01
Intake
A working call, then a structured intake. We test the real need and agree a signed role brief with you.
Data and AI recruitment
Data and AI recruitment in Latin America: engineers, analysts, ML and AI trainers
Tessera Partners recruits senior data and AI professionals in Latin America for US, European and international companies. We hire data engineers, analysts, ML engineers, AI trainers and language specialists for AI companies. You see a first qualified shortlist in 21 days, and every placement carries a 90 day replacement guarantee.
When companies call us
AI companies need two kinds of talent: people who build data and models, and people who teach models how experts think. We recruit both.
Data engineers who ship to production
Pipelines, warehouses and data quality, owned by people who have run them, not only designed them.
Analysts who influence decisions
Senior analysts who turn data into decisions leadership actually takes.
ML engineers with deployed models
Engineers who have trained, deployed and monitored models in production.
AI trainers with domain expertise
Specialists from operations, finance, infrastructure or support who evaluate and improve model outputs.
Language specialists for AI
Native Spanish and Portuguese experts who review, label and write data for language models.
A first data leader
Someone to set up the data function, choose the stack and hire the first team.
Roles we fill
| Seniority | Example roles | Typical search length |
|---|---|---|
| Senior specialist | Senior data engineer, senior data analyst, analytics engineer | Shortlist in 21 days |
| ML and AI | ML engineer, AI trainer, language specialist for AI | Shortlist in 21 days |
| Lead and manager | Data engineering lead, analytics manager, AI quality lead | Shortlist in 21 days |
| Director | Head of data, head of AI evaluation | Shortlist in 21 days |
We run the full process with you and present senior talent as fast as we can, with a first qualified shortlist in 21 days.
How the search works
02
Search, days 1 to 21
We start with our network, references and trusted connections, then curated talent pools. Job boards only when they add signal.
03
Shortlist by day 21
Three to five candidates, each with a written 5-Lens dossier and our recruiter's view.
04
Interviews and offer
We run scheduling, interview preparation, debriefs, references and offer support.
05
Follow-through to day 90
Regular check-ins with you and the hire through day 90, backed by the replacement guarantee.
How we evaluate candidates
Data and AI candidates are scored on the five lenses with written evidence. Technical depth is checked with your team or a technical partner.
- Craft. Pipelines, analyses or models in production, with scale and impact explained in the candidate's own words.
- Context. Experience at your stage and with your kind of data, from early startup to regulated enterprise.
- Communication. Clear written explanations of technical choices in English, and native quality in Spanish or Portuguese for language roles.
- Cultural Fluency. Comfort with asynchronous work, written reviews and feedback from teams in other countries.
- Drive. Curiosity about the problem and care for quality, shown in past projects.
Fees and guarantee
Our fee is 10% of the hire's first year base salary, with a 750 EUR start fee deducted from the final invoice. Every placement carries a 90 day replacement guarantee at no extra fee.
Why Tessera Partners
Versus EOR providers
An EOR employs your data hire. It does not test whether their models work. We assess that with your team, and work alongside your EOR.
Versus generalist agencies
Generalist agencies match tools on a CV. We check production experience, writing and judgment before you spend interview time.
Versus in-house recruiting
Your engineers are busy building. We take sourcing and first screens off their plate and bring them only strong candidates.
Market notes
- Argentina and São Paulo run on UTC-3 all year. Argentina does not use daylight saving time (timeanddate), and Brazil ended it in 2019 (Decree 9.772/2019). Colombia is on UTC-5 (timeanddate) and Mexico City on UTC-6 (timeanddate). That gives US teams a full shared working day.
- English level varies widely by country and city. The EF English Proficiency Index ranks countries every year; we test English on the actual work instead of relying on country averages.
- Contractor or employee is a legal question, not a preference. In the US, the IRS looks at behavioral control, financial control and the relationship (IRS guidance). Local rules apply in the hire's country too. Tessera Partners does not give legal or payroll advice.
- Each country has its own labor code. Brazil's CLT defines an employee by continuous, paid and subordinate work (CLT, article 3). Argentina's labor law presumes an employment contract when someone works under another's direction (Law 20,744, article 23).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data and AI search cost?
Our fee is 10% of the hire's first year base salary. A 750 EUR start fee confirms the search and is deducted from the final invoice. That invoice is due within 7 days of signing with the candidate. VP and C-level fees are agreed case by case. Every placement includes the 90 day guarantee.
How fast can you find data and AI talent?
You see a first qualified shortlist within 21 days of the signed role brief. AI trainer and language specialist searches can move faster when several similar profiles are needed at once. We agree priorities with you so the most urgent roles start first.
What does the 90 day guarantee cover?
If the placement does not work out within 90 days of the start date, we search again for the same role. There is no additional fee. We stay in touch with you and the hire during that period, so issues come up early and get solved.
Can data and AI roles be remote?
Almost all are remote, working with US or European teams. Most of Latin America overlaps with US hours and part of the European day. We confirm time zone, availability and the review cadence your team expects with every candidate, before the first interview.
Do you recruit native Spanish and Portuguese language specialists?
Yes. For language roles we test native writing and the ability to explain why an answer is right or wrong. For Brazilian Portuguese, Lidiane reviews the work. We also check English, because instructions and feedback usually come in English from the AI team.
Related pages
Marketing recruitment →
Growth, product marketing, brand and performance.
HR recruitment →
HR business partners, talent acquisition and people directors.
Recruitment fees →
Fee table, start fee and guarantee.
The 5-Lens Method →
The five lenses and the Cultural Fluency rubric.
All services for companies →
Every service, market and function we cover.