People and Culture Lead

At MegaCool Technologies, we’re tackling one of AI’s biggest physical challenges: Heat. Our proprietary Smartfins technology enables ultra-efficient cooling for next-generation data centers and high-performance computing.

We’re a lean, fast-moving deep-tech startup connecting advanced generative design software with precision hardware manufacturing.

As People and Culture Lead, you will shape and drive our people strategy, organizational design, talent acquisition, and workplace culture across our expanding operations in Belgium and the US.

You will work closely with Executive Leadership, Engineering, Operations, Commercial, and Finance to build a high-performing, international team and scalable HR infrastructure as we scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic People Leadership: Partner closely with executive leadership to design, align, and execute the company’s headcount planning, organizational design, and people strategy.

• Culture, Community & Internal Events: Champion and nurture a healthy, ambitious, and collaborative company culture. Take the lead on organizing internal events and rituals (all-hands, vision and company updates, HR/learning sessions, offsites, and team-building activities) to keep the team aligned and engaged.

• Employer Branding & External Culture Visibility: Ensure MegaCool’s culture and values are visible, authentic, and compelling to the outside world—enhancing our employer brand across hiring channels, social platforms, and community touchpoints to attract top-tier talent.

• Full-Cycle Talent Acquisition: Lead end-to-end recruitment for specialized deep-tech, engineering (CFD, thermal, software), operations, and commercial roles across international talent markets.

• Multi-Entity HR Operations: Oversee day-to-day HR operations, employment contracts, payroll administration, and local labor law compliance across Belgium and US entities.

• Compensation & Benefits (Total Rewards): Structure competitive compensation benchmarks, mobility budgets, health packages, and incentive/ESOP frameworks aligned with startup scaling stages.

• Onboarding & Offboarding Lifecycle: Design structured, frictionless onboarding and offboarding workflows that integrate seamlessly with IT security, lab access, and tooling.

• Performance & Growth Frameworks: Implement pragmatic performance review cadences, career development ladders, and continuous feedback mechanisms for technical and non-technical teams.

• Governance & Security Compliance: Own the People and HR controls required for ISO 27001/ISMS governance, including background screening, policy sign-offs, and compliance records.

• People Systems & Analytics: Maintain a lean HR system and provide regular people analytics to support operational and leadership decisions.

What You Bring

• Experience in a People Lead, People & Culture Manager, Head of People, or Senior HR Business Partner role, ideally within a high-growth startup, scale-up, or tech/engineering company.

• Passion for culture building, employee engagement, internal communication, and employer branding.

• Strong knowledge of Belgian employment frameworks, labor regulations, and payroll operations, with a solid understanding of international/US employment practices.

• Proven track record in sourcing and hiring technical and non-technical talent in competitive hiring markets.

• Hands-on experience designing total rewards, employee benefits, and performance management systems.

• Strong emotional intelligence, structured communication, and stakeholder-management skills.

• Hands-on, proactive mindset suited to building processes from the ground up in a fast-moving startup environment.

• Fluent English; Dutch is a strong plus.

Nice to Have

• Experience working in a deep-tech, hardware, semiconductor, or advanced engineering environment.

• Familiarity with ISO 27001 / ISMS compliance requirements for HR controls.

• Experience managing transatlantic teams or international mobility (visas, cross-border setups, PEO/EOR).

Why MegaCool?

Join a lean deep-tech team developing cooling technology for the next generation of AI infrastructure.
You will have direct ownership of our people foundation and a unique opportunity to build the team, culture, and operational practices from an early growth stage into global scale.