Strategic Projects Associate - Coding

Strategic Projects Associate, CodingOverviewA fast-growing, venture-backed AI research lab in San Francisco is hiring a Strategic Projects Associate, Coding to work directly with the founding team on high-priority technical and operational projects for frontier AI labs.This is not a traditional operations role, consulting track, banking analyst program, or structured tech rotational program. It is a high-intensity, high-ownership role for someone who is technical, AI-native, highly independent, and excited to build systems from scratch.The ideal candidate is early in their career but already has strong evidence of technical ability, whether through shipped side projects, GitHub work, hackathon wins, startup projects, technical internships, or independent builds. This person should be using tools like ChatGPT, Claude Code, or similar AI coding/productivity tools daily, not just experimenting casually.You will help coordinate dataset generation projects for frontier AI labs, build internal tools with AI and scripting, manage technical expert teams, create technical documentation, and improve the systems that allow the company to scale.High performers can grow quickly into larger project leadership roles within roughly one year.Location: San Francisco, CAWork Type: Full-time, in-personExperience: New grad to 2 yearsCompensation: $80,000–$110,000 + equityVisa Sponsorship: Not availableResponsibilitiesPartner with frontier AI labs on dataset generation projects, including timelines, execution, delivery quality, and stakeholder communication.Build and maintain internal operational tools using AI tools, scripting, and automation to improve workflows, track metrics, and increase team efficiency.Manage teams of technical experts across software engineering, data science, machine learning, and related technical domains.Create clear technical documentation, project briefs, data samples, and customer-facing materials.Work directly with the founding team on urgent, ambiguous, high-priority projects.Identify broken or inefficient processes and build systems to make them faster, clearer, and more scalable.Move fluidly between technical work, customer coordination, project management, and operational execution.Operate independently with limited supervision and take full ownership of outcomes.QualificationsNew grad to 2 years of professional experience.Strong technical fluency and genuine interest in AI.Daily hands-on usage of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, or similar tools for real workflows.Evidence of shipping technical work, such as GitHub projects, side projects, hackathon wins, independent builds, startup work, or technical internship projects.High-intensity background, such as top tech internships, frontier AI lab experience, quantitative trading exposure, or startup experience.Strong written and verbal communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Extreme ownership, strong agency, and ability to operate independently.Ability to learn quickly, iterate fast, and thrive in ambiguous environments.Technical major or background preferred, especially computer science, machine learning, engineering, software engineering, AI research, or a related technical field.Comfortable working in person in San Francisco.Willingness to work long hours or weekends when critical projects require it.Strong Fit SignalsYou have shipped real technical projects, not just completed coursework.You have a visible GitHub, portfolio, side project, startup project, or hackathon track record.You have interned at a strong technical company, AI lab, startup, or quantitative trading firm.You are comfortable moving between code, coordination, documentation, and customer-facing work.You use AI tools every day to build, automate, research, debug, or move faster.You want a high-ownership startup environment rather than a predictable entry-level program.This May Not Be the Right Fit IfYou prefer pure research and do not want to ship operational systems.You are looking for a structured rotational program or predictable corporate training track.You have a technical degree but no evidence of building or shipping outside the classroom.You have only casually tried AI tools and do not use them in daily workflows.You are not comfortable with intensity, ambiguity, long hours, or occasional weekend work.BenefitsCompetitive salary of $80,000–$110,000.Meaningful equity with a clear path to advancement.Early hire opportunity with direct exposure to the founding team.Fast-track growth path into project leadership.Deep hands-on experience with frontier AI workflows, datasets, and technical operations.Opportunity to build relationships with AI researchers, technical builders, founders, and investors.Direct mentorship from an experienced founding team.Chance to help scale a high-growth AI company from the ground up.