Vice President, People & Talent

Vice President, People & TalentSan Francisco, California Office (HQ)Armada is the hyperscaler for the edge, delivering modular AI infrastructure from first deployment to AI factory with speed, scale and sovereignty. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and to the CNBC Disruptor 50, Armada's solutions are deployed in over 60 countries globally for organizations ranging from energy to defense.With nearly $500 million in funding to date, Armada is backed by leading investors including Founders Fund, Lux, BlackRock and Microsoft (M12), alongside strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Dell, Palantir, NVIDIA, SpaceX, and Skydio. We are building the infrastructure layer for sovereign and edge AI - rugged, deployable compute for customers that cannot rely on centralized cloud.Working at Armada means taking ownership, driving autonomy, and delivering impact. You'll tackle challenges that haven't been solved before and help build something transformative from the ground up. What you do here will not only define your career but help further Armada's mission to bridge the digital divide for customers around the world.About the RoleArmada is seeking a Vice President, People & Talent to build and scale a globally distributed People organization. This leader will design and mature the infrastructure, systems, and operational discipline required to support sustained company growth.

This role oversees Global People Operations, Talent Acquisition and Workspaces, ensuring our compliance posture, workforce planning, performance frameworks, and People technology ecosystem evolve alongside the business. The ideal candidate is a systems-oriented operator who thrives in complex international environments and is motivated by building durable infrastructure that enables clarity, accountability, and scale. We're looking for a proven people leader with experience across People Operations, Total Rewards, and Talent Acquisition that has taken a venture-backed startup from early-stage (Series A/B) through late-stage growth funding (Series C/D/E) and/or IPO. This is a senior operational leadership role with responsibility for defining people strategy, execution, infrastructure design, and financial stewardship within the People function.Location. This role will require you to come onsite to either our San Francisco Presidio HQ or our Bellevue, WA office on a weekly basis. We are not able to consider remote candidates for this role.Main ResponsibilitiesBuild a Scalable Global People Operations FunctionDesign and scale a compliant, globally consistent People Operations frameworkPartner closely with Legal on employment law, regulatory compliance, immigration, and risk mitigationOversee payroll, benefits, mobility, and vendor management across multiple jurisdictionsEnsure audit readiness, documentation rigor, and strong internal controlsEstablish operational standards that balance global consistency with local nuanceProvide clear, data-informed perspective on team health, performance, and organizational riskLead Talent Acquisition & Workforce PlanningOwn global recruiting strategy across technical and non-technical functionsImplement structured hiring processes that increase talent density and hiring rigorImprove time-to-hire, quality-of-hire, and hiring manager accountabilityPartner with Finance to align headcount planning with budget forecastingSupport long-term workforce modeling and geographic expansion planningArchitect the People Systems & Technology EcosystemOwn and optimize the People technology stack (HRIS, ATS, payroll, performance tools, analytics)Rationalize and integrate systems to improve reporting integrity and reduce redundancyEstablish strong data governance and scalable workflowsDrive automation and operational efficiencyBuild a tech-enabled People platform designed for long-term growthElevate Organizational Maturity & Performance StandardsPartner closely with the senior leadership team on organizational design, leadership effectiveness, and company-wide priorities as the company scalesStrengthen role clarity, leveling frameworks, and job architectureImplement and maintain performance management systems aligned to a high-accountability cultureDefine organizational structures and decision-making frameworks that support scale and accountabilityEstablish leadership expectations and support development of managers across the organizationImprove operating rhythms, documentation standards, and cross-functional coordinationOwn Workspaces & Employee Experience InfrastructureDefine and scale workspace strategy across offices, remote environments, and field deploymentsEnsure workspaces support productivity, collaboration, and operational needs across distributed teamsPartner with Finance and Operations on real estate strategy, cost management, and vendor selectionEstablish standards for workplace experience, safety, and compliance across locationsAlign workspace planning with headcount growth and geographic expansionWhat Success Looks LikeA globally scalable and compliant People infrastructureIntegrated, optimized systems with clean and reliable workforce dataDisciplined hiring processes that increase talent densityHeadcount planning fully integrated with financial modelingClear organizational structures and career architectureElevated performance standards and operational accountabilityEfficient, tech-enabled workflows that reduce friction as the company growsQualifications12+ years of progressive People leadership experience, with deep expertise in Global People Operations and Talent AcquisitionExperience supporting technically complex organizations, ideally across both software and hardware environmentsDemonstrated success scaling distributed and international teams across multiple jurisdictionsStrong partnership experience with Legal and Finance in compliance-forward environmentsExperience building People infrastructure during periods of operational maturation and geographic expansionProven ability to design, implement, and optimize People systems and technology platformsFinancial discipline and experience managing functional budgetsA systems-oriented operator comfortable raising performance standards and strengthening organizational rigorCompensation & BenefitsFor U.S.

Based candidates: To ensure fairness and transparency, the starting base salary range for this role for candidates in the U.S. are listed, varying based on location experience, skills, and qualifications. In addition to base salary, this role will also be offered equity and subsidized benefits (details available upon request).Final compensation will be determined by experience, scope, and level, and may vary from the posted range.BenefitsCompetitive base salary and equityMedical, dental, and vision (subsidized cost)Health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), and dependent care FSAs (DCFSA)Retirement plan options, including 401(k) and Roth 401(k)Unlimited paid time off (PTO)14 paid company holidays per yearYou're a Great Fit if You'reA go-getter with a growth mindset. You're intellectually curious, have strong business acumen, and actively seek opportunities to build relevant skills and knowledgeA detail-oriented problem-solver. You can independently gather information, solve problems efficiently, and deliver results with a "get-it-done" attitudeThrive in a fast-paced environment. You're energized by an entrepreneurial spirit, capable of working quickly, and excited to contribute to a growing companyA collaborative team player.

You focus on business success and are motivated by team accomplishment vs personal agendaHighly organized and results-driven. Strong prioritization skills and a dedicated work ethic are essential for youEqual Opportunity StatementAt Armada, we are committed to fostering a work environment where everyone is given equal opportunities to thrive. As an equal opportunity employer, we strictly prohibit discrimination or harassment based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, and compensation. Our hiring is guided by qualifications, merit, and the business needs at the time.Un