Description
Space Tango is an innovative space technology company based in Lexington, Kentucky. We develop automated systems and payloads that support research, development, and manufacturing in microgravity. Our multidisciplinary team brings together engineering, science, and mission operations to manufacture health and technology products in space.
Space Tango is looking for a hands-on Human Resources Manager to support our employees, strengthen our culture, and help build the team and leadership capabilities needed for continued growth.
As our primary HR professional, you will own daily HR operations while partnering with leadership on recruiting, employee development, and organizational needs. This role requires someone who enjoys doing the work, takes initiative, and follows through—from benefits questions and onboarding details to coaching managers and recruiting specialized technical talent.
The ideal candidate has supported a growing company, works effectively in a fast-paced environment, and brings sound judgment, discretion, and an approachable communication style.
Key Responsibilities
- Own daily HR operations. Manage benefits, leave, employee records, HR systems, policies, compliance activities, and payroll coordination. Serve as the primary contact for employee questions and outside HR service providers.
- Lead recruiting and hiring. Partner with hiring managers, actively source technical professionals, screen candidates, coordinate interviews, prepare offers, and manage onboarding.
- Manage employee relations and performance. Address concerns, conduct investigations, coach managers through difficult conversations, and manage documentation, corrective actions, and offboarding with discretion and consistency.
- Nurture company culture. Build relationships across the team, gather employee feedback, and carry out practical initiatives that strengthen communication, collaboration, accountability, and engagement.
- Develop employees and future leaders. Coordinate performance reviews, coach managers, identify development needs, and implement opportunities that prepare employees for greater responsibility.
- Support compensation and workforce planning. Work with the CFO and leadership on salary benchmarking, compensation reviews, incentive programs, and staffing needs.
- Build and maintain HR practices that support growth. Identify gaps, implement improvements, and keep required activities and deadlines on track while adapting to changing priorities. Coordinate with legal counsel and other specialists when needed.
Requirements
Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Five or more years of progressive HR experience, including broad, hands-on responsibility across core HR functions.
- Experience supporting a growing small or medium-sized company, preferably as the primary HR professional or part of a small team.
- Demonstrated success recruiting technical professionals and partnering closely with hiring managers.
- Experience managing employee relations, coaching managers, and supporting leadership development.
- Ability to manage competing priorities independently and balance immediate needs with longer-term improvements.
- Strong knowledge of employment practices, benefits administration, and HR compliance.
- Excellent communication, organizational skills, discretion, and follow-through.
Preferred:
- Experience supporting engineering, technology, manufacturing, aerospace, or another technical workforce.
- HRIS implementation experience.
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
Space Tango is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Space Tango is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience
- Five or more years of progressive HR experience with broad, hands-on responsibility across core HR functions
- Experience supporting a growing small or medium-sized company, preferably as the primary HR professional or part of a small team
- Demonstrated success recruiting technical professionals and partnering closely with hiring managers
- Experience managing employee relations, coaching managers, and supporting leadership development
- Ability to manage competing priorities independently and balance immediate needs with longer-term improvements
- Strong knowledge of employment practices, benefits administration, and HR compliance
- Excellent communication, organizational skills, discretion, and follow-through
- Experience supporting engineering, technology, manufacturing, aerospace, or another technical workforce
- HRIS implementation experience
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification
What We Do
Space Tango is an industry leader in automated systems in the pursuit of health and technology manufacturing in space. Since 2017 through a NASA Space Act Agreement, Space Tango provides facilities to support iterative R&D and manufacturing in space. Through an integrated and intuitive approach, Space Tango works alongside its diverse partner base to embrace pathways to on-orbit production yielding valuable and transformational solutions for humanity. Space Tango believes the microgravity environment is a new frontier for discovery and innovation. We are focused on creating a new global market 250 miles up in low Earth orbit and envision a future where the next important breakthroughs in both healthcare and technology will occur off the planet. Recognized for our expertise in microgravity design and operations, Space Tango believes that by exploring with industry and educational partners of all kinds, we can improve life on Earth and inspire the next generation to continue to expand the horizon of this new frontier.
