People Operations Manager (m/f/d)

Your mission

At planqc, we are building scalable quantum computers based on neutral atoms. Turning this technology into practical systems requires expertise across physics, engineering, software, and operations.
As our People Operations Manager, you will help build the People infrastructure that enables planqc to scale from 120+ employees to the next stage of growth. You will own and continuously improve core People processes across the employee lifecycle, from onboarding and HRIS management to performance cycles, policies, compliance, reporting, and employee experience.
Working closely with the Head of People & Culture, you will bring structure, clarity, and operational excellence to a fast-growing deep-tech environment.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both strategic thinking and hands-on execution: someone who can design scalable processes, solve operational challenges, and ensure that our employees and managers have a reliable, high-quality People experience.

Your responsibilities

• Own and improve core People Operations processes across the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee changes, documentation, leaves, and offboarding. 
• Act as a key owner of our HRIS, Personio, ensuring data accuracy, clean workflows, reliable reporting, and scalable system usage. 
• Build, document, and continuously optimize People processes, policies, templates, and workflows as we double our headcount. 
• Work closely with Finance and external providers on payroll inputs, benefits administration, contract changes, and employee data. 
• Ensure People processes are compliant, well-documented, and aligned with German and Austrian employment law requirements. 
• Create People reports, dashboards, and insights on headcount, onboarding, turnover, employee data, and other key People metrics. 
• Identify opportunities to simplify, automate, and improve workflows using modern tools, including AI where useful. 
• Support cross-functional People projects related to employee engagement, onboarding experience, career development, compensation processes, and organizational scaling. 
• Review and scale our benefit offer.

What you bring

• Previous experience in People Operations, HR Operations, HR Generalist, or a similar role, ideally in a high-growth startup, scale-up, or technology environment. 
• Strong experience owning operational People processes end-to-end. 
• Hands-on experience with an HRIS; experience with Personio is a strong plus. 
• Strong knowledge of German employment law, HR documentation, payroll interfaces, and compliance requirements. 
• Previous experience working with other EU or International countries is a plus.
• Strong process mindset: you enjoy building structure, improving workflows, and creating clarity without adding unnecessary bureaucracy. 
• Strong analytical skills and confidence working with People data, reports, and dashboards. 
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of discretion when handling sensitive employee information. 
• A pragmatic, solution-oriented mindset and the ability to balance employee experience, business needs, and compliance. 
• Curiosity about modern tools, automation, and AI-enabled ways of working. 
• Continuous learning mindset: you like to keep up to date with employment law and modern HR practices
• Fluency in English and German.
• You're someone who enjoys working with others, brings positive energy to the team, and contributes to an open, collaborative culture. We care deeply about our work, but we also believe that curiosity, kindness, and a good sense of humor make work more enjoyable.

Nice to have

What characterizes you

Why join planqc

• Help build the People function of one of Europe’s leading quantum computing startups. 
• Play a key role in scaling the company from 120+ employees while we plan to double headcount. 
• Work directly with the Head of People & Culture and partner closely with leaders across science, engineering, software, and operations. 
• Shape scalable People processes instead of maintaining legacy structures. 
• Use modern tools, data, automation, and AI to make People Operations smarter and more effective. 
• Join an international deep-tech team working on one of the most exciting technologies of our time. 
• Hybrid working model with three office days per week at our headquarters in Garching.

About us

planqc builds neutral-atom quantum computers based on arrays of optically trapped atoms controlled with high-precision laser systems. Our platform combines technologies from optical lattice clocks, quantum gas microscopes and fast Rydberg gates into a scalable computing architecture.

Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from MPQ and LMU Munich, we translate more than a decade of AMO research into deployable quantum systems. Our work spans vacuum and laser hardware, control electronics, firmware, system software and algorithm integration. We focus on turning complex experimental setups into stable, reproducible systems that operate in real computing environments.

Behind this technology is a team that pushes technical boundaries, values open exchange and shared ownership. Physicists, engineers, software developers and business specialists work closely together, often across disciplinary limits. We believe progress comes from combining deep expertise with practical engineering and from giving people the responsibility and trust to shape their domain.

As we grow across our locations in Garching, Ulm and Innsbruck, we continue to build an environment we continue to build a company where people take ownership, learn from each other, and directly shape the systems we bring into operation.