Senior Program Manager, People Operations

Anduril-1; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA, is seeking a Senior Program Manager, People Operations, to lead a strategic HCM implementation and build enterprise-grade internal controls. You will bridge IT, Finance, Legal, Security, and People teams, ensuring compliance and data integrity as we transform our HR systems.

This role emphasizes governance, ITGC design, audit readiness, security controls, and payroll/compensation processes across multi-state operations.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience with internal controls, ITGC, and HR/payroll compliance.
• Experience in enterprise HCM implementations (Workday, ADP) and payroll modules.
• Ability to translate compliance and business requirements to technical specs.
• Experience coordinating audits and remediation.
• Knowledge of IT security frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001) applied to HRIS.
• Bachelor's degree as listed.
• US Person due to export-controlled information or facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead program management for end-to-end HCM implementation including payroll and compensation.
• Translate compliance requirements into system specifications and ensure audit readiness.
• Coordinate security, access controls, and data migrations with IT and business teams.
• Develop controls, perform testing, and support audit remediation.
• Drive change management for upgrades and control implementations.

Skills

Internal controls

ITGC

Compliance frameworks

Program management

HCM implementations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Audit tools

GRC software

Job description

Senior Program Manager, People Operations

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE JOB

As our Sr. Program Manager, People Operations, you will lead program management for a critical HCM implementation while establishing enterprise-grade internal controls and ITGC frameworks for our People systems. This is a strategic program management and compliance role requiring deep expertise in HCM implementations (Workday/ADP), internal controls design, and audit readiness. You will serve as the bridge between technical and business stakeholders, translating compliance requirements into actionable system requirements and ensuring seamless collaboration between IT, Finance, Legal, Security, and People teams during an HCM transformation. Your work will establish the control environment that protects our most critical people data and ensures regulatory compliance as Anduril scales.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead program management for end-to-end HCM implementation for payroll and compensation modules (Workday, ADP, or similar platforms), serving as the compliance owner and primary liaison between technical teams and business stakeholders throughout the implementation lifecycle
• Partner with technical leads on system configurations, security settings, integrations, and data migration to ensure compliance requirements are translated into technical specifications and audit readiness is achieved from day one
• Serve as the conduit between technical IT teams and non-technical business users, translating complex technical concepts for business stakeholders and articulating business/compliance requirements to technical teams
• Define business requirements, compliance specifications, and control objectives that guide technical implementation decisions
• Drive change management initiatives related to system upgrades, process changes, and new control implementations

Internal Controls & ITGC

• Design, implement, and maintain internal controls and ITGC frameworks for HR and payroll systems, including control documentation, testing protocols, and audit remediation strategies
• Own and maintain internal compliance controls related to People processes, including documentation, testing, remediation, and continuous monitoring of key controls
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders across Finance, IT, and compliance functions to prepare for control testing and evidence gathering
• Act as subject matter expert and liaison to Finance, Legal, Security, and external auditors on compliance matters

Security & Access Controls

• Design and implement security controls for sensitive people data, including access management, segregation of duties, data privacy protocols, and system security configurations
• Develop and maintain comprehensive process documentation, standard operating procedures, and control matrices for all compliance activities

Payroll & Compensation Operations

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing and compensation administration as part of the HCM implementation, including base salary changes, equity grants, bonus calculations, and commission processing, ensuring data integrity, audit readiness, and compliance across multi-state and multi-entity payroll operations

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of proven experience with internal controls, ITGC, and compliance frameworks in HR/payroll systems environments, including control design, testing, documentation, and audit support
• Demonstrated track record in program management roles during enterprise HCM implementations (Workday, ADP, or similar platforms), specifically in payroll and compensation modules, with proven ability to bridge technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience serving as the liaison between IT/technical teams and business stakeholders, translating compliance and business requirements into technical specifications
• Experience serving as primary point of contact during audit cycles, including control evidence gathering, testing coordination, and remediation management
• Strong hands-on experience with internal compliance, including ITGCs, control design, testing, documentation, and audit support
• Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining security controls in HR/payroll systems, including access management, segregation of duties, and data privacy protocols
• Strong program management capabilities with ability to coordinate across technical and non-technical teams and manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
• Deep understanding of IT security frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001) as applied to HRIS/payroll systems, with ability to communicate technical concepts to business audiences
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to translate technical compliance requirements for diverse audiences and facilitate collaboration between technical and business teams
• Deep knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, tax compliance, wage and hour laws, and compensation regulations
• Exceptional analytical skills with keen attention to detail and ability to identify control weaknesses and remediation opportunities
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Big 4 consulting, internal audit, or IT audit background
• Professional certifications such as CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), CPP (Certified Payroll Professional), or audit-related credentials
• Familiarity with equity compensation administration (RSUs, stock options, ESPP)
• Experience in high-growth technology or defense industry environments
• Familiarity with federal contractor compliance requirements (OFCCP, E-Verify, etc.)
• Background implementing controls during M&A or rapid growth scenarios

US Salary Range

$129,000 - $171,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits .