People Partner Lead, Engineering

At Gusto, we're on a mission to grow the small business economy.

We're looking for a high-ownership People Business Partner to support our Engineering, Data Science, and Security/IT organizations at Gusto. This role reports into Gusto's Head of People and serves as a trusted partner to leaders across some of our most technically complex teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build trusted partnerships with Engineering, Data Science, and Security/IT leaders, understanding their teams, surfacing friction early, and navigating performance management, promotions, leveling, and employee relations matters with good judgment.
• Synthesize People data , gPulse results, Gustofied performance cycles, attrition signals, headcount trends , into clear, actionable reads for R&D leaders before they have to ask.
• Support and operationalize core talent programs including performance cycles, calibration discussions, promotion processes, and manager enablement.
• Reinforce high performance standards, accountability, and clarity around expectations, feedback, and growth across Engineering, Data Science, and Security/IT.
• Serve as the liaison between R&D and Gusto's broader People team (Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, L&D, People Ops), translating company-wide programs into what they mean specifically for technical orgs , and surfacing R&D context back to the center.
• Proactively identify risks, friction points, and opportunities for improvement using People insights and organizational data.
• Build lightweight but scalable People frameworks, operating mechanisms, and repeatable processes that improve consistency across the business.
• Own end-to-end execution of org changes, including transition planning, communication sequencing, Workday updates, leader enablement, and follow-through until nothing is left unresolved.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of HRBP or People Partner experience, with meaningful time supporting technical organizations , Engineering, Data Science, Security, or similar.
• Strong operator mindset, with experience executing complex People work.
• A strong bias toward action and a high speed of execution.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with senior technical leaders.
• Deep experience with performance management, calibrations, promotions, and organizational design.
• Strong analytical instincts, with comfort in spreadsheets and ability to tell a story with People data.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity and hold a lot of detail without losing the thread.
• Sound judgment that accounts for Gusto, not just R&D.
• AI-native mindset, with active use of AI to do work better.

What We Offer:

• Competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs).
• Cash compensation: $158,300 - $195,237/year in Denver, $185,955 - $229,345/year in San Francisco.
• Physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City, with flexible work arrangements.