Staff AI Operations Architect

Checkr is building the data platform to power safe and fair decisions. Over 140,000 companies and millions of people rely on Checkr for AI verification in the moments that matter most: getting a new job, a new place to live, a car ride, childcare, even a date. Customers include Uber, Pennymac, Airbnb, Doordash, Amazon, and Anthropic.

About The Team/Role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Staff AI Operations Architect will own key business strategy and outcomes for Checkr's Product & Quality Operations function — sitting at the intersection of human expertise and AI-assisted decision-making to ensure the accuracy of background check reports at scale. In 2026, we're deploying a strategy to radically transform how that work gets done: this role will lead the operational programs to prove the model works, build the frameworks that make it scalable, and drive the feedback loop that makes the system smarter over time. You'll partner closely with Analytics, ML/AI, and Product teams as Checkr advances how AI and human expertise work together, and this role is central to making that vision operational.

Responsibilities

• Architect and lead the shift from transactional to system-level resolutions, defining how risk drives routing and where human judgment is applied
• Set accuracy thresholds and make judgment calls on speed and cost trade-offs; establish compliance guardrails and operational controls
• Design and operate the human-in-the-loop framework that connects expert review to AI model improvement, defining the feedback architecture so every expert decision generates signal that makes automated detection smarter over time
• Partner with Analytics, ML/AI, and Product teams as the operational voice in a cross-functional build
• Architect repeatable frameworks that transform one-time solutions into systematic capabilities

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in operations or business operations with a track record of designing and delivering systems that scale
• Demonstrated ability to execute roadmaps while building the operational infrastructure underneath them
• Experience in human-in-the-loop or AI-assisted operations, ideally in a regulated industry (background screening, fintech, healthtech, compliance)
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to make architectural decisions, including quality thresholds, routing logic, capacity tradeoffs — not just optimize existing processes
• Cross-functional instincts: you've partnered closely with technical teams and can translate between operational reality and system design
• An A-player mindset with a strong bias for action: you raise the bar, move with urgency, stay resilient through ambiguity, and take ownership to deliver meaningful outcomes

Pay

We use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop ranges for our roles and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range. For this role, if remote, the top to bottom of the possible range is listed below. The target range for an exact location will be specified during recruiting discussions.

On-target Earnings OR Base Salary range (San Francisco, CA): $165,000 - $194,000 USD

Benefits

• A fast-paced and collaborative environment
• Learning and development allowance
• Competitive cash and equity compensation, and opportunity for advancement
• 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Up to $25K reimbursement for fertility, adoption, and parental planning services
• Flexible PTO policy
• Monthly wellness stipend

Schedule

At Checkr, we believe an in-office work environment strengthens collaboration, drives innovation, and encourages connection. Individuals are expected to work from the office 3+ days a week. In-office perks include lunch five times a week, a commuter stipend, and an abundance of snacks and beverages. A relocation stipend may be available for those willing to relocate to a Checkr hub location (Denver, CO; San Francisco, CA; Nashville, TN; or Santiago, Chile).