Senior Engagement Manager

About the role

Handshake AI is seeking a Senior Engagement Manager to manage key relationships with our largest AI lab customers. This position involves overseeing the entire customer lifecycle, from initial project definition through expansion and renewal. You will serve as the primary point of contact, guiding clients through complex challenges and ensuring successful project delivery.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Manage comprehensive relationships for a portfolio of frontier AI lab accounts, each generating over $100M in revenue.
• Convert abstract client objectives into precise requirements and priorities, collaborating with Strategic Project Leads and Operations for execution.
• Make rapid, informed decisions regarding project speed, quality, and cost, knowing when to commit, challenge, or escalate issues.
• Work with the Sales team to identify and secure expansion opportunities, increasing account value and Handshake AI's involvement in model development.
• Establish and report on key performance indicators (KPIs, SLAs, model quality) to maintain alignment between leadership and clients.

Requirements

• 8+ years in high-responsibility, client-facing, or critical leadership roles, such as engagement management, management consulting, strategy & operations, elite military leadership, or founder/operating positions.
• Significant experience at a top-tier consulting firm (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or similar), or a comparable background combining consulting, elite institutional leadership, and intense startup or operational work.
• Currently in an external, customer-facing role, or have held one within the past two years.
• Demonstrated interest in AI, eager to learn from frontier researchers and develop deep technical understanding.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects to measurable outcomes for demanding enterprise clients.
• Experience engaging directly with VP- and C-level executives, navigating complex organizational structures to find solutions quickly.
• Comfortable making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information, adept at shifting between executive relationship management and detailed data analysis.
• Strong judgment in knowing when to accommodate a client request versus when to push back, with the communication skills to do either without damaging trust.
• Possess genuine enthusiasm for high-intensity, rapidly changing environments, including periods requiring substantial time commitment.

Nice to have

• Technical or STEM background (engineering, computer science, or related field) in addition to customer-facing experience.
• Previous experience in AI, data, or frontier model development.
• Background in investment banking, private equity, or GM/BizOps with strong analytical capabilities.
• Experience negotiating with sophisticated, technical buyers across multiple vendors.

Skills & tools

• AI
• Data
• Complex operational products

Practical notes

Handshake offers comprehensive benefits for full-time US employees, including equity, a 401(k) match, paid parental leave, fertility benefits, medical/dental/vision, mental health support, a $500 wellness stipend, a $2,000 learning stipend, flexible PTO, 15 holidays plus 2 flex days, and team outings. The role is on-site in San Francisco, CA, and includes benefits like internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym access at the SF office.