Senior Machine Learning Engineer II, Economist

Instacart is transforming the grocery industry by providing essential services and flexible earning opportunities. The Senior Machine Learning Engineer will build advanced systems combining economic thought with machine learning to address complex challenges, collaborating across functions and mentoring junior team members.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and deploy machine learning solutions to tackle the many economic challenges in our complex marketplace
• Collaborate closely with product managers, data scientists, and other engineers to deeply understand business needs and create impactful solutions
• Push the envelope on our operational efficiency by continually refining and advancing our algorithms and models
• Mentor junior economists, set technical direction, and conduct thorough code reviews to ensure high code quality and maintainability. Lead by example in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence

Requirements:

• A PhD in economics
• 3+ years of industry experience using machine learning to solve economic problems in large technology companies
• A blend of economic theory, applied econometrics, and business skills that let you jump into a fast-paced environment and contribute from day one
• A deep understanding of machine learning algorithms and techniques, with fluency in modern research and literature
• Strong programming skills in software engineering (e.g., Python), along with expertise in data manipulation using tools (e.g., SQL and Pandas) and modern machine learning packages
• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and proven expertise in collaborating with a diverse group of stakeholders across all levels, including leadership
• Experience designing and implementing production-grade ML systems and services
• Experience in matching or logistics, ads, and paid marketing
• Experience with large language models / generative AI, both on the algorithm side as well as a day-to-day tool