Technical Program Manager, Multimodal Data Collection

Prolific•New York, NY

20d•Remote

About The Position

Prolific is redefining AI innovation by providing a human data infrastructure that delivers high-quality, diverse data for training next-generation AI models. The Technical Program Manager for Multimodal Data Collection will be instrumental in building Prolific's capabilities for physical-world multimodal data collection from the ground up. This role involves establishing the operating model, production standards, and scalable collection methodologies. The individual will own the end-to-end execution of large-scale video, audio, and multimodal data programs, capturing and delivering thousands of hours of natural human activity using body-worn cameras and other recording hardware. This is a hands-on, operational role requiring a deep understanding of reliable data capture in physical environments, including video/audio quality, multi-device synchronization, participant behavior, consent, metadata, equipment, and field logistics. The role also encompasses program economics, analyzing the impact of various factors on cost, scalability, and margin. The ideal candidate will be adept at reviewing technical specifications, managing production sites, analyzing program economics, and interacting with clients.

Requirements

Significant experience owning complex video/audio data collection, technical production or real-world capture programmes at scale – including the physical operation, not just project coordination.
Experience running onsite or field-based operations involving participants, physical locations, recording equipment and production or field teams.
Hands-on experience with video/audio capture and recording hardware, with a strong understanding of areas such as resolution, frame rate, audio quality, device configuration, multi-camera synchronisation and data integrity.
Experience translating technical or research specifications into participant protocols, production workflows and measurable quality and acceptance criteria.
Commercial ownership of operational programmes, including bottom-up costing, forecasting and the financial impact of rejection and rework.
Experience delivering at scale against defined quality, diversity and acceptance requirements, while working directly with clients or senior stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience collecting human video, audio or multimodal data for AI/ML, computer vision, robotics or embodied AI.
Experience with egocentric or first-person video, body-worn or wearable cameras and multi-camera recording.
Experience coordinating controlled filming environments, participant recruitment, permits, equipment and external production vendors.
Experience working with Product or Engineering teams on data ingest, metadata, file formats, batch processing or data transfer.
Experience taking a new collection methodology from pilot through to thousands of hours of production data.

Responsibilities

Own large-scale video, audio and multimodal collections from client brief and pilot through to onsite production, data processing and final delivery.
Design the collection operation across participants, activities, locations, recording hardware, field teams, vendors, logistics and quality controls.
Turn activity requirements into natural, repeatable collection scenarios and participant protocols that capture authentic behaviour without over-scripting.
Translate technical specifications into capture protocols covering video and audio quality, device configuration, synchronisation, metadata and acceptance criteria.
Own programme economics, including bottom-up costing, cost per accepted hour, collection yield, rejection and rework, hardware utilisation and margin.
Run pilots and quality gates, resolving technical and operational issues before moving successful collection methodologies into scaled production.
Lead client delivery, making clear recommendations around trade-offs between quality, coverage, timeline, cost and operational feasibility.