{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"44bc9aa4e542c4aa110c4632","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/44bc9aa4e542c4aa110c4632","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/44bc9aa4e542c4aa110c4632","title":"AI Data Operations Manager","description":"At Niantic Spatial, we’re building the future of geospatial AI. Powered by a proprietary database of over 30 billion posed images and a groundbreaking third-generation digital map, our mission is to develop spatial intelligence that helps both humans and machines better understand, navigate, and engage with the physical world. Our high-fidelity mapping technology unlocks a new dimension of interaction—laying the foundation for AI to truly comprehend and operate within real-world environments. Join us as we build a living model of the world that people and machines can talk to.\nNiantic Spatial’s R&D Operations team powers our AI and mapping capabilities with high-quality real-world data. The AI Data Operations Manager will own end-to-end operations for AI data capture, geo scanning, and labeling programs, working across internal teams and external vendors to deliver reliable, high-quality datasets for research, ML, and product use cases. This role combines hands-on program management of field data collection (360 cameras, RGB LiDAR, drones) with scalable data and labeling operations management.\n\nResponsibilities\nEnd-to-end AI data operations\nOwn day-to-day operations for geo data, scanning, and labeling programs that power AI models and mapping products.\nEnsure data workflows run efficiently, on time, and at the right cost/quality bar across internal teams and vendors.\nMaintain rigorous data tracking and inventory so stakeholders clearly understand what data exists, where it lives, and its readiness and constraints.\nField data capture (360, LiDAR, drone)\nPlan and manage large-scale field capture programs using 360 cameras, RGB LiDAR, and drones, including complex urban mapping operations and targeted customer captures.\nCoordinate surveyors and vendors to execute capture schedules, resolve in-field issues, and maintain safety and compliance standards.\nKeep up to date with the latest mapping processes and their impact on scanning requirements; contribute field insights into the evolution of Niantic’s Photon devices and capture tooling.\nExecute direct, internal data capture when required by specific security protocols, data sensitivity, or when the project scale does not necessitate external vendor mobilization\nVendor and partner management\nAct as the primary operational point of contact for key external partners such as capture vendors and annotation vendors, and for strategic customer programs.\nTranslate customer and internal stakeholder needs into clear scopes of work, SLAs, and procedures for vendors; monitor performance and drive continuous improvement.\nLabeling and data quality operations\nManage labeling operations to provide research, ML, and product teams with high-quality labeled datasets, including defining taxonomies, guidelines, and QA processes.\nDistill customer requirements into precise labeling instructions and workflows; balance quality, time, and cost tradeoffs and communicate them transparently.\nProgram management, risk, and reporting\nLead multi-month, multi-vendor operations such as large-scale drone and 360 capture campaigns (e.g., city-scale mapping projects and DroneToGround dataset expansions).\nIdentify and manage risks, issues, and escalations across all active programs, ensuring stakeholders understand options and tradeoffs.\nDevelop and execute continuous improvement plans for tools, workflows, metrics, and reporting to increase efficiency and reliability over time.\nCross-functional collaboration and governance\nRepresent AI data operations in cross-functional forums with Product, Engineering, Research, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Security, and GTM teams.\nPartner with Legal on data privacy, GDPR/DSA compliance, and data usage governance for customer and internal datasets.\nManage budgets and resources for scanning and labeling operations, including forecasting capacity and making resourcing recommendations.\nRequirements\nBachelor's degree in a related field (e.g. Geospatial, Engineering, Operations, Data Science) or equivalent practical experience.\n3+ years of experience in operations, data operations, or technical program management, ideally in mapping, geospatial, or AI/ML data domains.\nDemonstrated experience running real-world data collection and/or labeling operations, including managing outsourced or vendor teams.\nHands-on experience with geo data workflow management, field scanning, and visual data labeling; familiarity with GIS or mapping tools is a plus.\nStrong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills; able to turn complex, shifting inputs into clear plans and rigorous execution.\nExcellent communication and stakeholder management skills; able to translate between highly technical teams (ML, engineering) and operational/vendor partners.\nComfortable working independently in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment and juggling multiple concurrent programs and stakeholders.\nWillingness to travel as needed for field operations, vendor visits, and on-site coordination.\nRole-specific requirements\nValid driving license required; FAA drone pilot certification strongly preferred, given the centrality of drone operations to our capture programs.\nExperience collaborating with Legal, Finance, Procurement, and Security on contracts, compliance, and vendor management is strongly preferred.\nRequired In-Office Days: 3 days per week.\nCandidate Privacy Policy\nI understand that by submitting my job application, the information I provide as part of that application will be used in accordance with Niantic Spatial’s Privacy Notice for Job Applicants and Candidates.\nIf required by law, by submitting my job application I consent to the processing of my information as described in that Notice, including processing information I voluntarily disclose to Niantic Spatial, such as health or medical information, race or ethnicity data, and sexual orientation data and, in limited circumstances sharing information with third parties such as references and other third parties that assist in the hiring process.\nNiantic Spatial is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Niantic Spatial are considered without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under applicable laws. Niantic Spatial, will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact your recruiter if you want to request an accommodation for the job application or interview process.