Meta's XR Technology team is building the next generation of wearable devices, and the machine learning systems that power them depend on high-quality human data captured in controlled, purpose-built environments. Our onsite collection facilities produce the ground-truth datasets that train and validate perception, sensing, and interaction models ahead of hardware milestones.As a Data Collection Program Manager, you will run onsite data collection programs based out of our primary capture facility, while coordinating collection activity at additional labs and remote or in-field participant sessions. You will translate engineering data requirements into repeatable collection protocols, lead the moderator teams who run capture sessions with participants, and operate the hardware, tooling, and quality systems that make each collection reproducible.You will partner directly with the research scientists and engineers who consume the data - working alongside technical program managers to define requirements, resolve capture issues, and close the loop on dataset quality - and you will manage the external vendor relationships that supply participant recruitment and onsite staffing capacity. This is a hands-on, facility-based role: capture hardware, participants, and moderator teams are physically located at the primary facility, and day-to-day execution requires being present with them. Collection windows are gated by hardware availability and downstream model training schedules, so success depends on disciplined planning, rigorous quality control, and sound judgment on trade-offs between scope, timeline, and cost.

Data Collection Program Manager Responsibilities:

Run end-to-end execution of onsite data collection programs at the Fremont capture facility, from requirements intake through dataset delivery and acceptance
Partner directly with research scientists and engineering teams to translate model and evaluation requirements into executable collection protocols, participant criteria, session designs, and acceptance criteria
Coordinate collection activity beyond the primary facility - including additional labs and remote or in-field participant collections - keeping protocols, tooling, and quality standards consistent across every location
Lead, schedule, and develop teams of onsite collection moderators and technicians who operate capture hardware and facilitate participant sessions
Build and maintain standard operating procedures, training curricula, and certification materials that allow new moderators to reach quality bar consistently and quickly
Establish and operate quality processes - including calibration routines, gold-standard checks, in-session validation, and post-collection audits - and drive measurable reductions in rework and data rejection rates
Convert one-off collections into repeatable, documented programs with predictable throughput and turnaround times
Set up, operate, and troubleshoot prototype and pre-release capture hardware, sensor rigs, and multi-device synchronization setups
partner with hardware and firmware engineers to triage and resolve capture failures
Manage day-to-day relationships with external vendors supporting participant recruitment and onsite staffing, including scoping, requirements handoff, performance tracking, and escalation
Align requirements, timelines, and budgets across engineering stakeholders, vendor partners, and facility capacity
track spend against forecast and re-prioritize as hardware and training schedules shift
Serve as the primary point of contact for data consumers - communicating collection status, quality metrics, known limitations, and dataset documentation
Ensure collections meet participant consent, privacy, data handling, and safety requirements, partnering with legal, privacy, and research review partners
Track and report program health metrics - throughput, quality rates, schedule adherence, and budget consumption - to stakeholders at varying leadership levels

Minimum Qualifications:

4+ years of experience in program management, research operations, or technical operations, including direct involvement in onsite or lab-based data collection, user studies, or hardware testing programs
Hands-on experience with hardware - prototype devices, sensors, capture rigs, or test equipment - including setup, calibration, and failure triage
Experience coordinating or leading onsite operators, moderators, technicians, or contingent staff, including scheduling and day-to-day direction
Experience authoring standard operating procedures, training materials, or operational documentation for hands-on teams
Experience establishing quality control processes and using operational metrics to drive measurable improvement
Experience working with external vendors or staffing partners, including requirements handoff and performance tracking
Experience translating technical requirements from engineering or research stakeholders into executable operational plans, and communicating status, risks, and trade-offs back to them

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in AR/VR, wearables, consumer electronics, or other hardware-gated development environments
Experience coordinating operations across multiple physical sites or supporting remote data collection at scale
Experience with privacy, consent, and data governance requirements applicable to human-subject or biometric data
Experience standing up a new lab, studio, or collection facility, or scaling an existing one
Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools and workflow automation to optimize operational processes and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
Experience with multi-sensor or multi-device synchronized capture, sensor calibration, or biometric and physiological sensing
Experience collecting data for machine learning applications, including ground-truth annotation, dataset curation, or model evaluation datasets
Familiarity with participant recruitment operations, screening criteria design, and informed consent processes for human-subject data collection

About Meta:

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.

Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at [email protected].

$99,000/year to $144,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

Data Collection Program Manager