Expert Team Lead, Engineering

About the role

SpaceXAI's mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure.

What you'll do

• Own end-to-end quality and delivery for assigned Human Data projects — personally reviewing work in the domain, ensuring accuracy, consistency, guideline adherence, and high-quality data production at scale.
• Lead, coach, and performance-manage a team of AI Tutors, including conducting regular performance reviews, maintaining records, creating action plans, managing shadow sessions, and driving continuous improvement.
• Oversee and actively participate in labeling and reviewing tasks to maintain high standards and model best practices.
• Ensure strict guideline adherence, taxonomy management, and quality assurance processes.
• Drive efficiency by identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks, implementing process improvements, and tracking performance via KPI dashboards (e.g., quality metrics, throughput, send-back rates).
• Build, update, and deliver training materials, practice tasks, and certification benchmark tasks; manage certifications and workforce adjustments.
• Collaborate closely with Human Data Managers, fellow Team Leads, and Engineering to translate model needs into clear labeling strategies and requirements.
• Coach and develop talent while maintaining strong accountability and a high-performance culture; support disciplinary actions as needed.
• Document outcomes, suggest process iterations, and report project status, risks, and results.
• Act as the voice of your tutors while fostering strong collaboration across the broader Human Data organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Civil, Environmental, or a closely related engineering field.
• 2+ Professional experience in engineering practice, such as design, analysis, testing, R&D, or systems integration OR a Master's degree (or higher) in an engineering or engineering related field.
• Basic understanding of AI and machine learning concepts and how high-quality training data impacts model performance.

Preferred qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in an engineering discipline, or professional licensure (PE, or FE/EIT).
• Demonstrated experience with data quality metrics, annotation processes, and guideline-driven workflows (as evidenced by prior roles or projects).
• Breadth across multiple engineering disciplines, with the ability to credibly review work outside your primary specialty.
• Experience with performance management, coaching, training program development, and certification frameworks.
• 1+ years of hands-on experience in data labeling, annotation, AI training/evaluation, content quality, or similar operational domains.
• Professional experience building scalable, high-performance technology applications.
• Previous experience leading small teams in data labeling, annotation, or related operations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong track record of reviewing domain work, ensuring data quality, and improving operational processes.
• Proficiency in data analysis and associated tools (SQL a plus); ability to use metrics and KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
• Experience managing mixed employment types (full-time employees and contractors) or distributed teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build rapport quickly and align stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, high attention to detail, proactive problem-solving mindset, and focus on continuous improvement.
• Strategic thinking combined with strong hands-on execution.
• Specialty or strong domain expertise in at least one of the following areas: Finance, STEM, Coding/Software Engineering, or other technical fields.

Benefits

• Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at SpaceXAI, which also includes equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and various other discounts and perks.
• Benefits vary based on employment type, location and jurisdiction.
• Benefits for eligible U.S. based positions include health insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid sick leave.