Strategic Projects Associate

About Handshake

Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale.

Why join Handshake now:

• Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel

• Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions

• Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others

• Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue

The Role

Handshake is expanding into cutting-edge AI research and development. We're building a world-class network of expert Fellows — including PhDs, researchers, and specialists — who drive forward the next generation of AI through domain-specific applications, model evaluations, and specialized research. Our work is deeply rooted in Human Data — high-quality, human-labeled datasets that power the development and evaluation of frontier models. We partner with the world’s leading AI labs on their most ambitious research, helping shape the future of artificial intelligence.

We're looking for several highly motivated Strategic Projects Associates to join our team and support high-impact initiatives across product, operations, and customer success. This is a unique opportunity for a recent graduate to dive into strategic work, gain hands-on experience across teams, and grow in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

This will be at our San Francisco location and this team is traditionally in the office five days a week. 

• Lead execution of high-visibility, high-impact customer data collection pipelines, ensuring steady progress and measurable outcomes

• Translate customer needs into well-structured data sets that enhance model performance and align with strategic objectives

• Develop and optimize infrastructure for data pipelines to ensure quality, scalability, and operational efficiency

• Support and manage globally distributed teams of expert LLM contributors through training, coaching, and hands-on guidance

• Design and implement analytics to inform decision-making and improve pipeline and team performance

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Product, Operations, and Go-to-Market teams to solve complex challenges that accelerate advancements in leading LLMs

You Have

• A recent graduate (or graduating soon) with a strong academic record

• You’ve completed internships in tech, consulting, banking, financial services, or startups

• A strategic thinker with strong analytical and organizational skills

• A self-starter who thrives in fast-moving environments and enjoys building from the ground up

• An excellent communicator who can work effectively across teams and with external partners

• Proficient in productivity tools such as Google Sheets or Excel, Google Docs, and Google Drive for organizing and sharing information

• Strong written and verbal communication skills across channels such as email, Slack, and virtual meetings

Bonus: You majored in a STEM field (a degree in engineering or computer science is ideal) or have exposure to technical concepts (e.g., data, software, or AI).

Why You'll Love This Role

• You'll get to work on meaningful AI projects that impact real-world applications

• You’ll be part of a small, dynamic team where your ideas and work matter from day one

• You’ll gain exposure to multiple business functions and grow into a high-impact operator

• You’ll work directly with leaders in AI, tech, and data strategy

Traits We Value

• Curiosity about AI and emerging technologies (maybe you’re already a ChatGPT power user!)

• High agency and a bias toward action — you take ownership and move things forward

• Ability to learn complex concepts quickly and think critically under pressure

• A thoughtful, data-driven decision maker who’s comfortable navigating ambiguity

We Offer

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
🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

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