People Operations Specialist (m/f/d)

planqc; München; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

planqc, a Munich-based quantum computing startup, is seeking a People Operations Specialist to run day-to-day HR operations, ensure payroll accuracy, maintain employee data, and prepare HR documentation. You will own onboarding, contracts, payroll with Finance and providers, HR systems, and compliance, while continuously improving processes and employee experience.

Fluent German and English, strong attention to detail, and a curiosity about AI-enabled tools will help you thrive in our growing

Qualifications

• Experience in People Operations, HR Operations, or HR Generalist roles.
• Hands-on payroll management with external providers.
• Strong knowledge of German employment law and compliance.
• Experience administering an HRIS; Personio is a plus.
• Fluency in German and English.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day People Operations across the full employee lifecycle.
• Manage monthly payroll with Finance and payroll providers.
• Coordinate and improve employee benefits.
• Prepare employment contracts, amendments, salary letters, references, and HR docs.
• Maintain accurate employee files and compliant HR docs.
• Oversee onboarding through offboarding processes.
• Be first point of contact for HR questions and policies.
• Own Personio HRIS, workflows, and reporting.

Skills

Payroll

HR operations

HR systems

German employment law

English proficiency

Attention to detail

Data accuracy

Tools

Personio

HRIS

Job description

Your mission

At planqc, we are building scalable quantum computers based on neutral atoms. Turning this technology into practical systems requires expertise across physics, engineering, software, and operations.

As our People Operations Specialist, you are responsible for running the day-to-day People Operations function that enables planqc to grow. You ensure payroll runs smoothly, employee data is accurate, HR documentation is prepared on time, and employees receive reliable support throughout their journey with us.

You own the operational backbone of our People function—from onboarding and contracts to payroll, compliance, HR systems, and employee administration. At the same time, you continuously improve our processes, systems, and ways of working, helping us build a modern, scalable People function as we continue to grow.

Working closely with the Head of People & Culture, you will combine operational excellence with a continuous improvement mindset to create an outstanding employee experience while ensuring compliance and operational efficiency.

Your responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day People Operations function across the full employee lifecycle, ensuring employees and managers receive a professional, responsive, and compliant HR service.
• Own the monthly payroll process together with Finance and our external payroll providers, ensuring accurate employee data, payroll inputs, and timely processing.
• Coordinate and continuously improve our employee benefits offering.
• Prepare employment contracts, contract amendments, salary adjustment letters, employment references (Arbeitszeugnisse), certificates, and other employment-related documentation.
• Maintain accurate employee files and ensure all HR documentation is complete, compliant, and up to date.
• Coordinate all administrative processes from onboarding through to offboarding, including creating employee records, supporting onboarding, employee changes, absences, and exits.
• Ensure every employee has a smooth and professional experience throughout their journey at planqc.
• Be the first point of contact for employees and managers regarding day-to-day HR questions, People policies, contracts, leave, benefits, and HR processes.
• Build trusted relationships by providing timely, practical, and service-oriented support.
• Own Personio as our HRIS, including employee records, workflows, permissions, document management, reporting, and system administration.
• Continuously improve how we use Personio to increase efficiency and support our growing organisation.
• Ensure all People Operations activities comply with German and Austrian employment law, internal policies, and documentation requirements.
• Keep HR processes well documented, audit-ready, and legally compliant.
• Build, document, and continuously improve People processes, templates, and workflows as we continue to scale.
• Identify opportunities to simplify and automate administrative work using modern tools, including AI where appropriate.
• Create People reports, dashboards, and insights covering headcount, onboarding, turnover, absence, and other key HR metrics.
• Help turn People data into actionable insights for management.
• Support cross-functional initiatives related to onboarding, employee engagement, compensation, performance management, organisational development, and other strategic People projects.

What you bring

• Previous experience in People Operations, HR Operations, HR Generalist, or a similar role, ideally within a fast-growing startup, scale-up, or technology company.
• Strong experience owning operational HR processes across the entire employee lifecycle.
• Hands-on experience running payroll together with external payroll providers.
• Strong experience preparing employment contracts, HR documentation, and employee correspondence.
• Hands-on experience administering an HRIS; experience with Personio is a strong advantage.
• Solid knowledge of German employment law, HR administration, payroll processes, and compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting additional European countries is a plus.
• A structured, organised, and detail-oriented way of working with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong process mindset—you enjoy creating structure, improving workflows, and building scalable processes without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence working with HR data, reports, and dashboards.
• High levels of accuracy, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive employee information.
• A pragmatic, service-oriented mindset with a genuine desire to help employees and managers.
• Curiosity about automation, AI, and modern digital tools that improve the employee experience.
• A continuous learning mindset and interest in keeping up to date with employment law and HR best practices.
• Fluency in both German and English.

What characterizes you

• You genuinely enjoy helping people and providing excellent internal service.
• You take ownership and can be relied upon to keep People Operations running smoothly.
• You combine strong attention to detail with the ability to see opportunities for improvement.
• You enjoy bringing structure to growing organisations and making processes more efficient.
• You communicate clearly, build trust quickly, and work collaboratively across teams.
• You are curious, embrace new technologies—including AI—and continuously look for smarter ways of working.
• You're someone who enjoys working with others, brings positive energy to the team, and contributes to an open, collaborative culture. We care deeply about our work, but we also believe that curiosity, kindness, and a good sense of humour make work more enjoyable.

Why join planqc

• You genuinely enjoy helping people and providing excellent internal service.
• You take ownership and can be relied upon to keep People Operations running smoothly.
• You combine strong attention to detail with the ability to see opportunities for improvement.
• You enjoy bringing structure to growing organisations and making processes more efficient.
• You communicate clearly, build trust quickly, and work collaboratively across teams.
• You are curious, embrace new technologies—including AI—and continuously look for smarter ways of working.
• You're someone who enjoys working with others, brings positive energy to the team, and contributes to an open, collaborative culture. We care deeply about our work, but we also believe that curiosity, kindness, and a good sense of humour make work more enjoyable.

About Us

planqc builds neutral-atom quantum computers based on arrays of optically trapped atoms controlled with high-precision laser systems. Our platform combines technologies from optical lattice clocks, quantum gas microscopes and fast Rydberg gates into a scalable computing architecture.

Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from MPQ and LMU Munich, we translate more than a decade of AMO research into deployable quantum systems. Our work spans vacuum and laser hardware, control electronics, firmware, system software and algorithm integration. We focus on turning complex experimental setups into stable, reproducible systems that operate in real computing environments.

Behind this technology is a team that pushes technical boundaries, values open exchange and shared ownership. Physicists, engineers, software developers and business specialists work closely together, often across disciplinary limits. We believe progress comes from combining deep expertise with practical engineering and from giving people the responsibility and trust to shape their domain.

As we grow across our locations in Garching, Ulm, and Innsbruck, we continue to build a company where people take ownership, learn from each other, and directly shape the systems we bring into operation.