Chief ML Researcher, Product

Role Overview

• Drive forward-looking ML research to shape Nebius’ AI platform and PaaS roadmap, translating frontier developments into clear product direction and priorities.
• Convert state-of-the-art ML pipeline insights into actionable requirements, reference architectures, benchmarks, and gap analyses.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and ML teams to align platform capabilities with emerging ML workloads and best-practice stacks.
• Build strategic collaborations with universities, research labs, and the broader ML ecosystem to accelerate innovation and credibility.
• Establish quality standards for ML-enabled services, including evaluation rigor, reproducibility, reliability, and responsible ML practices.
• Engage strategic customers to understand complex ML scenarios and translate them into clear functional and non-functional requirements.
• Provide senior technical leadership during evaluations, architecture reviews, and escalations, ensuring customer realities inform platform decisions.
• Articulate and communicate a clear vision for AI-enabled applications and the infrastructure stack required to support them, influencing both technical and executive audiences.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in machine learning research and/or applied ML (industry, academia, or hybrid), with a strong track record of staying current with the research frontier.
• 5+ years operating as a senior technical leader (Staff/Principal/Director-level), shaping direction across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to translate research insights into tangible product or platform impact, including requirements, roadmaps, reference architectures, and evaluation standards.
• Experience engaging strategic customers or external partners in deep technical discussions, converting ambiguous goals into clear, actionable requirements.
• Demonstrated collaboration with universities or research labs through joint projects, partnerships, supervision, publications, or advisory roles.
• Strong technical communication record, including internal knowledge-sharing, external talks, writing, or publications that establish credibility.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth within Nebius.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment that values initiative and innovation.