Benefits Manager

Armada; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 95,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Competitive compensation package

Job summary

Armada is seeking a Benefits Manager to own the day-to-day operation of the US benefits program, including enrollments, renewals, broker/carrier management, compliance, and employee relations. You will work with HR Ops, Payroll, Finance, Legal, and Global Mobility to simplify complex requirements into a reliable employee experience.

You will partner on payroll accuracy, ensure ERISA/ACA compliance, and build scalable, auditable processes for a fast-growing, distributed workforce.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of benefits administration or Total Rewards, or a Master's degree and 3+ years of experience.
• Hands-on ownership of open enrollment for a US employer, ideally in a high-growth company.
• Working knowledge of US benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and Section 125.
• Experience with brokers, carriers, and vendors and holding them accountable for service quality.
• Proficiency with HRIS and benefits platforms; strong spreadsheet and reporting skills.
• Clear, empathetic communication with employees and leadership credibility.

Responsibilities

• Own benefits administration end to end for US employees.
• Run open enrollment and coordinate with brokers and carriers.
• Manage brokers, carriers, and vendors with service-level expectations.
• Maintain compliance calendar and regulatory requirements (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125).
• Handle benefits-related employee questions with discretion and empathy.
• Collaborate with Payroll, HR Ops, Finance to ensure accurate deductions and budgeting.
• Support benefits outside the US with local compliance via EOR partners.
• Build scalable processes using automation and AI tools.

Skills

Open enrollment ownership

Regulatory knowledge

Broker & vendor management

HRIS & benefits platforms

Communication skills

Team mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

About the Company

Armada is the hyperscaler for the edge, delivering modular AI infrastructure from first deployment to AI factory with speed, scale and sovereignty. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and to the CNBC Disruptor 50, Armada’s solutions are deployed in over 60 countries globally for organizations ranging from energy to defense.

With nearly $500 million in funding to date, Armada is backed by leading investors including Founders Fund, Lux, BlackRock and Microsoft (M12), alongside strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Dell, Palantir, NVIDIA, SpaceX, and Skydio. We are building the infrastructure layer for sovereign and edge AI - rugged, deployable compute for customers that cannot rely on centralized cloud.

Working at Armada means taking ownership, driving autonomy, and delivering impact. You’ll tackle challenges that haven’t been solved before and help build something transformative from the ground up. What you do here will not only define your career but help further Armada’s mission to bridge the digital divide for customers around the world.

About the Role

Armada is growing quickly, and our benefits program needs to scale with it. As Benefits Manager, you will own the day-to-day operation of Armada's benefits program: enrollments, renewals, broker and carrier management, compliance, and benefits-related employee relations. You will be the person employees come to when they need help with their coverage, and the person the business relies on to keep the program accurate, compliant, and competitive.

You will partner closely with HR Operations, Payroll, Finance, Legal, and Global Mobility to turn complex compliance and operational requirements into a simple, reliable experience for employees.

Location

This role is remote-based on the continental US.

What You'll Do

• Own benefits administration end to end. Manage the full benefits lifecycle for US employees, including new hire enrollment, qualifying life events, changes, COBRA, and offboarding, resolving issues accurately and on time.
• Run open enrollment. Coordinate with the broker and carriers and deliver clear employee communications.
• Manage brokers, carriers, and vendors. Serve as the day-to-day owner of Armada's benefits partners, hold them to service levels, elevate service issues, and support renewal and marketing analysis with recommendations on cost and quality trade-offs.
• Keep the program compliant. Own the compliance calendar and maintain compliance with US benefits requirements, including ERISA, ACA reporting, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125, 401k audit, nondisrimination testing, and state-level mandates, escalating novel or evolving risks.
• Handle benefits-related employee questions. Act as the go-to resource for benefits questions and concerns, handling sensitive situations such as medical leave, family changes, or loss with discretion and empathy.
• Partner on payroll and budget accuracy. Work with Payroll and HR Operations to make sure deductions, employer contributions, and carrier feeds are accurate and reconciled every pay period. Partner with Finance on benefits invoices, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Support benefits beyond the US. Partner with our EOR providers to make sure benefits for employees outside the US are compliant with local requirements and consistent with Armada's approach.
• Build processes that scale. Document and improve benefits processes and policies so they are clear, repeatable, and audit-ready, using automation and AI tools where they add real efficiency.

What Success Looks Like

• First 90 days: You own benefits administration and the broker relationship. You have audited current plans, carrier feeds, and the compliance calendar, and shared a prioritized list of gaps and fixes.
• First 6 months: Core benefits processes are documented, a benefits KPI report is in place.
• First 12 months: You have run a renewal or open enrollment cycle with clean data, on-time communications, and accurate payroll deductions from day one.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience in benefits administration or Total Rewards, or a Master's degree and 3+ years of experience
• Hands-on ownership of open enrollment for a US employer, ideally in a high-growth company
• Working knowledge of US benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and Section 125, with sound judgment about when to bring in Legal or outside experts
• Experience working with brokers, carriers, and vendors and holding them accountable for service quality
• Proficiency with HRIS and benefits administration platforms, plus strong spreadsheet and reporting skills
• Clear, empathetic communication with employees and credibility with leadership when explaining trade-offs
• A team-first, low-ego mindset, comfortable building structure in a fast-moving environment

Nice to Have

• Exposure to international benefits through EOR providers or local entities
• CEBS, CBP, or a similar benefits certification
• Experience supporting a distributed workforce, including field-based or deployed employees
• Experience in hardware, infrastructure, or defense technology companies

Compensation & Benefits

For U.S. Based candidates: To ensure fairness and transparency, the starting base salary range for this role for candidates in the U.S. are listed, varying based on location experience, skills, and qualifications. In addition to base salary, this role will also be offered equity and subsidized benefits (details available upon request).

We use a geographic pay structure based on cost-of-labor markets.

• Tier 1 (e.g., SF Bay Area, NYC, Seattle): $109,210 – $136,600
• Tier 2 (most U.S. metro areas): $94,960 – $118,700
• Tier 3 (other cities): $90,220 - $112,800

Final compensation will be determined by experience, scope, and level, and may vary from the posted range.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and equity
• Medical, dental, and vision (subsidized cost)
• Health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), and dependent care FSAs (DCFSA)
• Retirement plan options, including 401(k) and Roth 401(k)
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO)
• 14 paid company holidays per year

Compensation

$94,960 – $118,700 USD

You're a Great Fit if You're

• A go-getter with a growth mindset. You're intellectually curious, have strong business acumen, and actively seek opportunities to build relevant skills and knowledge
• A detail-oriented problem-solver. You can independently gather information, solve problems efficiently, and deliver results with a "get-it-done" attitude
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment. You're energized by an entrepreneurial spirit, capable of working quickly, and excited to contribute to a growing company
• A collaborative team player. You focus on business success and are motivated by team accomplishment vs personal agenda
• Highly organized and results-driven. Strong prioritization skills and a dedicated work ethic are essential for you

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Armada, we are committed to fostering a work environment where everyone is given equal opportunities to thrive. As an equal opportunity employer, we strictly prohibit discrimination or harassment based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, and compensation. Our hiring is guided by qualifications, merit, and the business needs at the time.

Unsolicited Resumes and Candidates

Armada does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from external agencies or recruiters. All candidates must apply directly through our careers page. Any resumes submitted by agencies without a prior signed agreement will be considered unsolicited and Armada will not be obligated to pay any fees.