Payroll Manager

Responsibilities

• Payroll Operations
• Manage the full-cycle payroll process for all employees, ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing 
• Administer payroll for salaried, hourly, and shift-based employees across multiple states 
• Review and approve payroll calculations including wages, overtime, bonuses, equity-related compensation, and deductions 
• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure integrity of employee payroll data 
• Compliance & Tax Management 
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations and wage laws 
• Oversee payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and reporting requirements 
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement updates to maintain compliance 
• Support internal and external audits related to payroll 
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour laws, tax requirements, and reporting obligations.
• Ensure compliance with California wage and hour laws, including accurate tracking and administration of meal and rest break requirements
• Manage documentation and administration of meal period waivers, ensuring written consent, record retention, and revocation processes comply with California Labor Code
• Monitor payroll and timekeeping data to identify missed, late, or short meal periods, and ensure applicable premium pay penalties are processed in accordance with state regulations
• Partner with HR and Operations to provide guidance and training on meal and rest break compliance requirements
• Systems & Process Improvement 
• Manage payroll systems and integrations with HRIS and finance platforms 
• Partner with the People and Finance teams to improve payroll processes, reporting, and operational efficiency 
• Identify opportunities to automate processes and improve payroll accuracy as the company scales 
• Employee Support 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions from employees and leadership 
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries in a timely manner 
• Ensure confidential handling of employee compensation information 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with the Head of People, Finance, Benefits, and Accounting teams to ensure alignment on compensation, benefits deductions, and payroll reporting 
• Support workforce planning, compensation initiatives, and payroll forecasting activities 

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience) 
• 5+ years of payroll experience, including multi-state payroll administration 
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax regulations and wage compliance requirements 
• Experience with California meal and rest break compliance, including administration of written meal break waivers, monitoring of timekeeping records, and processing of premium pay penalties for non-compliant breaks.
• Experience with payroll systems such as ADP Workforce Now
• High level of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail 

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification 
• Experience supporting payroll in a high-growth technology or aerospace environment 
• Experience managing payroll for both salaried and hourly technical workforces 

Working Conditions

• Role is based on-site at the Los Angeles facility to ensure strong collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams. 
• Primarily office-based, with regular engagement on the production floor to support workforce initiatives and employee relations. 
• Occasional travel to other Hermeus locations may be required for meetings, training, or company events. 
• May involve extended hours during peak business cycles or critical program milestones. 
• Fast-paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative environment aligned with Hermeus’ rapid design, build, and test culture. 

Physical Requirements 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. 
• Frequent walking through office, manufacturing, and test facility environments. 
• Occasional standing, bending, or reaching as part of employee engagement or site walkthroughs. 
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally (e.g., employee materials, office supplies, or equipment). 
• Ability to adhere to safety requirements and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering production or test areas. 
• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced aerospace environment with exposure to light industrial noise and activity.