Scale AI Strategic Projects Lead interview: the case round and how to practice it
Updated November 2026
Candidates for Scale AI's Strategic Projects Lead role report a phone screen, a live case that feels like a consulting interview, a technical round and behavioral rounds. The case is spoken, not written, so the best practice is solving one out loud.
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At a glance
- Format
- A live case that candidates compare to a consulting interview.
- Also reported
- A simple SQL round and behavioral interviews.
- Pay
- A posting listed $121,600 to $190,000 a year, plus equity.
- Closest practice
- A live voice case, solved out loud with an AI interviewer.
From two Glassdoor interview reports and a public posting. Details below.
Two loops candidates described
Two candidates described their loops on Glassdoor. The rounds overlap, but the order differs, so expect some variation.
- Reported in 2024: a phone screen, a case the candidate called similar to consulting, a simple SQL technical round, then behavioral interviews.
- Reported in 2026: a phone screen, a technical round, behavioral interviews, then a technical or case round.
The case round
Reports describe a live case in the consulting style: you get a business problem, set up a structure, work through numbers and land on a recommendation, all in conversation.
One reported theme is whether to pay experts by the hour or by the project. That is a pricing and incentives question. Be ready to weigh cost, speed, quality and who carries the risk when tasks run long.
Our library has no marketplace cases yet. These operations cases work the same muscles: labor supply, pay, capacity and keeping quality up under pressure.
The technical round (SQL in one report)
The 2024 report mentions a simple SQL technical round, and the 2026 report mentions a technical round. We don't cover SQL. Practice basic queries elsewhere before this round.
What gets tested, and where we cover it
Here is each reported round next to the CaseTutor practice that fits it, including the ones we don't cover.
- Reported: A consulting-style live caseCovered: Live voice cases, graded on your structure, math and delivery
- Reported: Paying experts hourly or per projectPartly covered: Partly. Our operations cases cover paying labor by the hour or by output; the SPL case prices the client side.
- Reported: A simple SQL roundNot covered: Not covered
- Reported: Behavioral interviewsNot covered: Not covered on this page
CoveredPartly coveredNot covered
Two ways to practice
For the case round, start with a live voice case. You talk through the case with an AI interviewer and get graded on structure, math and delivery.
For deeper work on the data operations side, try the SPL case. You price and staff an expert data project in a memo and a model, then defend it. Our cases are original; none of it comes from Scale AI.
The role in short
- Title
- Strategic Projects Lead
- Pay
- A Generative AI posting listed $121,600 to $190,000 a year plus equity, for San Francisco, New York and Seattle.
That posting is no longer open. Check Scale AI's current openings for live ranges.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Scale AI's real case?
No. Our cases are original, and the clients and numbers are invented. They practice the skills candidates report being tested.
What is the Scale AI case interview like?
Candidates describe a live case similar to a consulting interview. One reported theme is whether to pay experts hourly or per project.
Is there a SQL round?
A 2024 report mentions a simple SQL technical round, and a 2026 report mentions a technical round. CaseTutor does not cover SQL.
How many rounds are there?
The two reports describe about four stages: a phone screen, a case, a technical round and behavioral interviews. The order differed between them.
What does a Scale AI Strategic Projects Lead earn?
A Generative AI posting listed $121,600 to $190,000 a year plus equity, for San Francisco, New York and Seattle. Check current postings, since ranges change.
Which CaseTutor practice fits best?
Live voice cases for the case round. The SPL memo and defense case if you want to practice pricing and staffing an expert data project in depth.
Solve a case out loud before the real one
Talk through a live case with an AI interviewer and get graded on structure, math and delivery. 7-day free trial.
Practice a live caseFormer SPLs from Mercor, Scale AI, Handshake, Turing and other AI data companies helped build these cases.
CaseTutor is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Mercor, Scale AI, Handshake, Surge AI, Turing, micro1 or Labelbox. The cases are original and do not reproduce any company's interview material.
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