Senior Principal Data Annotation Team Lead

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.
• Cultivating a high performing team culture by fostering collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to achieving organizational goals.
• 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 fostering a positive team dynamic while leading high-performing 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 and drive and deliver innovative solutions that are aligned with the organization goals.
• 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: Attested 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