Strategic Project Lead

Crossing Hurdles is a global recruitment firm partnering with a fast-growing, AI startup collaborating with leading research teams to build reinforcement learning environments and trajectory datasets that push the capabilities of frontier AI models. Quick SnapshotRole: Strategic Projects LeadCompensation: 185K - 205K base + 0.05% 0.15% equity + annual performance bonusLocation: Hybrid - Seattle (3+ days/week in-office)Experience: 1+ years of experience in consulting, IB, or fast- paced ops role at a startup, Experience as a Strategic Projects Lead or Deployment Strategist at AI data labs or technology firmsFocus: Customer project delivery, expert contributor management, research collaboration, and AI data quality What You Will Be DoingOwning multi-project delivery from start to finish tracking what each lab customer needs and making sure deliverables ship on time and meet a high quality barFinding, hiring, and managing pools of expert contributors who build gyms and trajectories, and leading them through influence rather than authorityWorking with researchers to understand what matters most and to prioritize milestones when requirements change overnightDoing hands-on product work with engineers to shape the internal tools and workflows behind each deliverableChecking trajectories, verifiers, and evals before they reach customers, and telling apart work that is truly useful from work that only looks complete Why You Should ConsiderHigh ownership Own customer projects end-to-end, turning open-ended research goals into high-quality datasets trusted by frontier AI labs.Cross-functional exposure Work directly with researchers, engineers, and expert contributors to deliver complex, deadline-driven projects.Hands-on building Partner with engineers to shape internal tools and workflows while managing project execution and quality.Frontier AI opportunity Help advance AI capabilities by building and validating reinforcement learning environments, trajectories, verifiers, and evaluations.