Pinterest is seeking a Director of Machine Learning Engineering – Growth to lead the ML function for our Growth organization. You will define the long-term vision, strategy, and operating model that drives user and engagement growth across Pinterest’s surfaces. You will oversee multiple teams of machine learning engineers and managers responsible for core Growth problems.
What You'll Do
- Own the ML strategy for Growth: define and communicate a clear multi-year ML vision, technical strategy, and investment roadmap.
- Identify and prioritize the most impactful Growth opportunities where ML can transform user acquisition, activation, engagement depth, and retention.
- Establish success metrics and frameworks for measuring the impact and quality of Growth ML systems.
- Lead and grow high-performing ML teams: manage and develop managers and senior/principal ML engineers.
- Build an inclusive, high-accountability culture focused on impact, learning, and technical excellence.
- Scale leadership through org-wide best practices, processes, training, and tools for ML development, deployment, and experimentation.
- Drive execution on critical Growth initiatives: champion and lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from ideation through execution.
- Ensure solid technical plans are in place for major Growth initiatives, including architecture, data strategy, measurement, and risk management.
- Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Data Science, Marketing, and Sales to align roadmaps and deliver cohesive Growth experiences.
- Shape our ML platforms and architecture: define a unified ML architecture for Growth that supports rapid experimentation and reliable, scalable production systems.
- Guide investments in foundational capabilities (feature platforms, training/serving infrastructure, experimentation, monitoring).
- Ensure Growth ML systems follow best practices around reliability, performance, privacy, and responsible AI.
- Influence across Pinterest: act as the primary ML point of contact for Growth with executive leadership and cross-functional partners.
- Represent Growth ML needs and priorities in company-wide planning, resource allocation, and technical forums.
- Evangelize responsible and quality-first discovery surfaces that drive user visitations while upholding Pinterest’s values.
What We're Looking For
- Deep expertise building and operating large-scale ML systems in production, using modern frameworks (e.g., deep learning, recommendation/ranking systems, reinforcement learning, generative AI).
- Demonstrated success driving Growth or adjacent problem spaces (e.g., activation funnels, notifications, lifecycle marketing, SEO, paid acquisition, or large-scale consumer engagement).
- Proven track record of leading multiple ML teams or organizations, including managing managers and setting strategy across a broad portfolio of projects.
- Experience defining and executing multi-year technical strategies and roadmaps, and delivering large, cross-functional initiatives across multiple organizations.
- Strong product sense and ability to translate ambiguous business questions into well-structured ML problems and experiments.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to influence senior leaders and collaborate cross-functionally.
- Commitment to building responsible, user-centric ML systems with high quality, fairness, and safety standards.
- Degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 12+ years of professional experience as a hands-on engineer and technical leader, including 5+ years in people leadership roles (managing managers and senior ICs).
Technical Stack
- Deep learning
- Recommendation/ranking systems
- Reinforcement learning
- Generative AI
Team & Environment
You will lead multiple teams of machine learning engineers and managers responsible for core Growth problems within a 125+ member org (and growing).
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary range: $267,393—$491,531 USD + equity
Work Mode
This is a hybrid position open to candidates in the US.
Pinterest is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state or local laws.
