Contract Engineering Manager Jobs in Seattle, WA

Contract Engineering Program Manager (EPM) - Human-Centered AI Data Operations
Location: Seattle, WA or California | Rate: $70-$75/hr | 5-10 Years Experience
About the Role
Join a fast-growing Human-Centered AI (HAI) team as a Contract Engineering Program Manager (EPM) and drive high-impact data operations programs at the heart of Generative AI and machine learning innovation. You will collaborate with top engineering, research, and data operations teams to shape the future of internal tooling and data management, powering the next generation of AI systems. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead critical programs, influence technical direction, and advance your career within a dynamic, cross-functional environment. Work with cutting-edge technologies and contribute to AI advancements that make a real-world impact.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end execution of complex programs for HAI Data Operations, including roadmap development, prioritization, planning, and risk management
- Drive improvements and scaling of data management, pipelines, processing, and operational tooling to support AI/ML development and evaluation
- Partner with engineering and data teams to define requirements, translate operational needs into execution plans, and facilitate technical discussions and architecture reviews
- Build and maintain clear technical roadmaps, balancing capacity, tooling investments, and organizational priorities
- Identify and resolve technical dependencies, risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for automation to streamline data operations
- Develop and implement program management processes that increase visibility, accountability, and execution across teams
- Establish and track program metrics to measure operational efficiency, tooling adoption, and program health
- Communicate program status, risks, and decisions effectively to technical teams and leadership
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence
Required Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, or related technical discipline
- 5+ years in engineering or technical program management, product management, or similar roles in complex engineering organizations
- Hands-on experience managing data platforms, data engineering, data operations, or large-scale data processing systems
- Strong technical fluency with the ability to engage on system architecture, data pipelines, APIs, technical dependencies, and engineering tradeoffs
- Familiarity with software development concepts and languages such as Python or Java
- Demonstrated ability to develop technical roadmaps and prioritization frameworks
- Proven success driving complex, cross-functional programs with multiple dependencies
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with senior stakeholders and technical teams
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and prioritization skills
- Availability to work primarily during Pacific Time (PST/PDT) hours
Preferred Skills
- Direct experience supporting AI/ML or Generative AI development and data programs
- Understanding of data pipelines, ETL/ELT workflows, orchestration, and large-scale data processing
- Familiarity with SQL, Spark, Airflow, Kubernetes, and cloud data platforms
- Experience with internal developer platforms, workflow automation, and data tooling
- Knowledge of ML data lifecycle, including data collection, ingestion, transformation, curation, annotation, evaluation, and monitoring
- Experience with human data operations, annotation, or labeling workflows
- Understanding of APIs, distributed systems, and service-oriented architectures
- Experience with defining operational metrics, SLAs/SLOs, and performance dashboards
- Background supporting globally distributed teams in fast-paced environments
Benefits
- Opportunity to work at the forefront of Generative AI and machine learning
- Collaborate with industry-leading experts in a fast-paced, innovative environment
- Influence strategic technical roadmaps and make a direct impact on the future of AI
- Flexible remote work aligned with Pacific Time zone
- Competitive contract rate ($70-$75/hr)
How to Apply
If you are passionate about driving data-driven programs and enabling AI innovation, submit your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and technical leadership. Qualified candidates in Seattle or California preferred.