinking across the function
- Cultivate change resilience in leadership teams during periods of uncertainty, helping technical leaders navigate ambiguity while maintaining team stability and productivity
- Our team thrives at the intersection of human expertise and AI capability
- As an AI-forward company, adaptation and continuous learning are part of our daily work
- These professionals thoughtfully integrate AI into their work to deliver exceptional results while maintaining the human judgment and creativity that drives real innovation
Application process
- During our interview process, you’ll have opportunities to showcase how you harness AI to learn, iterate, and amplify your impact
Our take
Companies are becoming increasingly informed regarding the importance of mental health in the workplace, especially when it comes to improving the interpersonal and leadership skills of their employees. Whilst many online platforms provide coaching services to help people excel in the workplace, existing options generally focus on career-based skills as opposed to overall mental wellness.
BetterUp connects employees with online career coaches, working directly with companies to improve mental health and enthusiasm in the workplace. The online service leverages AI analysis of questionnaire results to match employees with personalized video coaching sessions and career development services, providing support in areas often neglected by employers such as sleep, parenting, and overall mental fitness.
BetterUp has seen substantial success, and has the world's largest network of coaches (with over 3,000), offering coaching in 46 languages across 90 countries. The multi-unicorn company has ample opportunity to see further growth and expansion.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
16% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)
Oct 2021
$300m
SERIES E
Feb 2021
$125m
SERIES D
Total funding: $579m
Company benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- 401k
- Flexible Time Off
- Paid parental leave
- Personalized BetterUp Coach
- $360 each year for wellness programs
- Annual $1K learning and development stipend
- Equity package
- 5 volunteer days and 4 paid Inner Work™ days a year
Company HQ
Govalle, Austin, TX
Leadership
Alexi Robichaux
(CEO)Studied Political Science at USC, and then worked in Business Insight at the Walt Disney Company. Was a Product Manager at Socialcast, and Director of Product Management at VMware.
Eduardo Medina
(COO)Studied Business at USC and Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Worked as an Associate Consultant at Bain, and as an Associate at Altamont Capital Partners.
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