Manager, AI Data Ops

The Role

AiDash is looking for an experienced Manager – AI Data Ops to lead a team responsible for sourcing, processing, and annotating satellite and remote sensing imagery that powers our AI/ML models. This role blends hands-on GIS expertise with strong people management and vendor coordination skills, and is central to ensuring high-quality, timely, and scalable geospatial data pipelines.

The ideal candidate has deep experience working with satellite and aerial imagery, understands the nuances of remote sensing data sourcing, and has successfully managed both in-house annotation teams and external vendor partners.

How you'll make an impact:

GIS & Remote Sensing Operations

• Lead end-to-end sourcing of satellite imagery, aerial data, and remote sensing datasets from various providers (e.g., optical, SAR, multispectral, hyperspectral sources).

• Oversee image annotation and labeling workflows for use cases such as land cover classification, vegetation/asset monitoring, infrastructure mapping, and change detection.

• Ensure annotation accuracy, consistency, and adherence to defined quality standards (QA/QC frameworks) across all delivered datasets.

• Define and continuously improve annotation guidelines, taxonomies, and labeling protocols in collaboration with Data Science and ML teams.

• Stay current with GIS tools, remote sensing platforms, and annotation technologies (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS, ERDAS, Google Earth Engine, CVAT, Labelbox, or similar).

People Management

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of GIS analysts/annotators (team size: specify, e.g., 15–40+), including performance reviews, capacity planning, and skill development.

• Build a strong bench of GIS talent through structured hiring, onboarding, and training programs.

• Drive productivity, quality, and throughput targets across the team through KPIs and process discipline.

• Foster a collaborative, high-accountability team culture.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard third-party vendors/BPOs for image annotation and data labeling at scale.

• Negotiate SLAs, pricing, and turnaround commitments with vendor partners; monitor ongoing performance against these agreements.

• Act as the primary point of contact for vendor escalations, quality issues, and capacity scaling needs.

• Coordinate cross-functionally with Data Science, Engineering, Product, and Delivery teams to align annotation output with project timelines and model requirements.

Process & Reporting

• Build dashboards/reports to track annotation throughput, accuracy metrics, vendor performance, and cost efficiency.

• Identify opportunities for automation/semi-automation in the annotation pipeline (e.g., active learning loops, pre-labeling with models) to improve efficiency.

• Manage budgets related to data sourcing, annotation operations, and vendor contracts.

Who we're looking for:

• 8+ years of overall experience in GIS, remote sensing, or geospatial data operations; minimum 2+ years managing teams directly.

• Strong hands-on knowledge of satellite imagery sourcing (optical, SAR, multispectral) and remote sensing data pipelines.

• Proven experience managing image annotation/data labeling teams and processes at scale.

• Demonstrated experience handling third-party vendors/BPOs — including contracting, SLA management, and performance monitoring.

• Proficiency with GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS) and familiarity with remote sensing platforms (Google Earth Engine, ERDAS Imagine, ENVI, etc.).

• Working knowledge of annotation/labeling tools (CVAT, Labelbox, SuperAnnotate, or in-house tools).

• Track record of driving automation heavily in previous roles — replacing manual/repetitive steps with tools, scripts, or AI-assisted workflows.

• An "AI-native" way of working — comfortable using LLMs/AI copilots as part of daily workflow (analysis, documentation, communication, process design), not just as a novelty.

• Experience working with AI/ML teams and understanding of how annotated data feeds into model training.

• Strong understanding of quality frameworks (QA/QC) for spatial data and annotation accuracy.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Bachelor's/Master's degree in Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Environmental Science, or a related field.

We are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices, and we promote a work environment where everyone, from any race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, can do their best work.