STEM degree (CS, Math, Stats, EE, or related). Advanced degree preferred. 10+ years in data/ML/analytics or data product roles. 4+ years leading managers/leads in high-growth environments. Deep command of the data lifecycle for AI systems: sourcing, labeling, synthesis, QA, evals, and deployment feedback loops. Hands-on fluency with Python/SQL and modern data/ML stacks (cloud object stores, distributed compute, labeling/QC systems, experiment/eval frameworks). Track record of turning research into shippable data products and measurable quality lift. Experience with RLHF/RLAIF pipelines, multimodal data, agents/tool use, and safety evaluations (Nice to Have). Built or operated human-in-the-loop programs at scale (onshore/offshore) with rigorous QA (Nice to Have). Familiarity with data licensing, IP, and safety/privacy constraints for AI training (Nice to Have).