Unknown Company

Strategic Projects Associate

san francisco, ca • Posted 6 days ago
Onsite Internship Finance

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

About the Company

An early-stage, venture-backed AI research lab investigating the boundaries and capabilities of artificial intelligence through novel datasets and experimentation. Its customers are the frontier model labs. Backed by top-tier investors and operators, it was one of the fastest-growing companies in its accelerator batch.

Founded 2025 · 11–50 people · Industry: AI research & data

The Role

We're 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. You'll work closely with Strategic Projects Leads (SPLs) supporting client execution, operational initiatives, and cross-functional projects, gaining deep exposure to startup operations, AI workflows, and customer strategy. High performers can become SPLs in approximately one year.

What you'll be doing

  • Partner with frontier AI labs alongside SPLs to build next-generation datasets that push the boundaries of AI
  • Manage teams of experts across professional domains like finance, software engineering, and law
  • Create and execute sales memos and develop data samples
  • Support SPLs and the broader team across operational initiatives
  • Drive execution on cross-functional projects in product, research, and operations

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

Requirements

  • New grad to 2 years experience
  • High-intensity background: top internships or startup
  • Willing to work 6 days a week
  • Strong written and verbal communication
  • Excited about AI and frontier labs
  • SF in-person

Green Flags

  • Technical skills with AI tools like Claude Code
  • Top-company internship pedigree (FAANG, frontier AI lab, quantitative trading firm) showing they have already operated in high-intensity environments
  • Prior startup or founding-team experience demonstrating real ownership and execution under ambiguity
  • Self-evidence of grinder mentality: shipped side projects, ran a business in school, competed at a high level, or comparable
  • Technical major (CS, EE, ML, math, physics) or demonstrated technical fluency even without a degree
  • Excited about the AI mission and frontier AI labs as customers, not just chasing the AI job market

Red Flags

  • Looking for a structured rotational program, banking-track, or consulting-track entry-level role with predictable scope
  • Will not work 6 days a week or pushes back on extreme-ownership intensity expectations
  • Multiple under-6-month tenures already on a short resume without context
  • Needs AI knowledge but won't learn rapidly; expects to be trained vs. self-directed pickup
  • Pure generalist background with no high-intensity adjacency (no top internship, no startup, no competitive activity)

Why Join

  • Work directly with the founding team and learn how a company is built from 0 to 1, with direct mentorship
  • Network with frontier AI researchers, builders, and investors
  • Competitive base + up to 100% of base as bonus + meaningful equity, with a fast track to Strategic Projects Lead
  • A high-ownership alternative to entry-level investment banking and consulting

Details

  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Work policy: Fully in-person; 6 days/week
  • Compensation: $80,000–$110,000 + equity
  • Visa sponsorship: None available
  • Employment type: Full-time

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