Head of Forward Deployed Engineering

About Snorkel

Snorkel AI is the frontier AI data lab, helping teams build the data and environments behind high-performing frontier and agentic AI. We combine technology with research-driven AI data development to create datasets, benchmarks, evals, and custom solutions for real-world AI systems. Founded out of the Stanford AI Lab in 2019, Snorkel works with leading AI labs and enterprises to move from better data to better outcomes.

Excited to help us redefine how AI is built? Apply to be the newest Snorkeler!

About the Role

In this role, you will build and lead our forward-deployed engineering (FDE) team, working directly with leading labs and enterprises to scope, build and deliver high quality datasets to support their most critical AI initiatives.

You’ll lead a team that will own quality in the end-to-end data pipeline . This will include working with customers to define what “good” data looks like to implement the relevant workflows in their platform. Y ou will design innovative ML approaches t o enhance human-in-the-loop (HITL) techniques and improve the efficiency of data generation and review processes. Your team will own systems and tools that enable consistent, scalable, and high-quality data delivery to our customers.

Sitting at the critical intersection of data engineering, ML engineering, operations, and customer engagement— leading scoping and preselling efforts. You'll also partner closely with the Snorkel delivery team and cross-functional stakeholders to define quality standards, develop measurement frameworks, drive ML-based workflows to improve data pipelines and unblock projects through technical innovation. As the founding member, you’ll also roll up your sleeves to define and own the workflows and processes that are needed to deliver exceptional data at scale.

Main Responsibilities

Build and lead the Forward Deployed Engineering DaaS organization, setting a clear vision, defining the operating model and scaling its impact across Snorkel’s Expert Data-as-a-Service workflows

Build, mentor, and motivate high performing teams, including cultivating skills and culture needed to consistently deliver exceptional outcomes and transformative impact.

Own and evolve the data pipeline components of the DaaS stack, including model-assisted labeling and data generation, quality estimation, and data-centric feedback loops that guide human input

Partner with customers - including research and engineering teams at Frontier AI Labs - to scope requirements for complex, novel AI datasets and translate needs into delivery-ready workflows

Develop robust systems for request intake, task orchestration, SLA tracking, and progress monitoring to ensure seamless execution and prevent critical delivery gaps

Collaborate cross-functionally with research and engineering teams to innovate, develop, and productionize HITL data generation methods, advanced quality techniques, and improve internal delivery tooling

Drive continuous improvement by developing reusable workflows, surfacing operational insights, and enabling the organization to scale faster while maintaining high quality

What We’re Looking For

10+ years of experience in applied data or ML engineering roles, including 5+ years leading high-performing technical teams in hands-on management capacity

Demonstrated success in customer facing roles, with a strong enthusiasm for data pipelines and LLM-based workflows.

Proven track record of managing technical field teams in fast-paced, delivery-focused environments with competing priorities

Experience as a player-coach—comfortable being hands-on while supporting and scaling the team

Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with cross-functional stakeholders

Strong practical experience with LLM-based workflows, Python, SQL, and data tooling (e.g., pandas, Plotly, Streamlit, Dash)

Bonus: experience working with data annotation workflows or internal tooling for data delivery orgs

Why Join Snorkel AI?

At Snorkel AI, we're building the future of data-centric AI. Our Expert Data-as-a-Service organization partners with world-class customers to solve some of the hardest data challenges — creating training and evaluation data that power the next generation of LLMs and AI systems. You'll work directly on projects that impact real production systems, while shaping how internal teams deliver faster, better, and more intelligently. This is a rare opportunity to found a function and have a broad, lasting impact across the company.

The base salary range for this role is $268,800 to $403,200. This position may also eligible for benefits, variable compensation and equity, with final compensation determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and location.

Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

Salary range(s) for this role

$268,800 — $403,000 USD

Be Your Best at Snorkel

Joining Snorkel AI means becoming part of a company that has market proven solutions, robust funding, and is scaling rapidly—offering a unique combination of stability and the excitement of high growth. As a member of our team, you’ll have meaningful opportunities to shape priorities and initiatives, influence key strategic decisions, and directly impact our ongoing success. Whether you’re looking to deepen your technical expertise, explore leadership opportunities, or learn new skills across multiple functions, you’re fully supported in building your career in an environment designed for growth, learning, and shared success.

Snorkel AI is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Snorkel AI embraces diversity and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Snorkel AI prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, performance, merit, and business need.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.