--- title: 'Data Scientist, Handshake AI at Handshake' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/data-scientist-handshake-ai-handshake-san-francisco-mywm2mjdg1hj' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-14' --- # Data Scientist, Handshake AI at Handshake - **Company:** [Handshake](https://feeny.ai/companies/handshake) - **Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Employment:** full-time - **Posted:** 2026-09-30 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-14 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/handshake/f911a2db-f80c-478c-b0d8-e62e9a6f1627 ## Job description ## About Handshake AI Handshake AI is the fastest-growing, most critical, and most revenue-generating part of Handshake's business. We power expert-labeled data collection at scale, matching domain experts with leading AI companies to train frontier models—and we're already a top-three player in one of the fastest-growing sectors in AI: human data. We have the opportunity to do for the AI data economy what LinkedIn did for professional networking: become the default platform where the work happens. Why join Handshake now: - Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel - Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world's top educational institutions - Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others - Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue ## About the Role We’re looking for a highly motivated Data Scientist with strong SQL expertise to support analytics, measurement, and operational insights across our human data training workflows. You’ll work with messy, fast-moving data related to expert performance, task quality, throughput, and overall operational efficiency. This is a hands-on role with real ownership, close partnership with product and operations, and a steep growth curve for someone who executes well. ## What You’ll Do - Write advanced SQL to analyze large, complex datasets related to expert performance, task quality, and operational workflows. - Define, build, and maintain core metrics that measure data quality, throughput, productivity, and operational efficiency. - Partner with Product, Operations, and cross-functional stakeholders to answer high-impact business and product questions. - Conduct analyses that inform workflow design, task improvements, and operational decision-making. - Build dashboards, reporting, and self-serve analytics that enable fast, informed decisions. - Identify data gaps, inconsistencies, and quality issues, then partner with relevant teams to resolve them. - Translate ambiguous business questions into clear analyses and actionable recommendations. - Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Desired Capabilities - 3–5 years of experience in Data Science, Product Analytics, Business Intelligence, or a related analytical role. - Expert-level SQL skills and experience working with large, complex datasets. - Strong analytical judgment and comfort working with imperfect, real-world data. - Experience defining metrics and using data to influence product or business decisions. - High ownership mindset and ability to independently drive complex work forward. - Strong communication skills and comfort partnering cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment. Extra Credit - Python experience for data analysis, such as pandas and notebooks. - Experience supporting operational, marketplace, quality, or workforce-related analytics. - Experience with experimentation, A/B testing, or metrics-driven product development. - Exposure to AI data workflows, data labeling, or evaluation processes. - Experience with analytics engineering, including building and maintaining DBT models. ## Perks - Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life. The below benefits are for full-time US employees. 🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company 💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching 🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching 💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, wellness stipend 📚 Growth: Learning stipend, ongoing development 💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office 🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days 🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at [joinhandshake.com/careers](http://joinhandshake.com/careers). ## About Handshake ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Handshake is the career network for the AI economy, connecting job seekers with internships, full-time roles, freelance gigs, and AI training work through a three-sided marketplace. