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People Operations Specialist

Hawthorne, California, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

Role Overview:

We’re looking for a hands-on, resourceful People Operations Specialist who thrives in a fast-moving startup environment and enjoys variety – one day improving HR workflows, the next helping managers and employees navigate benefits, onboarding, or policy questions.

You’ll partner closely with the HR team to manage day-to-day HR operations, strengthen systems and compliance, and deliver an exceptional employee experience as we continue our rapid growth.

Responsibilities: 

  • Act as a primary point of contact for daily HR inquiries and employee support.
  • Maintain accurate and timely data across Rippling (HRIS, payroll, and benefits).
  • Prepare reports, audits, and dashboards to ensure data accuracy and compliance.
  • Coordinate onboarding, offboarding, and employee changes.
  • Assist with benefits administration, open enrollment, and vendor coordination.
  • Track and coordinate leaves of absence, accommodations, and employment verifications.
  • Support investigations and documentation.
  • Assist with the semi-annual performance and compensation review process by coordinating timelines, preparing communications and tracking tools, and assisting managers and HR throughout the review cycle.
  • Support HR communications, employee surveys, and engagement initiatives.
  • Work full-time onsite out of our office in Los Angeles (Hawthorne), California.

Minimum Requirements:

  • 3-5 years of progressive HR experience in a generalist or coordinator role; ideally in a high growth or startup setting
  • Strong working knowledge of U.S. employment laws and HR best practices (especially California; multi-state familiarity a plus)
  • Demonstrated experience supporting HR operations such as onboarding, benefits administration, employee relations, and compliance tracking.
  • Proficiency with HRIS systems; able to manage transactions, workflows, and audits with high accuracy.
  • Hands-on experience managing leave of absence cases end-to-end, including FMLA/CFRA, short- and long-term disability, and company-paid parental leave programs that require top-off payment calculations and benefits integration.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to build trust with employees and managers across all levels.
  • Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Comfort with spreadsheets, HR reporting, and data integrity checks in Excel.
  • Team-oriented mindset with proactive, solutions-focused approach.

Preferred Requirements:

  • Hands-on experience with Rippling.
  • Experience coordinating benefits renewals and open enrollment.
  • Exposure to or involvement in performance reviews and compensation cycles.
  • Familiarity with leave administration (FMLA, CFRA, PFL).
  • Interest in scaling HR processes and improving employee experience within a startup.


Why CHAOS?

  • Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
  • Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
  • Our Perks: Free daily lunch, ‘No meeting Fridays’, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
  • Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
  • Team Growth: 250 employees and counting across 5 global offices
$120k-135k

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. 


Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.


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About Chaos Industries

Chaos Industries

Chaos Industries is one of the fastest-rising defense technology companies focused on solving modern national security challenges through advanced radar, sensing, and counter-drone systems. Founded in 2022, the company develops next-generation technologies designed to help military and national security operators detect airborne threats faster and operate more effectively in increasingly contested environments.

For job seekers, Chaos Industries offers the opportunity to work on mission-driven technology with direct real-world impact. Employees help build systems related to radar, autonomous sensing, communications, counter-UAS, and AI-enabled defense capabilities—making it an attractive destination for engineers, software developers, hardware specialists, program managers, and defense professionals who want to work at the forefront of national security innovation.

Unlike many traditional defense contractors, Chaos Industries operates with a startup-style culture focused on speed, innovation, and rapid problem-solving. The company is known for moving quickly, building advanced technology in-house, and tackling complex defense challenges with an engineering-first mindset. For professionals who want the mission focus of defense work with the pace of a high-growth technology company, Chaos offers a unique environment.

As defense spending increasingly prioritizes autonomous systems, drone defense, and advanced battlefield awareness, Chaos Industries continues to grow its team across engineering, operations, manufacturing, and mission support functions. For veterans, cleared professionals, and technology talent looking to help shape the future of defense, Chaos Industries is emerging as one of the more exciting companies to watch.

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