People Operations Lead

Role Description: As a People Operations Lead, you will serve as the operational backbone and strategic right hand of the Chief People Officer, owning the infrastructure that makes our people programs run while serving as a trusted partner to leaders and employees across every department. This is a company-wide role that lives at the intersection of HR operations, people strategy, and organizational partnership. You will build and improve the systems, processes, and programs that shape the Defense Unicorns employee experience from day one through every milestone that follows. This is not a support role — it is a high-trust, high-visibility position for someone who moves fast, thinks critically, and takes action: identifies gaps, takes ownership, and drives solutions forward without waiting to be directed. At Defense Unicorns, the order of priority is: 1) People 2) Culture 3) Process 4) Technology. We champion our values, are open to experimentation, take ownership, and have fun doing it. As a fast-growing company, policies and processes are continuously being defined and refined and this person will be a key architect of that work, not just a follower of it. Responsibilities: Company-Wide People Leadership Navigate complex employee situations with sound judgment, ensuring outcomes are fair, timely, and compliant with applicable laws and regulations. Support managers in building high-perfo