HR Specialist

At Penguin Solutions (Nasdaq: PENG) – The AI Factory Platform Company – we’re building a team of innovators who thrive on collaboration, creativity, and the opportunity to help shape the future of AI. As part of the AI technology revolution, our teams design, build, deploy, and manage AI factories for enterprises, sovereign AI initiatives, and neocloud providers worldwide.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Penguin Solutions operates globally through a network of R&D, manufacturing, and sales locations. For nearly three decades, we have operated at the intersection of memory and AI/HPC infrastructure. That engineering expertise positions us to power the next generation of AI workloads, from training to inference and agentic AI at scale.

Penguin Solutions brings together differentiated infrastructure software, advanced memory, compute systems, end-to-end services, and industry-leading partner solutions in a full-stack AI factory platform designed to help customers deploy and scale AI workloads with speed and precision.

At Penguin Solutions, we value ideas over hierarchy and believe in servant leadership, where leaders enable teams to do their best work. We empower employees to take ownership, drive innovation, and grow through challenging work, continuous learning, and exposure to advanced AI tools and technologies. With flexibility where it matters and a strong focus on outcomes, Penguin Solutions is a place to do your best work, grow your career, and make a meaningful impact.

Job Overview

As a Human Resources Specialist at Penguin Solutions, you will serve as the primary Tier 1 HR point of contact for employees across the US and EMEA. You will manage administrative tasks and provide support across HR functions, including data management, employee lifecycle transactions, leaves administration, compliance, and policy management, escalating complex matters to the appropriate HR partners and Centers of Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for data management within the company’s HRIS (SuccessFactors)

• Processes employee lifecycle transactions, including new hires, job and compensation changes, transfers, promotions, and terminations, ensuring accuracy and timeliness for payroll
• Leads the onboarding process for the US and EMEA, including processing I-9s/E-Verify, coordinating right-to-work checks and background checks, and leading New Hire Orientation
• Coordinates offboarding, including exit documentation, final pay inputs, benefits notifications, and system access removal
• Tracking and managing all employee leaves (FMLA, parental leave, short-term disability and long-term disability)

• Partners with Corporate Payroll and Benefits teams to resolve employee concerns or system issues
• Supports internal employee relations investigations and helps ensure appropriate response and follow through for resolution

• Serves as the first point of contact for day-to-day employee inquiries across the US and EMEA, resolving Tier 1 questions and escalating complex matters to HR Business Partners, Centers of Excellence, or Legal as appropriate
• Manages HR case tracking and response times, and maintains employee-facing FAQs, knowledge articles, and process guides
• Supports HR compliance, including required federal, state, and local postings and notices, EEO-1 and affirmative action data, and regular HRIS data audits
• Maintains personnel files and employee data in compliance with local data privacy and retention rules
• Documents HR processes and identifies opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate Tier 1 support
• Works on projects and other tasks as needed

• This role may require additional duties and/or assignments as designated by management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, or related field; or equivalent education and experience
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• 2+ years of experience working in Human Resources

• Experience supporting employees in multiple countries, preferably across the US and EMEA

• Ability to develop and manage interpersonal relationships at all levels of the company
• High level of customer service skills, organizational and time management skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Commitment to apply discretion and maintain a high level of confidentiality when handling sensitive information
• Flexible; willing & able to wear multiple hats

• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing requests, and use sound judgment on when to escalate
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy

Location

This is a hybrid role in Newark, California.

Compensation & Benefits

The base pay range that the Company reasonably expects to pay for this position in the United States is $78,000 - $98,000; the pay ultimately offered may vary based on business considerations, including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and education. The position is bonus-eligible, and there are medical, dental, and vision benefits available. There is a 401k saving plan and other benefits, such as Paid Time Off, Life Insurance, and an Employee Assistance Plan.   

Inclusion & Belonging Statement

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that embraces differences and fosters belonging for all.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, national origin, race, ethnicity, creed, gender, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.