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series F; total funding $434M across 6 rounds) - **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, USA - **Founded**: 2014 - **Founders**: Garrett Lord (CEO), Ben Christensen, Scott Ringwelski ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Career platform / Job marketplace / AI workforce infrastructure - **Target customers**: B2C (job seekers, from students to experienced professionals) and B2B (employers including 100% of Fortune 500 and all foundational AI labs; also educational institutions) - **Mission**: Expand access and improve outcomes for job seekers, helping the workforce stay ahead in the AI economy. ## Products & Services - **Handshake Core Platform**: A three-sided marketplace connecting 25 million knowledge workers, 1,600+ schools, and 1 million employers. Features dynamic profiles, intelligent job matching, and interactive skill-building. - **Handshake AI Enterprise**: AI-powered tools for employers and job seekers, including AI-driven matching, safety features, and pay management. - **AI Trainer Gigs**: Paid, flexible, remote work for individuals to train and evaluate AI models (e.g., AI Evaluation Specialist, up to $40/hr) – no prior AI experience required. - **Handshake Network**: Community events, career advice, and networking for students, experts, and professionals in AI and other fields. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding $434M (6 rounds); annual revenue $56.5M (LinkedIn estimate) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Board includes representatives from General Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins, EQT Ventures, True Ventures, and Niantic. Strategic partners include 100% of the Fortune 500 and foundational AI labs. - **Growth Signals**: Headcount at 5,272 employees (+708.8% YoY per LinkedIn); 1M+ companies on platform; 25M users; expansion into AI trainer gig economy; new roles in HAI (Handshake AI Enterprise) such as Applied AI Engineer, AI Platform Engineer, and Forward Deployed Engineer. ## Competitive Advantages - **Network effects**: The only three-sided marketplace linking students, employers, and educational institutions at scale. - **AI-first positioning**: Deep integration of AI into job matching, skill-building, and new freelance training roles – creating a unique ecosystem for the AI economy. - **Trusted by elite institutions**: 1,600+ partner schools and every Fortune 500 company provides unparalleled reach into early-career talent. ## Strategic Focus - **AI economy expansion**: Building the “career network for the AI economy” – expanding beyond college students to all knowledge workers, and adding AI training gigs as a new revenue and engagement stream. - **Product innovation**: Heavy investment in Handshake AI Enterprise (HAI), including AI matching, safety, and pay infrastructure. - **Global scaling**: Offices in San Francisco, New York, UK, and Bangalore; operating in 32 countries. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Values include “Students first,” “Leave nothing to chance,” “Own the outcome,” “Invent and reinvent,” and “Olympic pace.” Emphasis on ownership, urgency, and constant evolution. - **Remote/Hybrid policy**: Many roles are based in San Francisco or New York, but some positions (e.g., Trust & Safety Specialist, Support Specialist) are remote in the US. Recent openings show both office and remote options. - **Benefits**: Health & wellness support, financial support, time off, modern offices with meals, snacks, and social activities. Strong focus on career growth and learning. - **Career growth**: Rapid headcount growth suggests ample internal mobility; roles range from engineering (ML, AI, data) to customer success, partnerships, and product management. ## Sources 1. [joinhandshake.com/about](https://joinhandshake.com/about/) 2. [joinhandshake.com/careers](https://joinhandshake.com/careers/) 3. [linkedin.com/company/team-handshake](https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-handshake) 4. [joinhandshake.com](https://joinhandshake.com/) ## Other roles at Handshake - [Software Engineer II, Reinforcement Learning Environments](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-ii-reinforcement-learning-environments-handshake-india-fra8kaeep512) — India - [Member of Technical Staff, Coding Agents](https://feeny.ai/job/member-of-technical-staff-coding-agents-handshake-san-francisco-3enam33akj0c) — San Francisco, CA - [Partnerships Lead - Integrations & Ecosystem](https://feeny.ai/job/partnerships-lead-integrations-ecosystem-handshake-united-states-tspy61x42312) — United States - [Member of Technical Staff, Post-Training (India)](https://feeny.ai/job/member-of-technical-staff-post-training-india-handshake-india-cxbfffpyvn0v) — India - [Member of Technical Staff, AI Engineering (India)](https://feeny.ai/job/member-of-technical-staff-ai-engineering-india-handshake-india-ntg51nad631j) — India - [Senior Marketing Manager - Fellows](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-marketing-manager-fellows-handshake-san-francisco-jc7g3q2bdryk) — San Francisco, CA - [HR, Manager - India](https://feeny.ai/job/hr-manager-india-handshake-india-vxw9svjvsrhj) — India - [Forward Deployed Engineer I](https://feeny.ai/job/forward-deployed-engineer-i-handshake-india-v1y7tgkpw6yz) — India - [Marketing Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-lead-handshake-nashville-ft3br6nsqvnz) — Nashville, TN - [Machine Learning Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-engineer-handshake-san-francisco-030gj3b0c6ts) — San Francisco, CA