Systems Architect, Infrastructure & Analytics

X is a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people. Our goal: 10x impact on the world’s most intractable problems, not just 10% improvement. We approach projects that have the aspiration and riskiness of research with the speed and ambition of a startup.

As the X People Operations team (POps), it’s our mission to attract, accelerate, and launch these moonshots into the real world. Due to the smaller size of our organization and the rapid pace of change, every Xer plays a critical role in the success of these moonshots. The X POps team not only executes programs and operations that accelerate the business, but we also are trusted thought partners to help make business‑critical decisions.

The People Team at X is looking for a People Analytics and Technology Lead to lead the next phase of our People Infrastructure. We have successfully transitioned key HR programs from third‑party tools to a proprietary, AI‑augmented ecosystem built on GCP.

The role is a strategic architect and analytical powerhouse that will take ownership of this infrastructure. While you possess the technical proficiency to dive into the code for updates, your true leverage will come from your ability to weave data into strategy. You will rely heavily on advanced SQL and deep data storytelling to build robust dashboards and the underlying analytics architecture.

Alongside defining the product roadmap and designing system workflows, your role is to transform raw talent signals into actionable insights that drive X’s people strategy. The ideal candidate must be a scrappy, self‑starter who can navigate ambiguity and find solutions independently; while there are resources across X, they should be able to work without hands‑on technical mentorship from the People Team.

To give you a sense of the day‑to‑day, expect to spend roughly 30% of your time on product strategy and PRDs, 30% on hands‑on SQL and data architecture, 15% coaching and managing a junior analyst, 15% writing operational scripts or triaging system updates, and 10% reserved for cross‑functional People team projects.

• Product Strategy and Architecture: Act as the product owner for People team internal tools and our broader tech stack. Architect future system states, map data interconnection points across tools, and define the long‑term technology strategy.
• Advanced Analytics and Dashboarding: Own the People data architecture end‑to‑end. Write complex Google SQL queries, build dynamic dashboards (e.g., in Looker), and drive data storytelling that transforms raw talent signals into actionable insights for leadership. Present data to executives and senior leadership.
• Requirements and Workflow Design: Translate ambiguous business challenges into clear, executable technical requirements. Write rigorous Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) and system design docs for engineering teams.
• Technical Resourcing and Delivery: Triage and manage the technical backlog. Determine the most efficient resourcing for feature requests—distinguishing between what can be handled by internal technical staff, and what requires scoping for central engineering or vendor support.
• AI Integration and Automation: Identify and execute opportunities to leverage Generative AI and automation to create operational leverage across the People Team.
• Vendor Management and Compliance: Lead technical evaluations for new third‑party tools. Manage Vendor Security Assessments (VSAs) and ensure all integrations meet strict privacy and security standards.
• System Maintenance: Own existing infrastructure maintenance and push feature updates or bug fixes to ensure system stability. Define the technical support model, partnering with central tech teams to scope resource needs and collaboratively problem‑solve.
• People Management: Act as a player‑coach by directly managing and mentoring one junior analyst. Set clear performance expectations, help them scale technical capabilities, and delegate operational tasks to maximize impact on the People Systems function.