Data Collection Shift Lead

Location: San Francisco, CA
Work Environment: In-Person
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay: $40–$45 per hour
Contract Length: 6 Months

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Data Collection Shift Lead to oversee day-to-day data collection operations in a fast-paced technical environment. This role will lead operators, coordinate collection stations, monitor data quality, and help ensure equipment, processes, and workflows are consistently set up for success.

The ideal candidate has experience in robotics, teleoperation, motion capture, lab operations, manufacturing, warehouse operations, or another hands-on technical environment and is comfortable leading a team while remaining actively involved in daily operations.

What You'll Do

• Lead daily shift operations, assigning operators to stations and tasks while keeping collection sessions on schedule.
• Help set up collection stations, storage areas, equipment, and workspace layouts.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, checklists, training materials, and other operator-facing documentation.
• Lead onboarding, training, and coaching for new team members.
• Conduct start-of-shift briefings covering daily plans, safety requirements, and protocol changes.
• Monitor data quality in real time through spot checks and operator coaching.
• Identify and remove low-quality data before it moves forward in the process.
• Serve as the first point of contact for equipment and software issues, escalating technical problems with clear documentation.
• Enforce safety procedures and maintain a clean, organized, and efficient work environment.
• Track throughput, quality, equipment issues, and operational challenges.
• Prepare end-of-shift reports and communicate important follow-up items.
• Manage day-to-day team needs, including attendance, breaks, performance coaching, and coverage.
• Partner with operations and technical teams to identify opportunities to improve processes and workflows.

What We're Looking For

• 1+ year of experience as a team lead, shift supervisor, senior operator, or similar role in a hands-on environment.
• Direct experience with robot teleoperation, robotics data collection, motion-capture systems, or similar technical operations.
• Experience training, coaching, or onboarding hourly or technical staff.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create clear SOPs, shift reports, and issue documentation.
• Comfortable working within and enforcing structured safety and quality protocols.
• Highly organized and able to reprioritize quickly when staffing, equipment, or schedules change.
• Comfortable learning new software, issue trackers, scheduling systems, and data dashboards.
• Able to work on your feet and move throughout an active operational environment for most of the shift.
• Able to occasionally lift approximately 35 lbs.

Nice to Have

• Experience helping launch or set up a new site, lab, production line, or operational environment.
• Familiarity with VR/teleoperation rigs, motion-capture systems, robotics hardware, or similar equipment.
• Experience working in a startup, research, robotics, AI, or other rapidly evolving technical environment.
• Experience developing procedures and workflows where processes were still being established.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in a cutting-edge technical operation, combining team leadership, robotics, data quality, and hands-on problem solving. You'll have a direct impact on how data collection is executed and help build scalable processes in a rapidly evolving environment.

6-month contract | $40–$45/hour | Full-time | San Francisco, CA | In-person