Strategic Projects Associate

San Francisco, CA · On-site · Full-time Compensation: $80,000–$110,000 base + up to 100% of base as bonus + meaningful equity

Our client is an AI research lab investigating the boundaries and capabilities of AI through novel datasets and experimentation. Its customers are the foundation-model labs — it serves all of the frontier AI labs — and it's one of the fastest-growing companies in its cohort, well-backed by top-tier investors, with a founding team from top quant firms, big tech, and leading AI research labs.

Founded 2025 · 11–50 people · Industry: AI / Data

The client is hiring highly driven early-career operators as Strategic Projects Associates — new grads through ~2 years of experience who thrive in fast-paced, high-intensity environments and want significant ownership early. Associates work closely with Strategic Projects Leads supporting client execution, operational initiatives, and cross-functional projects, gaining deep exposure to startup operations, AI workflows, and customer strategy.

Tech stack: AI tools (e.g., Claude Code), Microsoft Office.

• New grad to 2 years of experience
• A high-intensity background (top internships or a startup)
• Willing to work 6 days a week
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Excited about AI and the frontier labs
• On-site in SF

• Technical skills with AI tools like Claude Code
• A top-company internship pedigree (FAANG, frontier AI lab, quant trading firm) showing high-intensity execution
• Prior startup or founding-team experience demonstrating real ownership under ambiguity
• Self-evidence of a grinder mentality: shipped side projects, ran a business in school, competed at a high level, or comparable
• A technical major (CS, EE, ML, math, physics) or demonstrated technical fluency
• Genuinely excited about the AI mission and frontier labs as customers, not just chasing the market

• Founder proximity and 0-1 exposure: work directly with the founding team with direct mentorship
• A frontier-AI network: connect with researchers, builders, and investors, with the frontier labs as customers
• Comp and fast track: competitive base + up to 100% of base as bonus + meaningful equity; high performers can become Strategic Projects Leads in ~1 year
• A high-ownership alternative to entry-level investment banking and consulting

• Location — San Francisco, CA
• Work policy — On-site, 6 days/week
• Compensation — $80,000–$110,000 base + up to 100% of base as bonus + meaningful equity
• Visa sponsorship — Not available
• Employment type — Full-time