Role Overview
The Senior Engagement Manager role at Handshake involves taking full, end-to-end ownership of relationships with the largest frontier AI lab customers in San Francisco, California. This full-time position is ideal for professionals with extensive client-facing experience who want to operate at the intersection of customer strategy, product, and engineering.
Key Responsibilities
Manage complete end-to-end account relationships for portfolios reaching a $100M+ run rate, serving as the primary point of contact for high-stakes moments.
Convert ambiguous client objectives into distinct requirements and priorities while working alongside Strategic Project Leads and Operations.
Execute quick, high-conviction tradeoffs concerning speed, quality, and cost to safeguard client relationships and project outcomes.
Collaborate with the Sales team to pinpoint and secure expansion opportunities, maximizing account value for Handshake AI.
Establish and track success metrics such as KPIs, SLAs, and model quality to maintain alignment between leadership and clients.
Requirements
Bring eight or more years of experience in high-ownership, customer-facing, or high-stakes leadership positions, including management consulting, strategy and operations, elite military backgrounds, or operating roles.
Possess professional background at a top-tier consulting firm like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, or a comparable mix of consulting, startup, and elite institutional leadership.
Hold current or recent experience in an external, customer-facing capacity within the last two years.
Demonstrate a genuine interest in artificial intelligence, showing eagerness to learn from frontier researchers and build technical fluency.
Show a documented history of guiding complex, multi-stakeholder engagements toward measurable results for demanding enterprise clients.
Display experience collaborating directly with VP- and C-level stakeholders while navigating complex organizational structures.
Exhibit comfort in making high-judgment decisions with incomplete information and moving between executive management and detailed data reviews.
Nice to Have
Background in a technical or STEM field such as engineering or computer science.
Previous background working in artificial intelligence, data, or frontier model development.
Experience in investment banking, private equity, or General Management and Business Operations.
History of negotiating with sophisticated technical buyers across various vendors.
Skills and Tools
Enterprise account management and strategic client partnership
High-stakes negotiation and complex problem-solving
Cross-functional leadership across product, engineering, and sales
KPI and SLA metric definition and reporting
Executive-level communication and stakeholder management
Salary and Benefits
Annual salary of $275,000 USD
Company equity
Comprehensive financial wellness including 401(k) match and financial coaching
Family support benefits featuring paid parental leave, fertility benefits, and parental coaching
Wellbeing coverage including medical, dental, vision, mental health support, and a $500 wellness stipend
Growth opportunities with a $2,000 learning stipend and ongoing development
Workplace perks including internet and commuting stipends, plus free lunch and gym access at the San Francisco office
Flexible paid time off, 15 holidays, and 2 flex days
Team outings and referral bonuses
About the Company
Handshake serves as the career network for the artificial intelligence economy, driving career discovery, recruitment, and upskilling for millions of job seekers, educational institutions, and employers. The organization connects frontier AI labs with qualified students and experts to solve high-scale data challenges.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should visit the official company careers page at joinhandshake.com/careers to submit an application.
