About Tau

Power conversion is the bottleneck between the compute, energy, and mobility industries and the future they're trying to build. Most of the industry is still solving it with decades-old approaches. Tau is fixing that. We're a venture-backed hardtech company in Redwood City, building power conversion technology for data centers, EVs, and energy systems. Several products are already moving into production.

We hire people who own problems end-to-end: power electronics, embedded software, controls, test and validation, mechanical design. We solve from first principles, not legacy playbooks. We're past "promising technology." Customers are buying, volume is coming, and the people who join now set the standard everyone builds on after.

We're 50 or so people building power conversion hardware that has to work in the real world, not just in a deck. Our HR function today is a mix of good instincts and duct tape. We need someone who can turn that into something real, without losing the parts of this place that are actually working.

This job has two speeds, and you need to be good at both. Some days you're setting hiring strategy with the exec team and telling a leader something they don't want to hear. Other days you're calling our insurance broker, or doing data entry in Rippling. This role will require you to be hands on in many different areas, and to do it with (mostly) a smile.

What you'll actually do

Own compliance and HRIS end to end. Right now that means fixing gaps, not maintaining a system someone else built.
Build the systems we don't have yet: performance reviews, leveling, onboarding, the infrastructure that will enable us to hire the next 100 employees.
Have the hard conversations. PIPs, terminations, telling a manager their team is a mess, telling a founder their hire isn't working out. You do this directly and you do it with real care for the person on the other end. Both things, every time.
Partner closely with leadership and recruiting on headcount planning and org design. This isn't an execution-only seat. You'll shape decisions, not just implement them.
Do the unglamorous stuff without resentment. Filing, scheduling, following a Rippling setup guide step by step. Someone has to, and at this stage it's you.

Who you are

You've worked in People or Talent at a company that was 10-50 people and grown with it past 200. You know what breaks at each stage because you've lived it, not read about it.
You have real experience with HR and people-related compliance. This isn't a "figure it out as you go" requirement.
You're more structured than most people in this function. You build process because it's the only way things stay repeatable, not because you like paperwork for its own sake.
You can deliver a hard truth without either softening it into mush or being a jerk about it. High EQ and directness are not in tension for you.
You want to shape a company, not just administer one. Ambition here isn't a red flag, it's the job.
We don't care what your last title was or where you went to school. We care whether you can actually do this.

Who this isn't for

If you want a mature, well-resourced People function with a team under you on day one, that's not what this is yet. If doing data entry or staying on hold with EDD feels like a step backward, you'll be miserable here. If you'd rather write culture decks than have the conversation the deck is supposed to prevent, this isn't your seat.

Compensation & Benfits

US Salary Information

$175,000.00 - $250,000.00

Tau is committed to paying competitive compensation that is fair and equitable. Your experience, qualifications, training, critical skills, and/or business considerations determine your compensation. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include an annual performance bonus, equity, and other incentive compensation plans considered part of Tau’s total compensation package. To learn more about our top-tier benefits, please visit www.taumotors.com. The level will depend on the candidate’s experience. Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields and possess the ability to learn quickly within a fast-paced environment.

Perks

Become part of an emerging company during a rapid growth phase—within an industry undergoing dramatic transformation for a global imperative.
Work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields to: (1) attack some of the most pressing issues of today while (2) contributing to technically demanding and deeply innovative solutions.
Growth potential—we advance team members who have an outsized impact.
Competitive compensation based upon experience level, including stock options—we believe in capturing value in the future we create together.
Flexible time off and paid holidays.
Centrally located in the Bay Area on the Peninsula in vibrant downtown Redwood City
- Blocks from the Caltrain
- Walking distance to food and entertainment
- Easy access to both the 101 and 280
Excellent medical, dental, vision & life insurance
Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), HSA and FSA benefits, commuter benefits and more

Equal Opportunity Employer

Tau is an equal opportunity employer that guarantees a work environment that respects and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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About the company

Tau Motors develops electrification and propulsion systems by combining scientific computing, machine learning, and multiphysics with hardware and software design. Its core products are Gamma, a motor platform that decreases reliance on rare earth materials while boosting performance and energy efficiency, and Helix, an integrated drive unit system. The company works with automakers, suppliers, defense, space, industrial, and other partners to deploy technology across many platforms and powertrains. Unlike many rivals, Tau Motors emphasizes collaborative development with industry partners and aims to deliver scalable, sustainable electric propulsion solutions through hardware licenses and software offerings. Its goal is to advance efficient, secure energy systems and accelerate the transition to sustainable electrification across multiple sectors.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$6.3M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2017

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Tau received a $7 million California Competes Tax Credit in August 2026.
HELLA's viOBC prototype passed concept testing, with series production targeted for 2027-2028.
Tau's LinkedIn shows 51-200 employees, indicating continued hiring in Redwood City.

What critics are saying

Tau depends on HELLA Ventures and one OEM partnership for commercialization leverage.
viOBC series production remains two to three years away, delaying revenue until 2027-2028.
Tesla, Bosch, and Denso can outspend Tau, compressing margins and blocking design wins.

What makes Tau unique

Tau's Ion platform combines software-defined power electronics with hardware controls, unveiled at CES 2026.
FORVIA HELLA partnered in September 2025, validating Tau's charger design with industrial scale.
Tau won Fast Company's 2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators, ranking No. 51 overall.

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Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Flexible Work Hours
Paid Holidays
Stock Options
Performance Bonus
Commuter Benefits

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth

PR Newswire

Sep 25th, 2026

Tau highlights electrification leadership at Climate Week NYC 2026.

