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Data Annotation Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

CA · On-site

$26 - $29/wk

Partner with Project Managers to calculate time and material costs for quoting and provide technical guidance to less experienced machinists. * Maintenance: Assist with the cleaning and preventative ...

Own relationships with vendors such as data annotation firms and contractor platforms, negotiating ... Experience managing large contractor or vendor-based workforces * Proven ability to scale ...

... at AI data platforms, crowdsourcing platforms, trust & safety organizations, or large-scale annotation operations • Experience managing reviewers, contributors, quality programs, or operational ...

Lead audio data collection and annotation efforts at Sesame. * Collaborate with research and product teams to understand and formalize their requirements. * Identify and manage internal resources and ...

Technical Program Manager III

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$152K - $197K/yr

This role sits at the intersection of program management, data operations, and AI/ML, and will play a pivotal part in ensuring that our data annotation efforts are scalable, high-quality, and aligned ...

Modify and refine machine learning data creation, annotation, and rating guidelines. * Initiate ... Design and develop test and training datasets as per the criteria provided by the project manager ...

Data Management and Annotation: * Design and develop test and training datasets as per the criteria provided by the project manager and other full-time employees. * Handle data efficiently, ensuring ...

Human Data Solutions Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$134K - $162K/yr

The role As a Human Data Operations & Solutions Engineer at Encord, you will sit at the ... Manage end-to-end delivery of small-scale annotation POCs -- translating complex AI requirements ...

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Showing results 1-20

Data Annotation Manager information

See California salary details

$30.6K

$95.9K

$169.7K

How much do data annotation manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for data annotation manager in California is $95,873.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,100.00 and $123,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Data Annotation Managers, and how can they be addressed?

Data Annotation Managers often encounter challenges such as maintaining high annotation quality across large and diverse datasets, managing a distributed team of annotators, and meeting tight project deadlines. To address these, it's important to implement robust quality assurance processes, provide ongoing training for annotators, and establish clear communication channels. Leveraging annotation tools with built-in validation features can also help ensure consistency and accuracy. Building a positive and collaborative team environment further contributes to better outcomes and workflow efficiency.

What does a Data Annotation Manager do?

A Data Annotation Manager oversees the process of labeling and categorizing data used to train machine learning models. They manage teams of annotators, ensure data quality, develop annotation guidelines, and coordinate with data scientists to meet project requirements. Their role is critical in maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency, as well as ensuring that datasets are properly prepared for AI and machine learning applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Data Annotation Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Data Annotation Manager, you need expertise in data labeling processes, quality control, and a solid understanding of machine learning concepts, usually backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with annotation tools such as Labelbox, Supervisely, or CVAT, as well as experience with project management systems, is commonly required. Exceptional leadership, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help manage teams and ensure high annotation accuracy. These skills are critical for delivering reliable labeled datasets, which are essential for building effective AI and machine learning models.

What is the difference between Data Annotation Manager vs Data Labeling Specialist?

AspectData Annotation ManagerData Labeling Specialist
CredentialsBachelor's degree in related field, experience in data managementHigh school diploma or equivalent, training in labeling tools
Work EnvironmentTeam management, project oversight, collaboration with data scientistsHands-on labeling work, using annotation tools, focused on data tagging
Industry UsageUsed in AI/ML projects for overseeing annotation teamsPerforms the actual data labeling tasks in machine learning workflows

The Data Annotation Manager oversees the entire annotation process, managing teams and ensuring quality, while the Data Labeling Specialist focuses on executing labeling tasks. Both roles are essential in AI/ML data preparation but differ in responsibilities and scope.

