Position Overview: As the Senior Principal Data Annotation Team Lead at Motional, you will play a critical role in ensuring high-quality data annotation processes that directly support the development and validation of Motional’s autonomous vehicle systems. Reporting to the VP of Operations, you will lead your internal team and external vendors to streamline annotation workflows, optimize data throughput, and ensure the highest standards of labeled data accuracy. You’ll also foster collaboration across teams, enabling efficient integration of data into our autonomous vehicle testing and development pipeline.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Build and maintain a high-performing team by:
- Expertly coaching and mentoring your employees and/or people managers to succeed in their role and proactively supporting them in their development goals.
- Coaching and mentoring your managers, direct reports, and other stakeholders on technical concepts.
- Manage large offshore vendors
- Providing technical vision and thought leadership to drive performance.
- Managing talent strategy initiatives such as identifying/planning for top talent, retaining critical knowledge, talent gaps, and potential backup resources with some guidance from your manager.
- Lead Data Annotation Operations: Oversee all annotation pipeline processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and consistent data labeling across projects. Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including engineering and testing, to ensure that data quality meets strict project requirements.
- Annotation Forecasting & Planning: Accurately predict and manage data annotation requirements, adjusting resources and timelines to meet the fluctuating demands of large-scale data annotation projects.
- Manage Quality Assurance & Standards: Implement robust quality control measures to ensure annotation accuracy and relevance. Develop and maintain clear metrics for annotation quality and continuously improve standards through regular audits and updates to workflows.
- Optimize Vendor Collaboration: Work closely with external vendors, setting and enforcing clear performance expectations to ensure their output aligns with Motional’s quality standards. Address feedback and challenges proactively to maintain optimal workflow.
- Drive Tool and Process Improvements: Identify areas where new tools and technologies can improve data annotation efficiency and quality. Partner with Engineering and Program Management to test, validate, and roll out new solutions, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing projects.
- Cross-Departmental Coordination: Serve as the primary liaison for data annotation, ensuring alignment with autonomy leads and testing partners. Communicate data requirements, progress, and quality outcomes effectively across departments.
What We’re Looking For:
- Education & Experience: BA/BS in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field; or equivalent practical experience. 6+ years in a data-focused role, with experience in data annotation or data labeling pipelines preferred.
- Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading high-performing internal teams and managing large external offshore consulting partnerships, overseeing groups of 100+ professionals to drive strategic objectives and deliver results.
- Strategic and tactical deliverables: Balancing multiple strategic and tactical initiatives while and delivering innovative results that are aligned with the objectives of the organization.
- Technical & Analytical Skills: Proficiency in managing and executing data-centric projects with an understanding of annotation tools and labeling frameworks. Experience with data management software or data labeling tools (e.g., Supervisely, Labelbox) is advantageous.
- Project & Vendor Management: Proven experience working with outsourced workforces, including setting up metrics to monitor vendor performance, resolving conflicts, and driving accountability to meet deadlines and quality standards.
- Problem-Solving Orientation: Demonstrated ability to work in ambiguous, fast-paced environments, with a proactive approach to identifying operational challenges and implementing process improvements.
- Communication & Collaboration: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical requirements in a clear, actionable manner for internal and external stakeholders. Experience working closely with engineering, product, and program management teams to align on shared goals.
- Tools Proficiency: Advanced skills in Excel, Google Sheets, or data management platforms for tracking and reporting project performance.
Working Conditions:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to convey and
detect communication - The employee is occasionally required to remain stationary at times for up to 50% of working
time; operate power tools, move in designated working areas; & operate and use office
equipment - The employee must occasionally move up to 50 pounds
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors including but not limited to specific skills, experience and expertise, role location, certifications, licenses, and business needs. The estimated compensation range listed in this job posting reflects base salary only. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.
Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program. Motional’s benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.
Salary Range
$205,000—$250,000 USD
Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. We’re driven by something more.
Our journey is always people first.
We aren't just developing driverless cars; we're creating safer roadways, more equitable transportation options, and making our communities better places to live, work, and connect. Our team is made up of engineers, researchers, innovators, dreamers and doers, who are creating a technology with the potential to transform the way we move.
Higher purpose, greater impact.
We’re creating first-of-its-kind technology that will transform transportation. To do so successfully, we must design for everyone in our cities and on our roads. We believe in building a great place to work through a progressive, global culture that is diverse, inclusive, and ensures people feel valued at every level of the organization. Diversity helps us to see the world differently; it’s not only good for our business, it’s the right thing to do.
Scale up, not starting up.
Our team is behind some of the industry's largest leaps forward, including the first fully-autonomous cross-country drive in the U.S, the launch of the world's first robotaxi pilot, and operation of the world's longest-standing public robotaxi fleet. We’re driven to scale; we’re moving towards commercialization of our technology, and we need team members who are ready to embrace change and challenges.
Formed as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, Motional is fundamentally changing how people move through their lives. Headquartered in Boston, Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information, visit www.Motional.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Motional AD Inc. is an EOE. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To comply with Federal Law, we participate in E-Verify. All newly-hired employees are queried through this electronic system established by the DHS and the SSA to verify their identity and employment eligibility.
Top Skills
What We Do
Our team is commercializing a world-class driverless system. The Motional team is behind some of the industry’s largest leaps forward in the last decade, including the first fully-autonomous cross-country drive in the U.S, the launch of the world’s first robotaxi pilot, and operation of the world’s most-established public robotaxi fleet. Strategically formed by Hyundai Motor Group, one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers offering smart mobility solutions, and Aptiv, a global technology leader in advanced safety, electrification, and vehicle connectivity, Motional is fundamentally changing how people move through their lives.
Why Work With Us
Our leadership team has been working in this industry for decades and includes renown early innovators in driverless technology. We are creating a future where transportation is safe, reliable, and accessible. Join our team in revolutionizing the industry that will change how the world moves.
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