Data Scientist, Handshake AI

Handshake
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Data Scientists with SQL expertise and a strong analytical mindset will find this high-impact role in the AI data economy, working closely with product and operations teams in San Francisco.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 3–5 years of data science experience and a track record of defining metrics for product or business decisions
    — “Experience defining metrics and using data to influence product or business decisions.”
  • Individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments and can translate vague questions into actionable data insights
    — “Translate ambiguous business questions into clear analyses and actionable recommendations.”
  • Professionals with a background in operational analytics or marketplace data who can build and maintain DBT models
    — “Experience with analytics engineering, including building and maintaining DBT models.”

Things to consider

  • The role demands high ownership and independent execution in a rapidly evolving data landscape
    — “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.”
  • The position is based in San Francisco and likely requires in-office presence for certain perks
    — “Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office.”

How to stand out

  • Showcase your ability to define and maintain core metrics that drive operational efficiency
    — “Define, build, and maintain core metrics that measure data quality, throughput, productivity, and operational efficiency.”
  • Highlight experience with messy, real-world data and how you resolved quality issues
    — “Identify data gaps, inconsistencies, and quality issues, then partner with relevant teams to resolve them.”
  • Emphasize your comfort with cross-functional collaboration and communication of complex findings
    — “Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.”
  • Demonstrate your ability to build dashboards and self-serve analytics tools
    — “Build dashboards, reporting, and self-serve analytics that enable fast, informed decisions.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Define, build, and maintain core metrics that measure data quality, throughput, productivity, and operational efficiency
  • Translate ambiguous business questions into clear analyses and actionable recommendations
Typical background
3–5 years of experience in Data Science, Product Analytics, Business Intelligence, or a related analytical role

Skills & requirements

Required

SQLData AnalysisMetrics DefinitionData Quality

Preferred

PythonPandasdbt

Stack & domain

SQLPythonPandasNotebooksdbtCommunication SkillsAI

About the role

Original posting from Handshake via Ashby

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.

Source: Handshake careers (Ashby)

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