Technical Program Manager (Research)

Handshake is building the career network for the AI economy. Our three-sided marketplace connects 18 million students and alumni, 1,500+ academic institutions across the U.S. and Europe, and 1 million employers to power how the next generation explores careers, builds skills, and gets hired.

Handshake AI is a human data and evaluation business that leverages the scale of the world’s largest early-career network. We work directly with leading AI research labs to build a new generation of human data products. From PhDs in physics to undergraduates fluent in LLMs, Handshake AI is the trusted partner for domain-specific data, post-training, and evaluation at scale.

This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing team shaping the future of AI through better data, better tools, and better systems — for experts, by experts.

Now’s a great time to join Handshake. Here’s why:

• Leading the AI Career Revolution: Redefining work in the AI economy for millions worldwide

• Proven Market Demand: Deep partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and frontier AI labs

• World-Class Team: Leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir

• Capitalized & Scaling: $3.5B valuation backed by Kleiner Perkins, True Ventures, Notable Capital, and more

Handshake AI Research partners with leading AI labs and institutions to power frontier-grade data, evaluation, and benchmarking research. HART’s mission is to push the boundaries of how intelligence is created, measured, and assured — through rigorous systems, trustworthy evaluation, and post-training research on frontier data types.

As Technical Program Manager, Handshake AI Research, you will own the execution backbone of HART’s research initiatives. You will translate research goals and partner requirements into well-structured technical programs, ensuring delivery across Research, Engineering, and Operations.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of research ambition and operational reality — someone who can bring structure to ambiguity, manage complex cross-functional dependencies, and scale technically rigorous work into repeatable systems.

You will act as the Directly Responsible Individual for research programs, ensuring alignment, execution quality, and on-time delivery for initiatives spanning data quality, evaluation frameworks, and post-training workflows.

• Own end-to-end program execution for Handshake AI Research initiatives, from early scoping through pilot, scale, and steady-state operations

• Translate research objectives and partner needs into clear technical requirements, milestones, and delivery plans

• Serve as the primary execution lead bridging Research, Engineering, Operations, and external AI lab partners

• Drive programs across HART’s core pillars:
  

  • Data Quality & Validation

  • Evaluation & Benchmarking

  • Post-training data workflows (RLHF / RLAIF / domain-expert labeling)

• Manage timelines, risks, dependencies, and resourcing across multiple concurrent research programs

• Partner with engineering to ensure tooling and infrastructure support scalable research execution

• Collaborate with operations, quality, and analytics teams to design repeatable, high-quality research pipelines

• Track success metrics aligned with research OKRs, partner commitments, and evaluation outcomes

• Identify bottlenecks, propose system-level improvements, and drive continuous process optimization

• Communicate program status, tradeoffs, and outcomes clearly to internal leadership and external stakeholders

• Experience as a Technical Program Manager, Program Manager, or equivalent, owning complex cross-functional initiatives

• Strong technical foundation in machine learning systems, particularly LLMs, post-training workflows, and evaluation frameworks

• Experience working closely with researchers and engineers, translating research goals into executable programs

• Familiarity with data annotation, data quality, or evaluation pipelines in ML systems

• Proven ability to manage ambiguity, align stakeholders, and deliver in fast-moving environments

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical work to diverse audiences

• Systems thinker with a bias toward execution, scalability, and operational rigor

• Comfort partnering with external organizations (AI labs, academic institutions, or industry partners)

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.

The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company

💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching

🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching

💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend

📚 Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development

💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office

🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days, winter #ShakeBreak where our whole office closes for a week!

🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.