Job Description
Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.
Start your career at the intersection of AI, strategy, and operations.
Handshake is expanding into cutting-edge AI research and development. We're building a world-class network of expert Fellows — including PhDs, researchers, and specialists — who drive forward the next generation of AI through domain-specific applications, model evaluations, and specialized research. Our work is deeply rooted in Human Data — high-quality, human-labeled datasets that power the development and evaluation of frontier models. We partner with the world’s leading AI labs on their most ambitious research, helping shape the future of artificial intelligence.
We're looking for several highly motivated Strategic Projects Associates to join our team and support high-impact initiatives across product, operations, and customer success. This is a unique opportunity for a recent graduate to dive into strategic work, gain hands-on experience across teams, and grow in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
This will be at our San Francisco location and this team is traditionally in the office five days a week.
Bonus: You majored in a STEM field (a degree in engineering or computer science is ideal) or have exposure to technical concepts (e.g., data, software, or AI).
$100,000-$115,000
For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.
Handshake is building the future of human data for AI.
We partner directly with top AI labs to power large language model (LLM) training and evaluation with high-quality, expert-generated data. As AI models become more sophisticated, the demand for specialized human input continues to grow—and Handshake is uniquely positioned to meet it. We power career platforms at 92% of the top U.S. universities, giving us direct access to verified expert talent across a wide range of domains.
Our AI team is rapidly building a new generation of human data products—from expert annotation platforms to AI interviewers and seamless payout infrastructure—all designed to accelerate research and improve model performance.
We’ve assembled a world-class team from YC, Notion, Scale, Coinbase, Palantir, and more, and we’re working directly with many of the world’s leading AI research labs. This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing team shaping the future of AI through better data, better tools, and better systems—for experts, by experts.
At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.
Benefits below apply to US employees in full-time positions.
Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please let your recruiter know during initial communications.
Handshake is a career network designed for students and recent graduates to find job opportunities. It has a community of over 10 million users from 1,400 educational institutions, including colleges and boot camps. The platform connects these individuals with more than 750,000 employers, covering various sectors. It aims to facilitate access to career resources for both students and employers.
