Principal HR Business Partner - Total Rewards

Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) combined with groundbreaking new laser architecture. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. Join us in powering a better world with inertial fusion!

As an HR Business Partner, you will play a key role in supporting our employees and leadership team by executing core HR functions that enhance our people strategy and ensure compliance with HR policies and best practices. This role requires a proactive and adaptable HR professional who can manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. You will support employee onboarding, new employee orientation, organizational strategy, compliance, policy development, and employee relations, while also assisting with recruiting activities (candidate sourcing, greeting candidates, and scheduling interviews) as needed.

We are looking for a people-centric HR Generalist to apply their organizational expertise, problem solving skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the future of energy!

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to provide strategic HR guidance on organizational design, workforce planning, employee development, and talent strategy.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve Xcimer's compensation philosophy, salary structures, career frameworks, and leveling architecture.
• Lead market benchmarking using compensation surveys and external market data to ensure competitive and equitable pay practices.
• Develop and maintain compensation tools, salary ranges, pay analytics, and compensation planning models that support rapid organizational growth.
• Partner with executives and managers on compensation recommendations for new hires, promotions, internal transfers, equity refreshes, and annual compensation planning.
• Serve as the primary HR subject matter expert on total rewards, including base salary, incentive compensation, equity, recognition programs, and employee benefits.
• Partner with Finance and Legal to manage and administer employee equity programs, including new hire grants, refresh grants, and vesting education.
• Evaluate, recommend, and manage employee benefit programs, ensuring offerings remain competitive while balancing cost, compliance, and employee experience.
• Lead annual benefits renewal processes, vendor management, open enrollment, employee communications, and ongoing education regarding benefit programs.
• Monitor emerging compensation and benefits trends to recommend innovative programs that strengthen Xcimer's ability to attract and retain exceptional talent.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to develop competitive offer strategies for highly specialized technical and executive hires.
• Support annual performance review, merit increase, bonus planning, and promotion cycles through analytics, planning tools, and executive recommendations.
• Utilize HR analytics and workforce data to identify trends, provide actionable insights, and support executive decision-making.
• Advise managers on employee relations matters, performance management, coaching, policy interpretation, and organizational effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local compensation and employment regulations.
• Support the continuous improvement of HR processes, systems, and programs as Xcimer scales.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including significant expertise in compensation, total rewards, and HR business partnership.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing compensation programs, salary structures, market benchmarking, and job architecture.
• Deep knowledge of compensation survey methodologies and experience utilizing market pricing tools such as Radford, Mercer, Culpepper, or similar compensation databases.
• Experience administering equity compensation programs within venture-backed or private technology companies.
• Strong understanding of employee benefits strategy, plan administration, vendor management, and compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting annual compensation review cycles, merit planning, promotions, and executive compensation recommendations.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in Excel and the ability to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations.
• Experience partnering directly with senior leaders to influence organizational and talent decisions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain complex compensation and benefits concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience utilizing HRIS systems (Workday), compensation planning software, and people analytics tools.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Demonstrated judgment, discretion, and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar professional certification.
• Masters or MBA.
• Experience supporting engineering, aerospace, manufacturing, energy, defense, or other highly technical organizations.
• Prior experience scaling compensation programs within a startup or high-growth technology company.
• Experience building compensation philosophies and leveling frameworks from the ground up.
• Familiarity with executive compensation, Board compensation committees, and equity planning.
• Experience with Workday, Carta, Pave, Radford, Mercer, Option Impact, or similar compensation and equity management platforms.
• Experience supporting geographically distributed workforces across multiple states.
• Passion for building scalable people programs that enable rapid innovation and organizational growth.

Equal Employment Opportunity Xcimer Energy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Xcimer Energy hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Xcimer Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here and here.

Benefits Benefits Employee Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave (must be employed at time of birth or adoption), short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 6%. Paid Time Off: 15 days per year based on weekly scheduled hours, 10 paid sick leave, and 13 company-paid holidays for all regular employees (including part-time), fixed-term, and interns. Equity will be granted to eligible employees. Equity is designed to allow employees to share in company results and success.