HR Generalist - Talent Acquisition

About CycloKinetics CycloKinetics is advancing the next generation of high-performance propellants for aerospace and defense. Our highly innovative technology allows us to harness existing energy from biomass and convert it to superior performance fuels and propellants across aviation, aerospace, and defense applications. We are a team of engineers, scientists, and operators driven by performance, innovation, and national security impact focused on building scalable, domestic energy solutions that power the future of propulsion. CycloKinetics is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Job Summary The HR Generalist – Talent Acquisition is responsible for supporting the organization's human resources functions, with a primary focus on full-cycle recruitment, hiring, and new employee onboarding. This role plays an important part in attracting, identifying, and hiring qualified talent to support the company's research and development (R&D), engineering, scientific, technical, and operational needs. Working closely with hiring managers and the HR team, this position coordinates recruitment activities for highly specialized technical positions, including chemical engineers, chemists, bioprocess engineers, metabolic engineers, mechanical engineers, and other scientific and engineering professionals, as well as corporate and operational support roles. In addition to recruitment and onboarding responsibilities, the HR Generalist supports broader HR functions, including employee records administration, performance management processes, employee development initiatives, compensation administration, job description maintenance, and general HR operations. Responsibilities may shift based on hiring activity and organizational priorities. Reporting to and working under the guidance of HR leadership, this position helps ensure consistent HR practices, accurate recordkeeping, compliance with applicable employment laws, and a positive candidate and employee experience. The ideal candidate is a proactive, detail-oriented, and adaptable HR professional with strong recruitment, communication, and organizational skills. This individual should be comfortable recruiting for specialized technical positions, managing multiple hiring priorities, and supporting a variety of HR activities in a growing, fast-paced environment that combines research and development, engineering, and manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate should also be comfortable supporting a workforce involved in innovative aerospace and defense technologies, government-funded projects, and highly technical, safety-focused operations. Essential Functions & Responsibilities Talent Acquisition & Recruitment Manage full-cycle recruitment activities for engineering, scientific, R&D, technical, manufacturing, and corporate support positions. Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs, technical qualifications, position requirements, and recruitment priorities. Maintain approved personnel requisitions, vacancy logs, and job postings to ensure accurate and timely recruitment activities. Source qualified candidates through job boards, LinkedIn Recruiter, professional networks, educational institutions, employee referrals, career fairs, and other recruitment channels. Develop sourcing strategies to identify candidates with specialized technical backgrounds and hard-to-find skill sets. Review resumes and applications to identify candidates who meet position qualifications. Conduct preliminary interviews to assess candidates' education, technical qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and salary expectations. Refer qualified candidates to hiring managers for additional interviews and selection consideration. Coordinate interviews, candidate communications, and scheduling logistics throughout the recruitment process. Develop and maintain candidate pipelines for current and anticipated workforce needs. Provide regular updates to hiring managers and HR leadership regarding recruitment progress, candidate availability, and hiring timelines. Support efforts to improve recruitment processes, sourcing effectiveness, and the overall candidate experience. Hiring, Selection & Onboarding Coordinate the hiring process from candidate selection through offer acceptance and new employee onboarding. Prepare employment offers, salary-setting documentation, and other required hiring paperwork in coordination with HR leadership. Facilitate pre-employment processes, including reference checks, background investigations, employment verification, and education verification. Coordinate new hire documentation and ensure required employment records are completed and maintained. Work with hiring managers and internal