Principal People Business Partner, R&D Engineering

Okta is hiring a Principal People Business Partner for R&D Engineering in San Francisco, California. This full-time role offers the opportunity to lead strategic human resources for our engineering organization while helping shape how we build and scale world-class teams in the identity and AI security space.

About the Role

As Principal People Business Partner for R&D Engineering, you'll be the strategic HR leader embedded within our engineering teams. You'll own talent acquisition, employee development, organizational design, and people strategy—partnering closely with engineering leaders to build high-performing teams and foster a culture of innovation and belonging. In this leadership position, you'll directly influence how Okta attracts, develops, and retains the engineering talent that drives our mission forward.

What You'll Do

• Lead recruiting strategy for engineering roles, building talent pipelines and partnering with hiring managers to attract top engineering talent
• Develop comprehensive people strategies tied to engineering business objectives and company values
• Coach engineering leadership on organizational design, succession planning, performance management, and team effectiveness
• Guide career development, advancement, and retention programs for engineers at all career levels
• Partner on compensation philosophy, benefits programs, and total rewards strategy
• Champion employee engagement, belonging initiatives, and engineering culture
• Advise on complex employee relations matters with business acumen and judgment

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of HR business partner experience, ideally supporting technical or engineering organizations
• Proven ability to partner effectively with engineering and technical leaders in scaling environments
• Strong expertise in talent management, organizational development, and employee relations
• Strategic thinking with demonstrated ability to translate HR initiatives into measurable business impact
• Excellent communication, executive presence, and the ability to influence without authority
• Resourcefulness, self-direction, and comfort navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of employment law and compliance best practices (preferred)

About Okta

Okta secures every identity in an AI-driven world. We build the neutral, trusted infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace artificial intelligence while protecting human and digital identities. Our platform is built by engineers and leaders who operate with speed, urgency, and ownership to solve complex challenges with real-world impact.

How to Apply

To apply, complete your application directly on this page, or you'll be redirected to the employer's application platform to finish submitting there.