Founding Strategic Project Lead

Role overview

This role is based in San Francisco, CA and requires in-person work. It sits within the AI data / frontier AI labs space and offers a base compensation of $150K-$200K, along with equity and profit share.

The company is an early-stage, rapidly expanding AI data startup that partners with frontier AI labs and leading voice-model businesses to create specialized datasets such as voice, reinforcement learning, and environment data. Supported by prominent investors, the business reached a $1M run rate within its first few weeks. This is a rare first-external-hire opportunity with meaningful ownership, strong equity upside, and a path toward senior leadership for someone excited to build from the ground up.

What you will do

As the founding Strategic Project Lead, you will be responsible for delivery from start to finish. You will coordinate data sourcing through a worldwide contributor network, oversee quality control, contribute to building scalable QC processes, manage client relationships, and ensure delivery aligns with lab expectations. The work is fast-paced, with many projects lasting a few weeks to about a month. This is a demanding, high-ownership role suited to someone comfortable with long hours and eager to gain deep exposure to the AI data industry.

Responsibilities

• Drive each data project end to end so it meets lab and customer specifications.
• Find and coordinate data collection through a global contributor base.
• Oversee quality checks and support the development of repeatable QC systems.
• Handle customer communication and keep all delivery stakeholders aligned.
• Perform effectively in a fast-moving, loosely structured environment with significant autonomy.

Requirements

• About 2 or more years of post-college experience, with openness to high-agency recent graduates who have completed internships at a human-data startup.
• Strong initiative and the ability to operate as a broad-based generalist across multiple functions.
• Comfort working in an early-stage setting where processes are still being defined.
• Readiness to take on a workload that is operationally intensive and may involve long hours.
• Helpful but not mandatory: experience at a human-data startup, a product management background, or a long-term goal of founding a company.

Compensation and growth

Base pay is $150K-$200K, with additional equity and profit share. The role also offers a clear progression opportunity into senior leadership and operations as the team grows.

Additional information

Work model: in-person. Industry focus: AI data / frontier AI labs. The company notes that this is a high-ownership position in a rapidly changing environment, and candidates should be comfortable with the pace and demands that come with an early-stage startup.