Strategic Projects Associate
AfterQuery
Job Score
100 ptsAbout AfterQuery
AfterQuery is an applied research lab curating data solutions for foundation model development.
We serve every frontier AI lab with the mission of delivering the best data to power the best models. In doing so, we can make expertise that once took a lifetime to build available to anyone who needs it. Our customers are the ones building the foundation models themselves and our work sits directly in the loop of how those systems improve.
This is a rare opportunity to join a company at a defining moment in AI. Since raising our $30M Series A at a $300M valuation, AfterQuery has grown well over a $100M revenue run rate.
We're based in San Francisco and backed by leading investors including Altos Ventures, BoxGroup, and Y Combinator and angels from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta Superintelligence Labs, and Microsoft AI.
Why Apply
Massive Opportunity:
We are one of the fastest-growing YC companies in our batch, and we believe we can become one of the fastest-growing YC companies of all time.Founding Impact:
You will own and architect core infrastructure systems that power our platform from the ground up.Equity & Growth:
Competitive salary and meaningful equity. As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the engineering organization and lead major technical initiatives.Strong Team:
Our founding team has experience from Citadel Securities, Meta, Google, Silver Lake, and Morgan Stanley — work alongside world-class engineers and researchers.
Overview
You'll work with the world's leading AI organizations to build next-generation data solutions, managing expert teams across finance, software engineering, law, and more to deliver high-quality outputs at scale. You'll shape the dataset specifications that directly influence how frontier models are trained and evaluated, owning projects end-to-end from scoping through delivery in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment. Along the way, you'll pick up broad operational experience, moving fluidly across building, analyzing, coordinating, and executing wherever the business needs it most.
Responsibilities
Project and client management: Work with the world’s leading AI organizations to build next-generation data solutions that push the limits of model capability, while directly driving revenue.
Manage expert teams across domains: Lead and coordinate highly specialized contributors across fields like finance, software engineering, law, and more to create high-quality outputs at scale.
Shape how AI systems are trained: Design dataset specifications that directly influence how frontier models are evaluated and improved. Your taste and judgement will shape what foundation models become.
Drive high-impact execution end-to-end: Own critical projects from idea to delivery. From scoping, executing, iterating, and shipping in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment, you will touch it all.
Gain top tier operational experience: Support the team across a range of operational initiatives that will directly contribute to the future of AfterQuery. You will work across multiple parts of the business in the same week, ranging from building, analyzing, coordinating, and executing where needed most.
Required Qualifications
High agency, drive, and a strong work ethic; thrive in ambiguity and execute with minimal direction
Passion for AI and interest in entrepreneurship; enjoy experimenting with new tools (experience with Claude Code is a plus)
Competitive nature and demonstrated past success
Strong leadership experience and excellent written and verbal communication skills
Thrive in fast-moving, high-impact environments with bias towards action, while balancing attention to detail
Preferred Qualifications
Technical skills (coding, scripting, or working with data) or experience using AI tools to automate workflows, conduct research, or build products
About Information Security
The Information Security area is one of the most strategic and in-demand fields in the technology market. With the rise of cyberattacks, data breaches, and regulations like LGPD and GDPR, companies of all sizes invest heavily in professionals who can protect their digital assets.
Key specializations include Network Security, Cloud Security (AWS, Azure, GCP), Offensive Security (Penetration Testing, Red Team), Defensive Security (SOC, Blue Team), AppSec, and Security Governance. Tools like SIEM (Splunk, QRadar), firewalls, EDR, and Vulnerability Management platforms are essential.
Certifications like CISSP, CEH, OSCP, CompTIA Security+, and AWS Security Specialty are important differentiators. Information security professionals are among the highest-paid in the sector, with growing demand especially in fintechs, healthtechs, and large enterprises.
About Cloud Solutions
The Cloud Solutions area is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing cloud infrastructure and services (AWS, Azure, GCP) for companies. Cloud professionals architect scalable, secure, and cost-optimized solutions, from data center migrations to serverless and multi-cloud architectures.
Key skills include IaC (Terraform, CloudFormation), containers (Docker, Kubernetes), serverless (Lambda, Cloud Functions), managed databases (RDS, DynamoDB, BigQuery), cloud networking (VPC, CDN, load balancer), and security (IAM, WAF, KMS). Knowledge of FinOps, cloud governance, and AWS/Azure/GCP certifications is a differentiator.
Cloud Solutions professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master multi-cloud architectures, FinOps, and can optimize costs while maintaining performance and security. The field offers opportunities from cloud engineer to cloud solutions architect, head of cloud, and chief cloud architect.
About Public Relations
The Public Relations (PR) area focuses on managing the reputation, image, and communication of an organization with its various stakeholders (such as clients, investors, employees, media, and the community). PR professionals develop corporate communication strategies, manage media relations (press relations), organize institutional events, and work in image crisis prevention and management.
Discover Other Areas
Understand the scope of work, key skills, and tools used in different career areas.
About UX Design
The User Experience (UX) Design area focuses on optimizing the overall user experience when interacting with a product or service. UX professionals conduct user research (UX Research), map journeys, create wireframes, perform usability tests, and define navigation flows to ensure the product is intuitive, useful, and meets users' real needs.
About Project Management
Project Management is essential to ensure strategic initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and with quality. PM professionals coordinate teams, manage risks, and communicate with stakeholders.
Key methodologies include PMBOK, PRINCE2, Scrum, and Kanban. Tools like Jira, Asana, Monday, and MS Project are widely used in daily work.
Certifications like PMP and PgMP are important differentiators in the market, with growing demand in technology and consulting companies.
About Data
The Data field has undergone a radical transformation with the rise of Generative AI. Data professionals are fundamental for evidence-based decision-making across all industries.
Key specializations include Data Engineering, Data Science, Business Intelligence, Machine Learning Engineering, and Analytics. Tools like SQL, Python, Spark, dbt, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) are essential.
The data market continues with high demand and salaries among the most competitive in the technology sector, with many remote work opportunities.
About Web Designer
The Web Designer is the professional responsible for creating visual interfaces for websites, web applications, and landing pages, combining aesthetics, usability, and user experience. They transform business needs into functional and responsive layouts that communicate brand identity.
Key skills include UI design, responsive design, prototyping (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), wireframing, design systems, accessibility (WCAG), information architecture, and basic HTML/CSS knowledge. Knowledge of UX design, motion design, and front-end is a differentiator.
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About Marketing
The Marketing area is strategic for the growth and positioning of any company. It encompasses traditional marketing, brand management, market research, trade marketing, product marketing, and market intelligence. Marketing professionals are responsible for planning and executing strategies that connect brands to their target audience.
Key skills include brand management, market research, competitive analysis, product marketing, trade marketing, pricing, relationship marketing, and channel development. Knowledge of research tools (Nielsen, Kantar, Ipsos), BI, and advanced spreadsheets is a differentiator.
Marketing professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master product marketing, go-to-market strategy, and data-driven marketing. The field offers opportunities from analyst to CMO, with a focus on growth, brand positioning, and return on investment.