Compensation Manager

Pyka

. Maintain and iterate on Pyka's salary bands, job families, and variable pay programs for engineering, manufacturing, flight ops, and G&A roles in the US and Brazil.

Posted 10/6/2026full-timeAlameda • California • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $139,000 - $190,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in managing and optimizing compensation programs across multiple countries, with a strong focus on compliance with labor laws and pay transparency mandates. Proficient in utilizing compensation management tools and conducting market analysis to inform salary band adjustments and equity compensation strategies.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Compensation ManagementEquity Compensation ProgramsMarket BenchmarkingUS Labor LawsCompensation Planning Software

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Compensation AnalysisSalary Band DesignMarket Data AnalysisEquity Grant SizingCompensation ModelingFLSA CompliancePay TransparencyCross-Border Equity ConsiderationsInternational Mobility StrategiesTax and Legal Considerations

Soft Skills

Analytical ProficiencyClear CommunicationCollaborationLeadershipCultural Sensitivity

Tools & Technologies

Google SheetsExcelPavePequityComprehensive

Industry Keywords

Compensation ProgramsTech Compensation BenchmarkingHardware IndustryAerospace StartupBrazilian Labor Requirements

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Maintain and iterate on Pyka's salary bands, job families, and variable pay programs for engineering, manufacturing, flight ops, and G&A roles in the US and Brazil.
Manage, configure, and optimize compensation management platforms and tools for merit cycles, salary planning, and benchmarking data.
Run Pyka's equity compensation programs, including grant guidelines, equity bands, cap table alignment with Finance and Legal, and candidate/employee equity education.
Conduct ongoing market analysis using tech/hardware compensation data and recommend band adjustments.
Run annual compensation review, merit increase, and promotion cycles with the Head of People, People Operations, and leadership.
Ensure compensation programs comply with federal, state, local, and international regulations, including FLSA, Pay Transparency laws, and applicable Brazilian labor requirements.
Create transparent compensation communications and resources explaining pay decisions and equity value.
Potentially own benefits programs, including plan design, broker and vendor management, and open enrollment.
Report to the Head of People and collaborate with the People team and Pyka leadership.

Requirements

What you’ll need

5+ years of dedicated Compensation experience, ideally in a fast-paced hardware, tech, or aerospace startup environment.
Proven experience running compensation across multiple countries, with US operations as a core market.
3+ years of experience with startup equity programs, including grant sizing, market benchmarking, and working within structured grant frameworks.
Knowledge of tech/hardware compensation benchmarking databases (e.g., Radford, Option Impact, Mercer).
Strong analytical proficiency in Google Sheets or Excel for building compensation models, salary bands, and market data analysis.
Proven understanding of US labor laws and pay transparency mandates (FLSA).
Exceptional ability to translate complex compensation and equity mechanics into clear, accessible language for employees and candidates across different regions and cultures.
Preferred: Experience managing compensation in Brazil or elsewhere in Latin America.
Preferred: Experience implementing or expanding compensation programs in a new country, including benchmarking, band design, and local compliance.
Preferred: Direct experience administering or optimizing dedicated compensation planning software (e.g., Pave, Pequity, Comprehensive, or similar tooling).
Preferred: Familiarity with cross-border equity considerations, global taxation, and international mobility strategies for growing engineering teams.
Preferred: Understanding of tax, accounting, and legal considerations surrounding domestic and international stock options, exercise windows, and equity compensation structures.
Preferred: Experience building, growing, and leading a compensation team.
Preferred: Experience as the first dedicated compensation hire at a company, building programs from the ground up.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity
Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance
FSA with employer matching
401(k)
Paid holidays, generous PTO, and additional unpaid time off
Voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
Pre-tax commuter benefits
Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks
Opportunity to take ownership of benefits programs, including plan design, broker and vendor management, and open enrollment