Tau highlights electrification leadership at Climate Week NYC 2026. Sep 25, 2026, 14:43 ET IEEE / Columbia University fireside chat and 19 technical papers from Tau and its research partners highlight progress in software-defined power and the technologies enabling electrification at scale. NEW YORK and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Tau Motors, Inc., a pioneer in software-defined power conversion, highlighted the technical depth behind its approach to electrification during Climate Week NYC 2026. The 19 technical papers reflecting research by Tau and its partners at the Columbia Center of Advanced Electrification (CCAE) are featured in the 2026 IEEE/CCAE Symposium on Advanced Electrification Systems program. During a fireside chat at the Columbia University event, Tau Founder and CEO Wesley Pennington discussed how integrating power electronics, electric machines, and software can accelerate electrification. The research, developed by Tau and its partners at CCAE and featured in the symposium program, covers power conversion and control, electric machine modeling, energy storage, and grid-connected systems. The work reflects Tau's sustained investment in power conversion, controls, and electric machine engineering, disciplines central to its Ion(TM) and Gamma(TM) platforms. The papers also highlight the breadth of Tau's work across sustainable energy systems. Tau's Ion(TM) platform combines modular power electronics with firmware and software libraries to support applications across mobility, industrial equipment, energy infrastructure, and data centers. Its Gamma(TM) electric machine platform integrates machine design, power electronics, and controls to enable rare-earth-free motion. At the September 25 symposium, Wesley Pennington, Founder and CEO of Tau, joined Matthias Preindl, Associate Professor at Columbia University and Tau's Chief Scientist, for a fireside chat exploring the "electro-industrial stack" and what becomes possible when power electronics, electric machines, and software are designed together. The conversation examined how programmable architectures can improve system performance, reduce material dependencies, and accelerate deployment across transportation, industry, and digital infrastructure. "Accelerating electrification means making the systems that convert and control power more efficient, more affordable, and easier to deploy," said Pennington. "When power electronics, electric machines, and software are designed together, we can optimize the entire system. Tau is building the software-defined power platform to give industry greater control over performance, costs, and supply chains - and accelerate deployment at scale." The symposium featured speakers from organizations including GM Energy, Siemens, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, alongside researchers and other industry participants. Tau established CCAE alongside Columbia Engineering to connect advanced research with the practical requirements of industrial applications. The work addresses challenges that influence efficiency, reliability, and the ability to deploy electric systems across a wider range of uses. About Tau Tau Motors, Inc. is an advanced technology company accelerating electrification from electric vehicles to the grid and digital infrastructure. Its Ion(TM) and Gamma(TM) platforms combine power electronics, advanced controls, and hardware design to improve the performance, economics, and adaptability of electric systems. Drawing on deep expertise in systems engineering, Tau partners with industry leaders to rapidly develop and deploy products on its platforms across industries. For more information, visit taumotors.com. SOURCE Tau Motors, Inc.

Hagman Media Group

Sep 2nd, 2025

FORVIA HELLA, Tau Develop Advanced Chargers

International automotive supplier FORVIA HELLA is collaborating with Tau Motors, a leader in software-defined power conversion, in a strategic development partnership to create advanced charging solutions for electric vehicles.

Yahoo Finance

Oct 12th, 2023

Tau Motors Wins "Vehicle-To-Everything (V2X) Innovation Of The Year" In 2023 Autotech Breakthrough Awards Program

Annual Awards Program Recognizes Innovation in Automotive and Transportation Technologies Around the GlobeLOS ANGELES, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoTech Breakthrough , a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global automotive and transportation technology markets announced that Tau Motors , an advanced technology company that develops next-generation products for electrification, wins this years’ “Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Innovation of the Year” award in the fourth annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards for its software-defined power converter system.Tau's Ion converter system is made up of next next-generation power electronics modules – called auto converter modules (ACMs) – that can be configured together like building blocks and resolve all power conversion challenges locally at the device level. Smart power conversion is critical to advance the world today. Fundamentally, electrification requires the need for power in different forms – whether alternating current (AC), direct current (DC), or different voltage or current levels. Tau’s Ion modules shrink the cost, size, and components required for power conversion which enables industry leading efficiencies, scalability, and power densities (processing more power per unit volume). Notably, the power density of Tau’s soft-switching Ion modules has continued to double approximately every two years while achieving particularly high efficiency – in excess of 99%.Tau’s Ion system includes adaptive smart filtering technology and advanced controls to enhance the reliability of power conversion systems – while also providing a software-defined, networked system that offers redundancy and reconfiguration through a hierarchical protocol that enables smart energy conversion

PR Newswire

Jul 13th, 2023

Tau Motors Named To Fast Company'S 2023 List Of The 100 Best Workplaces For Innovators And Earns Top Honors As The Winner Of The Small Companies (Under 100 Employees) Category

Joining Adobe, Spotify, Nvidia, Morgan Stanley, and many othersREDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tau Motors, an advanced technology company that develops next-generation products for electrification, was featured on Fast Company's fifth annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list. Honoring organizations and businesses that demonstrate an inspiring commitment to innovation at all levels, Tau was included at No. 51 overall and also topped the list as the winner of the Small Companies (Under 100 Employees) category.Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners from a variety of industries, including entertainment, biotech, consumer packaged goods, education, healthcare, technology, and many more. Fast Company editors, Accenture researchers, and a panel of distinguished judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies out of nearly 1,000 candidates. The 2023 awards feature workplaces from around the world with measurable, visible results in their efforts to cultivate internal innovation that creates external impact.Tau is leading groundbreaking work to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our generation. Tweet this"Alongside our partners, Tau is leading groundbreaking work to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our generation," says Wesley Pennington, Tau Founder and CEO

Tau

Head of People

About the job

Compensation & Benfits

About the company

Get referred to Tau

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

What critics are saying

What makes Tau unique

Benefits

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth