Project Manager

Abaka AI; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health, dental, vision

PTO

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

Abaka AI in Silicon Valley is hiring a Project Manager to own the complete data project lifecycle for world-class AI teams. You will scope, plan, execute, and deliver datasets and data pipelines while coordinating clients, internal teams, and external partners.

This is a highly cross-functional role requiring excellent communication, operational excellence, and the ability to translate client needs into actionable plans. Join our US operations team to scale delivery globally.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in project management, operations, or related roles.
• Professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English is required, as this role involves frequent collaboration with China-based vendors and external partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects at once and adapt quickly as priorities change.
• Proven ability to work independently, take ownership of outcomes, and navigate challenges with persistence and strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent client-facing and cross-functional communication skills with the ability to build trust, manage expectations, and drive alignment.
• Fluent in spoken and written English. Additional language proficiency is a plus.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, global environment. Flexible working hours may be required to collaborate with international teams.
• Ability to design and present clear solution frameworks that align technical, operational, and client requirements.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with clients to clarify requirements, define project scope, build detailed project plans, set budgets, and ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
• Lead end-to-end project execution, including scheduling, progress tracking, and risk management, while ensuring all deliverables meet quality standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, suppliers, and internal teams, proactively addressing feedback, resolving issues, and keeping all stakeholders aligned.
• Collaborate with technical and cross-functional teams to set priorities, remove roadblocks, and maintain clear, consistent communication across departments.
• Manage and deliver annotated datasets and other project outputs according to client specifications and timelines.
• Continuously evaluate and refine project workflows to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen overall client satisfaction.
• Develop structured and scalable solution frameworks that address client needs with practical and efficient approaches.

Skills

Project management

Mandarin

English

Organizational skills

Independent work

Client-facing comms

Cross-functional collaboration

English (written/spoken)

Job description

About Abaka AI

Abaka AI is built on one mission: to be the world’s most trusted data partner for AI companies. More than 1,000 industry leaders across Generative AI, Embodied AI, and Automotive AI rely on us to power their data pipelines. With our headquarters in Silicon Valley—and teams in Paris, Singapore, and Tokyo—we support global partners with fast, reliable, and scalable data solutions.

About Abaka AI

Abaka AI is built on one mission: to be the world’s most trusted data partner for AI companies. More than 1,000 industry leaders across Generative AI, Embodied AI, and Automotive AI rely on us to power their data pipelines. With our headquarters in Silicon Valley—and teams in Paris, Singapore, and Tokyo—we support global partners with fast, reliable, and scalable data solutions.

Our offerings include a diverse catalog of off-the-shelf datasets (image, video, multimodal, reasoning, 3D, and beyond) as well as comprehensive data collection and annotation services. Whether teams need raw data, curated datasets, or full-cycle data engineering, Abaka AI provides the foundation for building high-performance AI systems.

About The Role

We’re hiring a Project Manager who will play a central role in ensuring the successful delivery of data projects for some of the world’s leading AI teams. In this position, you will own the full project lifecycle—from scoping and planning to execution and delivery—while serving as the primary bridge between clients, internal teams, and external partners. Your work will directly support the development of high-quality datasets and data pipelines that power next-generation multimodal AI systems.

This is a highly cross-functional role that requires strong communication, operational excellence, and the ability to translate client needs into clear, actionable plans. As one of the early members of our operations team in the United States, you will help shape our delivery standards, workflow efficiency, and client experience as we continue to scale globally.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with clients to clarify requirements, define project scope, build detailed project plans, set budgets, and ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
• Lead end-to-end project execution, including scheduling, progress tracking, and risk management, while ensuring all deliverables meet quality standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, suppliers, and internal teams, proactively addressing feedback, resolving issues, and keeping all stakeholders aligned.
• Collaborate with technical and cross-functional teams to set priorities, remove roadblocks, and maintain clear, consistent communication across departments.
• Manage and deliver annotated datasets and other project outputs according to client specifications and timelines.
• Continuously evaluate and refine project workflows to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen overall client satisfaction.
• Develop structured and scalable solution frameworks that address client needs with practical and efficient approaches.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in project management, operations, or related roles. Experience in AI, data, or technology industries is a strong plus.
• Professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English is required, as this role involves frequent collaboration with China-based vendors and external partners
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects at once and adapt quickly as priorities change.
• Proven ability to work independently, take ownership of outcomes, and navigate challenges with persistence and strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent client-facing and cross-functional communication skills with the ability to build trust, manage expectations, and drive alignment.
• Fluent in spoken and written English. Additional language proficiency is a plus.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, global environment. Flexible working hours may be required to collaborate with international teams.
• Ability to design and present clear solution frameworks that align technical, operational, and client requirements.

Compensation & Benefits

The base salary range for this position is $90,000 - $170,000 USD annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work at Abaka AI. This role is eligible for equity, as well as a comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, PTO, flexible work schedule).

Compensation Range: $90K - $170K