Strategic Projects Associate

Job Description

Job Description

San Francisco, CA · On-site · Full-time
Compensation: $80,000–$110,000 base + up to 100% of base as bonus + meaningful equity

About the Company

An early-stage, venture-backed AI research lab investigating the boundaries and capabilities of artificial intelligence through novel datasets and experimentation. Its customers are the frontier model labs. Backed by top-tier investors and operators, it was one of the fastest-growing companies in its accelerator batch.

Founded 2025 · 11–50 people · Industry: AI research & data

The Role

We're hiring highly driven early-career operators as Strategic Projects Associates — new grads through ~2 years of experience who thrive in fast-paced, high-intensity environments and want significant ownership early. You'll work closely with Strategic Projects Leads (SPLs) supporting client execution, operational initiatives, and cross-functional projects, gaining deep exposure to startup operations, AI workflows, and customer strategy. High performers can become SPLs in approximately one year.

What you'll be doing

• Partner with frontier AI labs alongside SPLs to build next-generation datasets that push the boundaries of AI
• Manage teams of experts across professional domains like finance, software engineering, and law
• Create and execute sales memos and develop data samples
• Support SPLs and the broader team across operational initiatives
• Drive execution on cross-functional projects in product, research, and operations

Tech stack: AI tools (e.g. Claude Code), Microsoft Office

Requirements

• New grad to 2 years experience
• High-intensity background: top internships or startup
• Willing to work 6 days a week
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Excited about AI and frontier labs
• SF in-person

Green Flags

• Technical skills with AI tools like Claude Code
• Top-company internship pedigree (FAANG, frontier AI lab, quantitative trading firm) showing they have already operated in high-intensity environments
• Prior startup or founding-team experience demonstrating real ownership and execution under ambiguity
• Self-evidence of grinder mentality: shipped side projects, ran a business in school, competed at a high level, or comparable
• Technical major (CS, EE, ML, math, physics) or demonstrated technical fluency even without a degree
• Excited about the AI mission and frontier AI labs as customers, not just chasing the AI job market

Red Flags

• Looking for a structured rotational program, banking-track, or consulting-track entry-level role with predictable scope
• Will not work 6 days a week or pushes back on extreme-ownership intensity expectations
• Multiple under-6-month tenures already on a short resume without context
• Needs AI knowledge but won't learn rapidly; expects to be trained vs. self-directed pickup
• Pure generalist background with no high-intensity adjacency (no top internship, no startup, no competitive activity)

Why Join

• Work directly with the founding team and learn how a company is built from 0 to 1, with direct mentorship
• Network with frontier AI researchers, builders, and investors
• Competitive base + up to 100% of base as bonus + meaningful equity, with a fast track to Strategic Projects Lead
• A high-ownership alternative to entry-level investment banking and consulting

Details

• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Work policy: Fully in-person; 6 days/week
• Compensation: $80,000–$110,000 + equity
• Visa sponsorship: None available
• Employment type: Full-time