Senior Engagement Manager

The Role

As a Senior Engagement Manager on Handshake AI's Engagement Management team, you own full, end-to-end relationships for our largest frontier AI lab customers — accounts at $100M+ run rate — from first scope through expansion and renewal. You're the person these customers call first, acting as a thought partner rather than a traditional account manager, translating ambiguous, high-stakes problems into clear direction while Strategic Project Leads and Operations execute delivery. You'll sit at the intersection of customer, product, and engineering, making fast, high-judgment tradeoffs under pressure and protecting both the relationship and the quality bar.

Own full end-to-end relationships across a portfolio of $100M+ frontier AI lab accounts, serving as the first call in high-stakes moments and the single throughline for value.

Translate messy, evolving client goals into sharp requirements and priorities, partnering closely with Strategic Project Leads & Operations to turn strategy into delivery.

Make fast, high-conviction tradeoffs on speed, quality, and cost — knowing when to commit, push back, or escalate to protect the relationship and the outcome.

Partner with Sales to identify and help close expansion opportunities, growing account value and deepening Handshake AI's role in customers' model development.

Define and report on success metrics (KPIs, SLAs, model quality) that keep leadership and clients aligned on what's working and what needs to change.

You Have

8+ years in high-ownership, customer-facing or high-stakes leadership roles — engagement management, management consulting, strategy & ops, elite military leadership, or founder/operating roles — ideally with exposure to AI, data, or complex operational products

Meaningful time at a top-tier consulting firm (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent), or an equivalent mix of consulting, elite institutional leadership, and high-intensity startup or operating experience

Currently in an external, customer-facing role, or have held one within the last two years

Genuine, demonstrated curiosity about AI — excited to learn from frontier researchers and build deep technical fluency in the space, not just drawn to the opportunity

A track record leading complex, multi-stakeholder engagements to measurable outcomes for demanding enterprise customers

Experience working directly with VP- and C-level stakeholders, and navigating complex, political organizations while still getting to an answer fast

Comfort making high-judgment decisions with incomplete information, and shifting fluidly between executive relationship management and detailed data review

Strong instincts for when to push back on a client ask versus when to flex, with the communication skill to do either without damaging trust

Genuine energy for high-intensity, fast-changing environments, including periods that call for significant time investment — this isn't a fixed-hours, narrow-scope role

Bonus points:

Technical or STEM background (engineering, computer science, or related) alongside your customer-facing experience

Prior experience in AI, data, or frontier model development

Investment banking, private equity, or GM/BizOps background with strong analytical range

Experience negotiating with sophisticated, technical buyers across multiple vendors

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