Technical Program Manager (Research) at Handshake AI

About Handshake AI

Handshake is transforming the career landscape for the AI economy. We connect 18 million students and alumni from over 1,500 academic institutions in the U.S. and Europe with 1 million employers, revolutionizing how the next generation explores careers, develops skills, and secures employment. Handshake AI, a human data and evaluation business, is at the forefront, leveraging the scale of our early-career network to collaborate with leading AI research labs. We empower experts, from PhDs in physics to undergraduates fluent in LLMs, by providing domain-specific data, post-training, and evaluation at scale.

Joining Handshake now means being part of a team redefining work in the AI era, partnering with Fortune 500 companies and pioneering AI labs, and working alongside leaders from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir. We're a well-funded company, backed by Kleiner Perkins, True Ventures, and Notable Capital, and valued at $3.5 billion.

About the Handshake AI Research Team (HART)

The Handshake AI Research Team (HART) collaborates with prominent AI labs and institutions to drive cutting-edge research in data, evaluation, and benchmarking. Our mission is to advance the boundaries of intelligence creation, measurement, and assurance through rigorous systems, reliable evaluation, and post-training research on frontier data types.

Role Overview: Technical Program Manager (Research)

As the Technical Program Manager for Handshake AI Research, you'll be the driving force behind the execution of our research initiatives. You'll translate research goals and partner requirements into structured technical programs, ensuring seamless delivery across Research, Engineering, and Operations. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on bringing structure to ambiguity, managing complex dependencies, and scaling technically demanding work into repeatable systems. You will be directly responsible for the success of research programs, ensuring alignment, high-quality execution, and on-time delivery for all data quality, evaluation framework, and post-training initiatives.

A Day in the Life

A typical day for a Technical Program Manager (Research) at Handshake AI might involve:

• Leading a kickoff meeting for a new data validation program, aligning stakeholders from Research, Engineering, and Operations.
• Reviewing a project plan for an evaluation framework initiative, identifying potential risks and dependencies.
• Working with the engineering team to troubleshoot issues related to research tooling and infrastructure.
• Collaborating with the operations team to refine data quality control processes.
• Communicating program updates to external partners at leading AI labs.
• Analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for process improvement.
• Developing documentation for a new post-training data workflow.
• Participating in a strategic planning session to define future research priorities.

Why San Francisco?

San Francisco is a global hub for technology and innovation, making it the ideal location for Handshake AI. The city offers access to a diverse talent pool, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and a strong network of investors and partners. Being based in San Francisco allows us to stay at the forefront of AI research and development and attract top talent from around the world. The city's proximity to leading universities and research institutions also provides opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Career Path

The Technical Program Manager (Research) role offers a clear path for career advancement within Handshake AI. Successful candidates can progress to roles such as Senior Technical Program Manager, Program Director, or even leadership positions within the Research or Engineering departments. Handshake AI is committed to providing its employees with opportunities for growth and development, including mentorship programs, training courses, and conference attendance.

Salary and Benefits

Handshake AI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary and equity package
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee assistance program
• Commuter benefits
• Wellness programs
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Stocked kitchen and snacks
• Team-building events and activities

Our Mission

Handshake AI's mission is to empower the AI economy by providing better data, better tools, and better systems for experts. We believe that by connecting students, alumni, academic institutions, and employers, we can revolutionize how the next generation explores careers, builds skills, and gets hired. We are committed to creating a collaborative and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive.

How to Apply

To apply for the Technical Program Manager (Research) position, please submit your resume and cover letter through the Handshake careers page. We encourage you to highlight your relevant experience and skills, as well as your passion for AI research and innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Handshake AI?

   Handshake AI is a human data and evaluation business that leverages the scale of the world’s largest early-career network to build a new generation of human data products. We partner with leading AI research labs to provide domain-specific data, post-training, and evaluation at scale.

2. What does the Handshake AI Research Team (HART) do?

   HART partners with leading AI labs and institutions to power frontier-grade data, evaluation, and benchmarking research. Our mission is to push the boundaries of how intelligence is created, measured, and assured.

3. What are the core pillars of HART's work?

   The core pillars of HART's work are Data Quality & Validation, Evaluation & Benchmarking, and Post-training data workflows (RLHF / RLAIF / domain-expert labeling).

4. What skills are required for the Technical Program Manager (Research) role?

   The required skills include program management, technical program management, cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder management, risk management, data quality, evaluation frameworks, and post-training workflows.

5. What qualifications are we looking for in a candidate?

   We are looking for candidates with a bachelor's degree in a technical field, experience in technical program management, a strong understanding of data quality and evaluation methodologies, and excellent communication skills.

6. What are the key responsibilities of the Technical Program Manager (Research)?

   The key responsibilities include owning end-to-end program execution, translating research objectives into technical requirements, serving as the primary execution lead, and managing timelines, risks, and dependencies.

7. What is the career path for this role?

   Successful candidates can progress to roles such as Senior Technical Program Manager, Program Director, or leadership positions within the Research or Engineering departments.

8. What benefits does Handshake AI offer?

   Handshake AI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

9. Why is Handshake AI located in San Francisco?

   San Francisco is a global hub for technology and innovation, offering access to a diverse talent pool, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and a strong network of investors and partners.

10. What is Handshake AI's company culture like?

    We are committed to creating a collaborative and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. We value innovation, teamwork, and a passion for making a difference in the AI landscape.