HR AI and Automation Lead (All Genders)

STARK; München; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Stark is seeking a seasoned HR technology leader to own the practical application of AI and automation across HR. You will reduce administrative work, improve data quality, and provide fast, reliable support to employees and managers.

Collaborate with HR leadership, IT, Security, Legal and Finance to deploy secure, scalable solutions in a defence technology context. The role emphasizes cross-functional impact across recruiting, people operations, and workforce planning, with a focus on

Qualifications

• 5+ years in HR technology, operations, or automation with ownership from problem to implementation.
• Evidence of deployed AI/automation with measurable results and adoption.
• Practical ability to build integrations using APIs and webhooks with data flow troubleshooting.
• Experience applying language models to business workflows and retrieval-based evaluation.
• Understanding of HR data handling and confidentiality requirements.
• Strong ownership and clear communication to stakeholders about priorities, costs, and tradeoffs.

Responsibilities

• Own the HR AI and automation roadmap with clear ownership and success metrics.
• Build and maintain workflows for recruiting handovers, onboarding, changes, approvals and reporting.
• Develop an HR knowledge assistant aligned with policies, referencing current sources.
• Connect HR systems and tools through approved integrations to ensure data consistency.
• Improve workforce reporting with reliable headcount, hiring, and process data.
• Define access controls and data handling with IT, Security and Legal input.
• Maintain documentation, alerts, and recovery procedures for dependable workflows.
• Train HR staff and managers and report on time savings and costs.

Skills

HR technology

AI & automation in HR

APIs & Webhooks

Language models in workflows

Data privacy in HR

Project ownership & communication

English fluency

Tools

SQL

Python

Google Workspace

Slack

Confluence

Personio

Greenhouse

Job description

At Stark, we forge the future of European and national security through cutting-edge, AI-driven technology and unmatched engineering precision. As a premier defence technology company, our mission is clear: to equip NATO Allies and their partners with next-generation autonomous defence platforms and advanced AI-driven software built to perform in the world’s most demanding environments.

We believe that true security stems from relentless innovation. By combining elite engineering talent with agile technology and an AI-native operational culture, Stark turns complex defence challenges into field-tested, multi-domain solutions.

WHY JOIN US

• The software and systems you work on directly protect personnel and defend European and national sovereignty.
• You will work alongside industry-leading minds on autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and secure cyber platforms.
• We foster a fast-paced, collaborative environment where bold ideas are supported by serious R&D backing.

About the Team

You will be part of the global HR Team, reporting to the Team Lead Ops.

Your Mission

You will own the practical application of AI and automation across HR at STARK. Your goal is to reduce administrative work, improve data quality and give employees and managers faster access to reliable support. You will identify opportunities, build and deploy solutions, and measure their impact across recruiting, people operations and workforce planning.

Working with HR leadership, IT, Security, Legal and Finance, you will make these solutions reliable enough for everyday use in a defence technology environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the HR AI and automation roadmap. Prioritise projects by business value, process readiness, data sensitivity and implementation effort, with a clear owner and success measure for each.
• Build and maintain workflows for recruiting handovers, onboarding, employee changes, approval routing and reporting. Select standard automation or AI according to the task and reliability required.
• Develop an HR knowledge assistant using approved policies and guidance. Ensure answers reference current sources, respect access permissions and elevate uncertain or sensitive questions to the right person.
• Connect HR systems and collaboration tools through approved integrations. Improve data consistency, resolve failed handovers and preserve the authoritative source for each record.
• Improve workforce reporting with reliable headcount, hiring and process data. Help HR and Finance reconcile position approvals, recruitment activity and employee records.
• Evaluate tools and vendors with IT, Security and Legal. Define access controls, data handling, retention and monitoring before deployment, with accountable human review for decisions affecting candidates or employees.
• Test output quality, permissions and failure scenarios. Maintain documentation, alerts and recovery procedures so deployed workflows remain dependable as systems and policies change.
• Train HR colleagues and managers, support adoption and report results through time saved, turnaround times, error rates, usage and operating cost.

Required Skills

• Around five years or more in HR technology, HR operations, business systems or automation, with ownership of projects from problem definition through implementation.
• Evidence of AI or automation solutions you have deployed and maintained, including the problem solved, adoption achieved and measurable operational results.
• Practical ability to build integrations using workflow platforms, APIs and webhooks. You can troubleshoot data flows and work with technical colleagues on more complex requirements.
• Experience applying language models to business workflows, including knowledge retrieval, output evaluation and appropriate escalation when answers are unreliable.
• An understanding of recruiting and employee lifecycle processes, HR data and the care required when handling confidential candidate and employee information.
• Strong project ownership and clear communication. You can turn an HR problem into a delivery plan and explain priorities, costs and tradeoffs to senior stakeholders.
• Professional fluency in English and the judgment to work effectively in a security sensitive, international environment.

Nice-To-Have

Personio, Greenhouse, Google Workspace, Slack or Confluence; SQL or Python; German language skills; and experience in defence, aerospace, manufacturing or another regulated sector. Equivalent systems and relevant implementation experience are welcome.

SECURITY CLEARANCE

Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.