Lead People Systems Engineer

Klaviyo GMI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Klaviyo seeks an experienced Lead People Technology Engineer to be the first dedicated AI engineer within the People Technology team. You will shape our AI-first architecture, standards, and long-term vision, partnering across People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Talent, and Finance to design intelligent systems impacting hiring, development, retention and support for Klaviyo employees worldwide.

You will lead AI-enabled workflows, copilots, and agents that automate and augment People

Qualifications

• 5+ years of engineering or data engineering experience.
• 2+ years building AI/ML or LLM-powered delivering tangible business outcomes.
• Proven ability to set technical direction and build 0→1 systems with meaningful organizational impact.
• Strong experience with Python, SQL, and modern APIs.
• Experience integrating with enterprise SaaS systems (HRIS, ATS).
• Experience with LLM platforms (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini).
• Familiarity with LangChain and LangGraph.

Responsibilities

• Architect AI-first People systems and workflows for the employee lifecycle.
• Design and build AI-powered copilots and workflows across HR, recruiting, onboarding and performance.
• Integrate systems with SaaS like Workday, Greenhouse, Sana and internal Klaviyo platforms.
• Establish best practices for prompt engineering, LLM orchestration, security and observability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to translate business problems into scalable AI solutions.

Skills

Python

SQL

APIs

LLM platforms

LangChain

LangGraph

AI/ML

Problem solving

Tools

Workday

Greenhouse

Sana

n8n

Workato

Zapier

Job description

At Klaviyo, we value the unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives each Klaviyos brings to our workplace each and every day. We believe everyone deserves a fair shot at success and appreciate the experiences each person brings beyond the traditional job requirements. If you're a close but not exact match with the description, we hope you'll still consider applying. Want to learn more about life at Klaviyo? Visit klaviyo.com/careers to see how we empower creators to own their own destiny.

Klaviyo is building an AI-first company—and that starts with how we support and scale our people.

We're looking for a Lead People Technology Engineer to be the first dedicated AI engineer within our People Technology (KPPL) team. As an early leader in this space, you'll reimagine how our People teams operate in an AI-first world by shaping our architecture, standards, and long-term vision.

You'll partner across People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Talent, and Finance to design and build intelligent systems that transform how we hire, develop, retain, and support Klaviyos globally. This role is not just about applying AI it's about defining how AI becomes embedded into the employee lifecycle at Klaviyo.

What You'll Be Doing

AI-First People Systems & Architecture

• Reimagine core People workflows (recruiting, onboarding, performance, daily tasks) through an AI-first lens, not just incremental automation
• Design and build AI-powered workflows, copilots, and agents that automate and augment People processes across the employee lifecycle
• Architect and implement systems that integrate across SaaS such as Workday, Greenhouse, Sana, and internal Klaviyo platforms
• Partner with our internal IT AI team and establish best practices for:
  • Prompt engineering and evaluation
  • LLM system design and orchestration
  • Versioning, testing, security, and observability of AI systems
• Enable AI Use Cases (copilots, assistants, automated workflows) that drive faster execution and better decision-making for People teams
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business problems into scalable AI solutions

Driving an AI-First Operating Model

• Identify high-leverage opportunities to replace manual workflows with AI-native solutions
• Define and track success metrics tied to efficiency gains, time savings, and operational effectiveness
• Help the People organization shift toward AI-augmented ways of working
• Act as a thought partner to People leadership on what's possible with AI, not just what's requested
• Responsible AI, Privacy & Governance: Design systems that handle sensitive employee data with security, privacy, and trust at the core
• Partner with Security, Legal, and Global IT to ensure compliant and ethical AI deployment

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Enablement

• Work closely with Security, IT, and GTM Systems to align on shared AI infrastructure and standards
• Contribute to and adopt company-wide AI patterns, tooling, and best practices
• Enable People teams to leverage AI by building:
  • Reusable frameworks and workflows
  • Playbooks and training materials
• Help non-technical stakeholders confidently use and iterate on AI-powered tools

Technical Leadership

• Advocate for scalable, well-governed AI systems that integrate cleanly into Klaviyo’s broader tech ecosystem
• Act as a key voice in shaping how Klaviyo becomes AI-first internally, starting with People systems

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Passion and Curiosity to experiment and reimagine People workflows
• 5+ years of engineering or data engineering experience, with 2+ years building AI/ML or LLM-powered delivering tangible business outcomes
• Proven ability to set technical direction and build 0→1 systems with meaningful organizational impact
• Strong experience with but not limited to:
  • Python, SQL, and modern APIs
  • LLM platforms (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, etc.)
  • LangChain and LangGraph
  • Designing AI-powered workflows, agents, or copilots
• Experience integrating with enterprise SaaS systems (HRIS, ATS, etc.)
• Experience designing scalable systems, automation frameworks, and internal tools
• Experience working with sensitive data and implementing responsible AI practices
• Strong ability to translate ambiguous business problems into scalable technical solutions

Bonus Points

• Experience with People/HR systems (Workday, Greenhouse, Sana)
• Familiarity with workflow automation platforms (e.g., n8n, Workato, Zapier)
• Experience in high-growth SaaS environments
• Contributions to AI governance, internal AI platforms, or experimentation frameworks

Why This Role Matters at Klaviyo

This is a foundational role in defining how Klaviyo becomes an AI-first company from the inside out.

You won't just be implementing AI you'll be:

• Shaping how People teams operate with AI
• Defining standards for responsible, scalable internal AI systems
• Building the blueprint for how AI is embedded across the business

If you're excited about building from scratch, influencing across functions, and applying AI to core business workflows, this role offers a unique opportunity to have outsized impact.

Massachusetts Applicants

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Base Pay Range For US Locations

$140,000-$210,000 USD

This role may require up to 10% travel for purposes such as new hire onboarding, client or partner work if applicable, team meetings, and industry events. Travel is coordinated in advance.

Get to Know Klaviyo

We're Klaviyo (pronounced clay-vee-oh). We empower creators to own their destiny by making first-party data accessible and actionable like never before. We see limitless potential for the technology we're developing to nurture personalized experiences in ecommerce and beyond. To reach our goals, we need our own crew of remarkable creators-ambitious and collaborative teammates who stay focused on our north star: delighting our customers. If you're ready to do the best work of your career, where you'll be welcomed as your whole self from day one and supported with generous benefits, we hope you'll join us.

AI fluency at Klaviyo includes responsible use of AI (including privacy, security, bias awareness, and human-in-the-loop). We provide accommodations as needed.

By participating in Klaviyo's interview process, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and will adhere to our Guidelines for using AI in the Klaviyo interview Process. For more information about how we process your personal data, see our Job Applicant Privacy Notice.

Klaviyo is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, citizenship, national origin, color, religion or religious creed, age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, veteran or active military status, marital status, criminal record, genetics, retaliation, sexual harassment or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.