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Annotation Tech Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Encord

Strategic Projects Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr (+ commission)

Own data annotation projects end-to-end, translating complex AI/ML requirements into clear ... or technology companies * Proven ownership of complex, multi-stakeholder workflows end-to-end ...

TEKsystems

Phonetician

Menlo Park, CA · On-site +1

$40 - $45/hr

... Annotation Specialist. In this role, you will produce high-quality phonetic transcriptions and annotations to support speech and language technology development. Responsibilities Perform narrow and ...

Rivian

Senior Staff Tech Lead, VLM

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$265K - $331K/yr

In this Tech Lead role, you will drive and deliver the overarching VLM strategy, which includes ... annotation vendors. * Iterate and optimize performance: Establish rigorous evaluation and ...

General Motors

Staff ML Systems Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

... data-annotation pipelines and machine-led training data solutions at foundation-model scale . We ... Driven to learn new technologies and deepen your expertise across frontend, backend, and data/ML ...

Rivian

Senior Staff Tech Lead, VLM

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$265K - $331K/yr

In this Tech Lead role, you will drive and deliver the overarching VLM strategy, which includes ... annotation vendors. * Iterate and optimize performance: Establish rigorous evaluation and ...

campus4tech

Technical Program Manager III

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$152K - $197K/yr

Strong understanding of ML development workflows, data pipelines, and annotation lifecycle ... Preferred good working knowledge of GPU technology and its applications in generative AI and ...

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All JobsAnnotation Tech JobsAnnotation Tech Jobs in California

Annotation Tech information

What is an annotation tech?

Annotation Techs, short for Annotation Technicians, are professionals who label, categorize, and tag data—such as images, text, or audio—to help train machine learning models. Their work is critical in fields like artificial intelligence, where high-quality, accurately labeled data is needed to teach algorithms how to recognize patterns and make decisions. Annotation Techs may use specialized software tools to identify objects in images, transcribe speech, or classify pieces of text. Attention to detail and consistency are key skills in this role, as errors or inconsistencies can affect the performance of AI systems. These professionals often work in teams and may collaborate with data scientists and engineers to ensure data quality.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an annotation tech?

To thrive as an Annotation Tech, you need strong attention to detail, data labeling proficiency, and familiarity with data annotation guidelines, often supported by a background in computer science or related fields. Experience with annotation platforms such as Labelbox, Supervisely, or CVAT, and sometimes knowledge of basic scripting or data formats like JSON and XML, is typically required. Excellent communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to follow complex instructions set top performers apart. These skills ensure high-quality, accurate data labeling that directly impacts the effectiveness of machine learning models.

What are common challenges faced by annotation techs when working with large datasets?

Annotation Techs often work with large and diverse datasets, which can present challenges such as maintaining consistency and accuracy across annotations, especially when dealing with ambiguous or complex data. Additionally, the repetitive nature of the work can lead to fatigue, making it important to stay focused and adhere to established guidelines. Collaboration with data scientists and project managers is crucial to clarify requirements and address any uncertainties, ensuring that the annotated data meets project standards and deadlines.

What is the difference between Annotation Tech vs Data Labeler?

AspectAnnotation TechData Labeler
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may prefer technical certificationsHigh school diploma or equivalent; minimal certifications needed
Work EnvironmentOffice or remote; using specialized annotation toolsOffice or remote; using basic labeling software
Industry UsageAI, machine learning, autonomous vehicles, healthcareAI, machine learning, data preparation

Annotation Tech and Data Labeler roles often overlap in data preparation for AI projects. Annotation Tech typically involves more specialized tools and may require some technical knowledge, whereas Data Labelers focus on basic labeling tasks. Both roles are essential in training AI systems, but Annotation Tech positions often demand a deeper understanding of annotation processes and tools.

What are popular job titles related to Annotation Tech jobs in California?

For Annotation Tech jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Annotation Tech jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Annotation Tech jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Annotation Tech jobs?

Cities in California with the most Annotation Tech job openings:

Annotation Tech jobs near you
Infographic showing various Annotation Tech job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 9% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution.

Strategic Projects Lead

Encord

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$150K - $300K/yr (+ commission)

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 18 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Own data annotation projects end-to-end, translating complex AI/ML requirements into workflows and instructions for annotation teams

  • Design and refine annotation processes, audit results, and build feedback loops to improve data quality

  • Act as a trusted advisor to clients by designing and implementing human-annotation workflows to facilitate rapid production

Job description

About us

Encord is the universal data layer for AI that helps 300+ AI teams train and run models on the right data. Our platform indexes, curates, annotates, and evaluates data across the full AI lifecycle, from development through production.

 

Trusted by Woven by Toyota, AXA, UiPath, Zipline, and more. We're an ambitious team of 100+ working at the frontier of AI and have raised $60M in Series C funding from Wellington Management, CRV, Next47 and Y Combinator.

 

The role

As a Strategic Projects Lead, you'll fully own and optimize the data annotation and machine learning workflows behind Encord's largest client relationships. You'll work directly with clients, annotation specialists, ML engineers, Account Managers, and Forward Deployed Engineers to ensure the data powering their models is fast, accurate, and scalable.

This is a hands-on, high visibility role. You have direct influence on whether Encord's highest-value customers renew and expand.

What you'll do

  • Own data annotation projects end-to-end, translating complex AI/ML requirements into clear workflows and instructions for annotation teams

  • Design and refine annotation processes, audit results, and build feedback loops that raise data quality

  • Act as a trusted advisor to clients — designing and implementing the human-annotation workflow that gets them to production fastest

  • Partner with product and engineering to drive improvements in AI training data tools and methodology

  • Directly influence account health: your workflow design and execution are a primary driver of whether strategic accounts renew, expand, or churn

Who we're looking for

  • A sharp, execution-oriented operator with a consulting or AI-company pedigree . A structured thinker, strong PM instincts, bias for getting things done

  • Analytically rigorous and comfortable with ambiguity. You break down operational problems from first principles

  • Technically fluent: comfortable querying a database, auditing annotation outputs, or automating a workflow in Python

  • A natural translator between ML engineers and non-technical clients on multi-stakeholder projects

  • Entrepreneurial — you take ownership without waiting to be told what to do

Experience requirements

  • 3–7 years of professional experience, with a strong preference for backgrounds in top-tier strategy consulting and/or operations or data roles at leading AI or technology companies

  • Proven ownership of complex, multi-stakeholder workflows end-to-end: scoping, execution, QA, iteration

  • Experience designing/optimizing data operations with an eye for quality, consistency, and scalability, ideally human-in-the-loop or structured labeling work

  • Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with both technical stakeholders (ML engineers, data scientists) and non-technical clients, translating requirements clearly in both directions

  • Bonus: hands-on experience with computer vision, generative AI, or multimodal data workflows; prior exposure to data annotation platforms or quality management frameworks; experience coaching or managing operational teams

  • Bonus: Working proficiency in Python or SQL, with the ability to query data, automate workflows, or audit annotation outputs; broader familiarity with relational databases or data annotation tooling equally valued

Why Encord

  • Competitive salary, commission, and meaningful equity in a high-growth start-up

  • Clear, accelerated growth opportunities as the company scales rapidly

  • Strong in-person culture: 4 days/week

  • Flexible PTO to fully recharge

  • Annual learning & development budget

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

  • Frequent travel opportunities across the U.S., London, and Europe

  • Bi-annual company offsites, twice-weekly team lunches, and monthly socials

Compensation Range: $150K - $300K