What are the most commonly searched types of Data Annotation jobs in California? The most popular types of Data Annotation jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Data Annotation Manager jobs in California? For Data Annotation Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Data Annotation Manager jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Data Annotation Manager jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Data Annotation Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Data Annotation Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Data Annotation Manager job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 46% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 53% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,873 per year, or $46.1 per hour.
Sr. Software Analyst, Annotation Analytics, Autonomy

Sr. Software Analyst, Annotation Analytics, Autonomy

Rivian

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$132K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 16 days ago


Rivian rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 154 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

17th of 44 rated automakers


Job description

About Rivian
Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.
As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.
Role Summary
In this role, you will analyze large-scale 2D/3D annotation datasets to identify data gaps,
quality issues, and operational inefficiencies, and build dashboards and metrics that
monitor annotation throughput, quality, cost, and vendor performance. You will partner
closely with Annotation Operations, Perception, and Engineering teams to ensure data
readiness for model training and evaluation.
The ideal candidate is data-driven, detail-oriented, and execution-focused, with a strong
understanding of annotation workflows and a passion for improving data quality and
efficiency at scale. This role plays a critical part in enabling informed decision-making,
continuous process improvement, and scalable annotation operations across internal
teams and external vendors
Responsibilities
Data Analysis, Insights & Dashboards
• Analyze large-scale 2D/3D annotation datasets to identify data gaps, quality
issues, coverage gaps, and inefficiencies impacting Perception and ML training.
• Design, build, and maintain dashboards and reports to monitor:
• Annotation throughput, efficiency, and cost
• Quality metrics (QA pass rates, error types, rework)
• Vendor and annotator performance trends
• Translate complex annotation and perception data into clear, actionable insights
for engineering, annotation operations, and leadership.
• Partner with Perception teams to align data readiness metrics with model training
and evaluation needs.
Annotation Operations & Quality
• Assess level of effort for annotation projects and support end-to-end execution,
including in-house vs. vendor decisions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather labeling requirements and define,
maintain, and evolve labeling policies.
• Define and track annotation quality, productivity, and certification metrics;
continuously refine benchmarks.
• Conduct QA/QC analysis on annotated data, identify systemic issues, and
provide structured feedback to annotators and vendors.
• Implement and measure labeling efficiency improvements, using data to validate
impact.
Process Improvement & Automation
• Identify opportunities to make data delivery and annotation workflows faster,
more accurate, and scalable.
• Build lightweight automation (scripts, queries, data pipelines) to reduce manual
reporting and operational overhead.
• Maintain structured datasets (databases, tables, metrics pipelines) to enable
consistent reporting and historical analysis.
Cross-Functional & Vendor Collaboration
• Work closely with Annotation Ops, Perception, and Engineering teams to ensure
consistent process implementation.
• Support vendor management by analyzing performance, cost, and quality metrics
across multiple annotation partners.
• Prepare technical and operational reports to support planning, execution, and
decision-making.
• Coordinate across teams and time zones to ensure alignment and timely delivery.
Qualifications
Required
• BS degree in a technical or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience (or
5+ years equivalent industry experience).
• 2+ years supporting data annotation, ML data, or labeling-related projects.
• Strong understanding of 2D/3D data annotation workflows for ML and Perception
use cases.
• Hands-on experience with data analysis, metrics tracking, and dashboarding.
• Working knowledge of Python, SQL, databases, and/or data visualization tools.
• Experience analyzing LiDAR point clouds, video, and image annotation data.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and deliver under tight
timelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain data
insights to non-technical stakeholders.
Nice to Have
• Experience mentoring or guiding junior team members or offshore teams.
• Familiarity with annotation QA frameworks and error taxonomy design.
• Experience building or improving operational analytics for efficiency, cost, or
quality.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and collaborative environment.
Pay Disclosure
Salary Range for California Based Applicants: $132,100-$165,100 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).
Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.
Equal Opportunity
Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.

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About Rivian

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Rivian is a pioneering automotive industry player headquartered in Irvine, California. Established in 2009, the company has made notable advancements in developing sustainable transportation solutions. It is widely recognized for its electric adventure vehicles: the R1T pickup and the R1S SUV. Rivian is dedicated to creating a positive shift in societal mobility and emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and adventure as part of its core values. Their mission is to keep the world adventurous forever - a testament to their commitment in transitioning the world to sustainable transportation. Rivian's achievements are numerous, with one of the most notable being securing a significant multi-billion dollar investment from Amazon for the production of electric delivery vans.

Industry

Automobile dealers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

2009