Strategic Projects Lead, Public Sector

About the role

You will architect and execute high-impact strategic initiatives that directly shape the future of generative AI for national security and public sector transformation. This role centers on building and scaling the human-data infrastructure necessary to train and evaluate world-class large language models under strict operational constraints. You will own the complete lifecycle of data production, from initial taxonomy design through final quality validation, ensuring every dataset meets rigorous standards for mission-critical applications. The position requires deep collaboration with machine learning engineers, customer stakeholders, and operational teams to translate complex requirements into scalable data strategies. You will pioneer novel approaches in prompt engineering, hybrid data generation, and workflow automation to enhance dataset quality and efficiency. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on how AI is developed and deployed within the public sector sphere. You will be responsible for ensuring both the technical viability and financial profitability of your programs through meticulous planning and execution.

Key facts

What you'll do

Design and establish the end-to-end operations infrastructure required to support large-scale data labeling pipelines for public sector AI initiatives.

Own the daily progress and throughput of high-priority data production initiatives, implementing rigorous tracking and escalation protocols to ensure on-time delivery.

Collaborate with Machine Learning and Go-to-Market teams to conduct technical feasibility assessments and define taxonomies for complex customer engagements.

Shape cross-organizational strategy for human data collection, influencing stakeholders to prioritize data quality, scalability, and reusability across platforms.

Manage the financial and technical cost of goods sold (COGS) for assigned programs, optimizing workforce allocation and tooling investments to meet budget targets.

Partner with internal and external subject matter experts to validate data correctness and translate deep domain expertise into standardized, repeatable processes.

Analyze detailed customer requirements to design data taxonomies and evaluation criteria that directly enhance model performance and alignment.

Utilize advanced analytics and custom data visualization dashboards to monitor pipeline health, uncover systemic bottlenecks, and drive data-informed optimizations.

Assume full ownership of data delivery processes for flagship clients, acting as the primary technical and operational owner for high-visibility projects.

Develop and iterate on scripts, automation, and prompt engineering workflows to reduce manual effort and improve dataset consistency.

Champion the adoption of best practices for data labeling standards across the Public Sector team, ensuring compliance and quality benchmarks are met.

Identify and mitigate operational risks early, developing contingency plans to maintain continuity and quality under tight deadlines.

Synthesize complex project data into clear narratives and recommendations for executive stakeholders, highlighting impact and strategic alignment.

Continuously experiment with new data collection methodologies, including reinforcement learning with human feedback and verifiable reward signals.

Requirements

Must possess an active Top Secret security clearance, which is non-negotiable for this position.

Bring 2-3 years of professional experience in product development, data science, or operations roles within a relevant sector.

Demonstrate a proven track record of successful project management, including comfort operating in ambiguous and rapidly changing environments.

Possess strong analytical skills, with the ability to construct queries, analyze complex operational datasets, and identify actionable trends.

Show technical aptitude necessary to comprehend and oversee advanced post-training AI techniques such as supervised fine-tuning (SFT), reinforcement learning through human feedback (RLHF), and reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards (RLVR).

Have the ability to translate intricate client needs into concrete technical requirements and data strategies.

Exhibit strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Commit to working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where accuracy and attention to detail are paramount.

Nice to have

Prior experience working within defense technology sectors or high-growth AI companies.

Possession of a technical degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or a related quantitative field.

Deep familiarity with Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) specific to generative AI workflows and production systems.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC.

The engagement is full-time, and the compensation is salary-based, commensurate with experience.