Key skills
Machine LearningLarge-scale ML SystemsRecommendation SystemsAds SystemsSearch SystemsDeep LearningVision-Language Models (VLM)Large Language Models (LLM)AIMLLLMLeadershipCommunicationCollaboration
About this role
Pinterest is a platform that inspires creativity and helps users plan memorable experiences. They are seeking a Director of Machine Learning to lead the Content and User Understanding team, defining the long-term vision and strategy for ML models that power various product surfaces across the platform.
Responsibilities:
- Lead ML Strategy and Innovation for Foundational Content and User Understanding
- Set the multi-year vision, technical strategy, and investment roadmap for content and user understanding ML models and systems
- Drive innovation of cutting-edge AI approaches, including large scale sequence modeling, VLM and LLM
- Lead Execution and Deployment Across Pinterest to Deliver Topline Impact
- Ensure the foundational content and user understanding models and systems are effective and scalable to power downstream applications across Pinterest surfaces: homefeed, related, search, shopping, growth and ads
- Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Data Science leaders in partner teams to translate foundational ML techniques into significant business impact. Form strong collaboration across teams and build trust
- Build and Scale a World-Class ML Organization
- Manage, hire, and develop a team of high-performing managers and ML / Backend engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, technical excellence, rigor, and impact
- Drive ML Influence Across Pinterest
- Act as the primary technical spokesperson for Content and User Understanding to executive leadership and external partners
- Represent the team's needs and priorities in company-wide planning and resource allocation to ensure long-term, strategic ML investment
Requirements:
- 12+ years of professional experience as a technical leader, including 5+ years in people leadership roles (managing managers and senior ICs)
- Technical degree in a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- Deep ML expertise: building and operating large-scale ML systems in recommendation, ads or search
- Expertise in large scale deep learning, VLM and LLM approaches
- Track record to set long term technical vision and lead teams to deliver top line business impacts
- Seasoned People Leader: Proven success leading complex ML organizations, managing managers, and exceptional communication and influence skills to drive close collaboration with multiple partner teams