Senior People Operations Generalist, EMEA

Sonatus; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonatus is growing our People Operations team in Ireland and across the wider EMEA region. We are seeking a Senior People Operations Generalist to scale our people programs, operations, and mobility with a strategic, hands-on approach and data-driven mindset.

Based in Dublin in a hybrid role, you will partner with US HQ and APAC teams, support payroll and benefits, and drive relocation and visa processes for international hires to sustain rapid growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in People Operations, tech industry preferred.
• Experience across multiple EU countries, esp. Ireland, France, Germany.
• Proven ability to use AI, automation, and data analytics to improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day People operations for Ireland and support the wider EMEA region with local compliance.
• Support global People programs: performance cycles, salary reviews, engagement surveys, recognition, retention.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding for employees across countries.
• Collaborate with Finance for payroll processing and benefits administration.
• Offer guidance on employee relations and foster a positive culture.
• Handle Global Mobility: visas, permits, relocation with external providers to sponsor international hires.

Skills

EU labor laws knowledge

Global People Operations

AI & analytics in People Ops

People operations management

Multi-country workforce management

Job description

At Sonatus, we're driving the transformation to AI-enabled software-defined vehicles. Traditional automotive software methods can't keep pace with consumer expectations shaped by the mobile industry—where features evolve rapidly, update seamlessly, and improve continuously. That's why leading OEMs trust Sonatus to accelerate this shift. Our technology is already in production across more than 8 million vehicles on the road today and rapidly expanding.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, with 250+ employees worldwide, Sonatus combines the agility of a fast-growing company with the scale and impact of an established partner. Backed by strong funding and proven by global deployment, we're solving some of the most interesting and complex challenges in the industry. Join us and help redefine what's possible as we shape the future of mobility.

As we continue our year-on-year headcount growth, we are looking for a Senior People Operations Generalist to help us scale our people and talent operations across Ireland and the wider EMEA region, including France and Germany.

This role reports to the Global Head of People and serves as the primary People Operations partner for the region, working closely with our US HQ and APAC People teams. You will also partner with our Technical Recruiter in Dublin to support continued team growth in EMEA.

This is not a traditional People Operations role focused primarily on administration and day-to-day support. We are looking for someone who can think strategically, operate hands-on, and leverage AI, automation, and data to improve how People Operations works as we scale.

Please note:

This is a hybrid role based in Dublin, with an expectation to work from the office three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday).

Responsibilities

• People Operations: Oversee day-to-day People operations for Ireland and support the broader EMEA region, ensuring compliance with local labour laws and regulations in partnership with legal teams.
• Global People Programs: Support the implementation and execution of global People programs, including performance cycles, salary reviews, engagement surveys, employee recognition, and retention programs across the region.
• Onboarding/Offboarding: Manage the end-to-end employee lifecycle, including onboarding new hires and conducting offboarding for existing employees.
• Payroll & Benefits: Partner with the Finance team and benefits providers to ensure accurate payroll processing and administer employee benefit programs.
• Employee Relations: Provide guidance and support on employee relations matters, fostering a positive and productive workplace culture.
• Global Mobility: Manage visa, permit, and relocation processes for international hires and transfers, partnering with external immigration providers (e.g., Fragomen) to ensure timely, compliant sponsorship.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in People Operations roles, with a focus on tech companies.
• Strong knowledge of labor laws across the EU, with expertise in Ireland, France, and Germany.
• Proven experience managing People Operations processes across multiple countries and cultures.
• Experience leveraging AI, automation, and analytics to improve People processes, streamline workflows, reduce manual work, and enable more efficient, data-driven operations.
• Legally authorised to work in Ireland.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Startup experience is a must.
• Strong operational mindset with the ability to build structure, improve processes, and drive execution.
• Ability to operate effectively in high-growth, high-ambiguity environments with changing priorities and evolving business needs.
• Result-oriented and proactive approach — someone who takes ownership, moves quickly, makes sound decisions with imperfect information, and drives change.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence at all levels of the organization.