Project Manager – Data Science (Contract, Onsite – Southern California)

Project Manager – Data Science (Contract)
Location: Southern California — 100% Onsite (no hybrid, no remote) | Engagement: W2 Contract | Experience: 8–10 years

About the Role

We are hiring an experienced, contract Project Manager to lead the delivery of high-impact data science and machine learning initiatives onsite in Southern California. This is a W2 contract (no Corp-to-Corp or 1099 arrangements). This is a hands-on delivery role for someone who has spent years steering data-driven projects — not just tracking tickets, but partnering with data scientists, ML engineers, and business stakeholders to turn ambiguous problems into shipped, measurable outcomes. You will own the full project lifecycle, from framing the business problem through experimentation, model deployment, and adoption. This position is fully onsite; there is no hybrid or remote option.

What You'll Do

• Own end-to-end delivery of data science / ML projects — scoping, planning, execution, and stakeholder reporting.
• Partner daily with data scientists, ML/data engineers, and analysts to manage the model lifecycle: data acquisition, experimentation, validation, deployment, and monitoring.
• Translate between technical teams and business leaders, keeping executives informed on progress, risks, and trade-offs.
• Build realistic roadmaps and manage scope for research-heavy work where outcomes are uncertain at the outset.
• Identify, track, and mitigate risks spanning data quality, privacy/compliance, technical feasibility, and adoption.
• Run the delivery cadence (Agile/Scrum/hybrid) and keep tooling, documentation, and reporting disciplined and current.

What We're Looking For

• 8–10 years of project management experience, with a substantial portion spent leading data science, machine learning, analytics, or AI projects.
• Proven track record delivering ML/data projects to production, not just proof-of-concept.
• Fluency working alongside data science teams and comfort with the realities of experimental work — failed experiments, shifting timelines, and probabilistic outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management across business, data, and engineering functions, including executive-level communication.
• Hands-on command of delivery methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid) and PM/ML tooling (e.g. Jira, Azure DevOps, MLflow, reporting dashboards).
• Excellent risk management, prioritization, and organizational discipline.
• Must be able to work on a W2 basis (Corp-to-Corp and 1099 candidates will not be considered).
• Must be able to work onsite in Southern California five days per week for the full duration of the contract.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience as a contractor delivering into fast-moving data organizations.
• Familiarity with cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and modern data/ML pipelines.
• PMP, CSM, or equivalent certification.
• Background or working literacy in statistics, data engineering, or a quantitative field.

Engagement Details

• Type: W2 Contract (no C2C / 1099)
• Rate: $50/hour on W2
• Location: Southern California — onsite, five days per week
• Work arrangement: No hybrid or remote option
• Experience level: 8–10 years

As part of your application, you'll be asked five short screening questions about your data science delivery experience and your ability to work onsite. Thoughtful, specific answers are the fastest way to stand out.