\n\n#LI-LJ1\nCompensation Range: $115.5K - $135.5K","company":"Niantic Spatial","rawCompany":"niantic spatial","city":"Seattle","state":"WA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-04-12T19:40:22.295Z","occupations":[{"code":"15-1299.02","title":"Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians","slug":"geographic-information-systems-technologists-and-technicians"},{"code":"19-2099.01","title":"Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists","slug":"remote-sensing-scientists-and-technologists"},{"code":"15-1243.01","title":"Data Warehousing Specialists","slug":"data-warehousing-specialists"}],"industries":[{"code":"541370","title":"Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services","slug":"surveying-and-mapping-except-geophysical-services"},{"code":"541360","title":"Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services","slug":"geophysical-surveying-and-mapping-services"},{"code":"513210","title":"Software Publishers","slug":"software-publishers"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"AI Data Operations Manager","description":"At Niantic Spatial, we’re building the future of geospatial AI. Powered by a proprietary database of over 30 billion posed images and a groundbreaking third-generation digital map, our mission is to develop spatial intelligence that helps both humans and machines better understand, navigate, and engage with the physical world. Our high-fidelity mapping technology unlocks a new dimension of interaction—laying the foundation for AI to truly comprehend and operate within real-world environments. Join us as we build a living model of the world that people and machines can talk to.\nNiantic Spatial’s R&D Operations team powers our AI and mapping capabilities with high-quality real-world data. The AI Data Operations Manager will own end-to-end operations for AI data capture, geo scanning, and labeling programs, working across internal teams and external vendors to deliver reliable, high-quality datasets for research, ML, and product use cases. This role combines hands-on program management of field data collection (360 cameras, RGB LiDAR, drones) with scalable data and labeling operations management.\n\nResponsibilities\nEnd-to-end AI data operations\nOwn day-to-day operations for geo data, scanning, and labeling programs that power AI models and mapping products.\nEnsure data workflows run efficiently, on time, and at the right cost/quality bar across internal teams and vendors.\nMaintain rigorous data tracking and inventory so stakeholders clearly understand what data exists, where it lives, and its readiness and constraints.\nField data capture (360, LiDAR, drone)\nPlan and manage large-scale field capture programs using 360 cameras, RGB LiDAR, and drones, including complex urban mapping operations and targeted customer captures.\nCoordinate surveyors and vendors to execute capture schedules, resolve in-field issues, and maintain safety and compliance standards.\nKeep up to date with the latest mapping processes and their impact on scanning requirements; contribute field insights into the evolution of Niantic’s Photon devices and capture tooling.\nExecute direct, internal data capture when required by specific security protocols, data sensitivity, or when the project scale does not necessitate external vendor mobilization\nVendor and partner management\nAct as the primary operational point of contact for key external partners such as capture vendors and annotation vendors, and for strategic customer programs.\nTranslate customer and internal stakeholder needs into clear scopes of work, SLAs, and procedures for vendors; monitor performance and drive continuous improvement.\nLabeling and data quality operations\nManage labeling operations to provide research, ML, and product teams with high-quality labeled datasets, including defining taxonomies, guidelines, and QA processes.\nDistill customer requirements into precise labeling instructions and workflows; balance quality, time, and cost tradeoffs and communicate them transparently.\nProgram management, risk, and reporting\nLead multi-month, multi-vendor operations such as large-scale drone and 360 capture campaigns (e.g., city-scale mapping projects and DroneToGround dataset expansions).\nIdentify and manage risks, issues, and escalations across all active programs, ensuring stakeholders understand options and tradeoffs.\nDevelop and execute continuous improvement plans for tools, workflows, metrics, and reporting to increase efficiency and reliability over time.\nCross-functional collaboration and governance\nRepresent AI data operations in cross-functional forums with Product, Engineering, Research, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Security, and GTM teams.\nPartner with Legal on data privacy, GDPR/DSA compliance, and data usage governance for customer and internal datasets.\nManage budgets and resources for scanning and labeling operations, including forecasting capacity and making resourcing recommendations.\nRequirements\nBachelor's degree in a related field (e.g. Geospatial, Engineering, Operations, Data Science) or equivalent practical experience.\n3+ years of experience in operations, data operations, or technical program management, ideally in mapping, geospatial, or AI/ML data domains.\nDemonstrated experience running real-world data collection and/or labeling operations, including managing outsourced or vendor teams.\nHands-on experience with geo data workflow management, field scanning, and visual data labeling; familiarity with GIS or mapping tools is a plus.\nStrong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills; able to turn complex, shifting inputs into clear plans and rigorous execution.\nExcellent communication and stakeholder management skills; able to translate between highly technical teams (ML, engineering) and operational/vendor partners.\nComfortable working independently in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment and juggling multiple concurrent programs and stakeholders.\nWillingness to travel as needed for field operations, vendor visits, and on-site coordination.\nRole-specific requirements\nValid driving license required; FAA drone pilot certification strongly preferred, given the centrality of drone operations to our capture programs.\nExperience collaborating with Legal, Finance, Procurement, and Security on contracts, compliance, and vendor management is strongly preferred.\nRequired In-Office Days: 3 days per week.\nCandidate Privacy Policy\nI understand that by submitting my job application, the information I provide as part of that application will be used in accordance with Niantic Spatial’s Privacy Notice for Job Applicants and Candidates.\nIf required by law, by submitting my job application I consent to the processing of my information as described in that Notice, including processing information I voluntarily disclose to Niantic Spatial, such as health or medical information, race or ethnicity data, and sexual orientation data and, in limited circumstances sharing information with third parties such as references and other third parties that assist in the hiring process.\nNiantic Spatial is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Niantic Spatial are considered without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under applicable laws. Niantic Spatial, will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact your recruiter if you want to request an accommodation for the job application or interview process.\n\n#LI-LJ1\nCompensation Range: $115.5K - $135.5K","datePosted":"2026-04-12T19:40:22.295Z","dateModified":"2026-04-12T19:40:22.295Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Niantic Spatial","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Seattle","addressRegion":"WA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"44bc9aa4e542c4aa110c4632"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/44bc9aa4e542c4aa110c4632"}}