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Data Annotation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

TSMC

Senior Data Engineer / Data Curator

San Jose, CA · On-site

$124K - $168K/yr

As a Senior Data Engineer in the AI Data Curation track, you will design and maintain scalable data ... annotation tools and platforms for manual or semi-automated labeling. • Experience with NLP data ...

New

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Helix AI Engineer, Data Infrastructure

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $350K/yr

Our Helix team is looking for an experienced Data Infrastructure Engineer, to take our AI data ... Experience building data annotation and dataset management tools. The US base salary range for this ...

General Motors

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site +1

$124K - $170K/yr

Apply ML to labeling itself Collaborate with ML engineers to design and integrate ML‑driven data annotation (pre‑labeling, autolabeling, active learning loops), helping us move from human‑only ...

Skild AI

Computer Vision AI & ML Engineer

San Mateo, CA

$127K - $149K/yr

Experience with data annotation tools, dataset management, and augmentation techniques ... Understanding of uncertainty modeling, reliability engineering, or ML monitoring/MLOps practices.

General Motors

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site +1

$113K - $156K/yr

Apply ML to labeling itself Collaborate with ML engineers to design and integrate ML-driven data annotation (pre-labeling, autolabeling, active learning loops), helping us move from human-only to ...

General Motors

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

Apply ML to labeling itself Collaborate with ML engineers to design and integrate ML-driven data annotation (pre-labeling, autolabeling, active learning loops), helping us move from human-only to ...

Sesame

Technical Program Manager, Data

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $260K/yr

Lead audio data collection and annotation efforts at Sesame. * Collaborate with research and ... Work closely with tooling engineers to support data-related tasks. * Oversee data acquisition ...

Mercor

Chief Data Scientist

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$70 - $100/hr

Guide research and engineering teams on data science methodology , statistical inference , and ... Prior experience with data annotation , labeling, evaluation, or human feedback collection.

Abaka AI

Machine Learning Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

... data workflows, including collection, preprocessing, annotation, versioning, and model integration. • Implement and refine training strategies for large-scale AI systems, including vision, video ...

Abaka AI

Machine Learning Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

... data workflows, including collection, preprocessing, annotation, versioning, and model integration. • Implement and refine training strategies for large-scale AI systems, including vision, video ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsData Annotation Engineer JobsData Annotation Engineer Jobs in California

Data Annotation Engineer information

See California salary details

$50.8K

$145.5K

$194.4K

How much do data annotation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for data annotation engineer in California is $145,530.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,900.00 and $193,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges faced by Data Annotation Engineers in their daily work?

One of the main challenges Data Annotation Engineers face is ensuring consistent accuracy and quality in labeling large and often complex datasets. Attention to detail is critical, as even small errors can significantly affect machine learning model performance. Additionally, engineers must frequently adapt to evolving annotation guidelines and emerging data types, which requires ongoing learning and flexibility. Collaboration with data scientists and project managers is common to clarify requirements and resolve ambiguities, making strong communication skills essential for success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Data Annotation Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Data Annotation Engineer, you need a strong background in data analysis, attention to detail, and familiarity with annotation processes, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with annotation tools like Labelbox, CVAT, or VIA, and understanding of data formats used in machine learning, is commonly required. Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills help you effectively manage projects and cooperate with cross-functional teams. These abilities are crucial for delivering high-quality labeled data, which directly impacts the performance of AI and machine learning models.

Is data annotation real or fake?

Data annotation is a real and essential process in machine learning where human annotators label data such as images, text, or audio to train AI models. Data annotation engineers perform this work using specialized tools and quality standards to ensure accurate and reliable datasets.

What is a data annotation engineer?

A data annotation engineer is a professional responsible for labeling and annotating data, such as images, text, or videos, to train machine learning models. They often use specialized tools and follow guidelines to ensure data quality and accuracy, supporting AI development and data-driven applications.

How hard is it to get a job with data annotation tech?

Getting a job as a Data Annotation Engineer typically requires basic computer skills, attention to detail, and familiarity with annotation tools or platforms. Entry-level positions are often accessible with minimal formal education, but having knowledge of machine learning concepts or experience with data labeling can improve job prospects.

Does data annotation really pay you?

Data annotation engineers are typically paid for their work, often earning hourly wages or project-based fees depending on the employer or platform. Compensation varies based on experience, skill level, and the complexity of annotation tasks, which may involve using tools like labeling software or AI platforms.

What is a Data Annotation Engineer job?

A Data Annotation Engineer is responsible for labeling and annotating data—such as text, images, audio, or video—to train machine learning models. They ensure that data is accurately categorized and structured to improve model performance. This role often involves using specialized annotation tools, following detailed guidelines, and working closely with data scientists and AI teams. Data Annotation Engineers play a crucial role in the development of AI applications by providing high-quality labeled datasets for supervised learning.

What are popular job titles related to Data Annotation Engineer jobs in California? For Data Annotation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Data Annotation Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Data Annotation Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Data Annotation Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Data Annotation Engineer job openings:
Data Annotation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Data Annotation Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 63% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 29% Contract. Highlights an 79% In-person, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,530 per year, or $70 per hour.

Senior Data Engineer / Data Curator

TSMC

San Jose, CA • On-site

$124K - $168K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

TSMC rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

36th of 139 rated electronics manufacturers

Job description

Job Summary:
TSMC Arizona is a leading semiconductor manufacturing company, offering an opportunity to work at the most advanced fab in the United States. As a Senior Data Engineer in the AI Data Curation track, you will design and maintain scalable data pipelines, ensuring that the data for AI models is high-quality and aligned with ethical standards.
Responsibilities:
• Design and implement data pipelines for processing, cleaning, and curating large datasets used in model training and fine-tuning.
• Automate data cleaning processes (e.g., removing noise, duplicates, irrelevant content) and ensure datasets are appropriately labeled and structured.
• Collaborate with model teams to ensure data aligns with model requirements and performance goals.
• Assess and mitigate bias in datasets, ensuring that models are trained on diverse and representative data.
• Manage data storage and retrieval strategies, ensuring scalability and data consistency across different environments.
• Conduct regular audits to ensure data integrity, privacy, and security compliance.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in data engineering, data wrangling, or data curation, particularly in machine learning or AI-driven environments.
• Strong proficiency in Python (Pandas, NumPy) and SQL for data manipulation and querying.
• Familiarity with cloud-based data storage (AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, etc.) and distributed systems for managing large datasets.
• Experience with data annotation tools and platforms for manual or semi-automated labeling.
• Experience with NLP data formats, such as JSONL, text, or embeddings, and an understanding of tokenization.
• Experience managing data pipelines with tools like Apache Kafka, Apache Airflow, or similar ETL tools.
• Strong knowledge of AI ethics, data privacy, and compliance standards (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
• Candidates must be willing and able to work on-site at our Phoenix Arizona facility.
• Communication
• Computer proficiency
• Presentation skills
• Listening
• Teamwork
Preferred:
• Experience with vector databases and indexing for LLMs (e.g., FAISS, Pinecone).
Company:
Established in 1987, TSMC is the world's first dedicated semiconductor foundry. Founded in 1987, the company is headquartered in Hsinchu, TWN, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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