Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Personalization & Recommendations

The Walt Disney Company is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise.
$164,500 - $241,600
Machine Learning
Staff Software Engineer
In-Person
5,000+ Employees
7+ years of experience
Entertainment · Enterprise SaaS · Consumer

Description For Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Personalization & Recommendations

Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology is seeking a Lead Machine Learning Engineer to join their Personalization & Recommendations team. This role sits at the intersection of cutting-edge machine learning and entertainment technology, focusing on developing and implementing recommendation algorithms that shape how millions of users experience Disney's streaming platforms.

The position offers an exciting opportunity to work on large-scale recommendation systems that directly impact how users discover and engage with content across Disney's streaming services, including Disney+ and Hulu. As a Lead Machine Learning Engineer, you'll be responsible for driving the development of state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms for content recommendations while collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve strategic personalization goals.

The role combines technical expertise in machine learning with business impact, requiring both deep technical knowledge and the ability to translate complex algorithms into measurable business outcomes. You'll work with modern ML frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, implement production-level solutions at scale, and lead technical initiatives that shape the future of content discovery across Disney's streaming platforms.

Key aspects of the role include developing and deploying sophisticated recommendation algorithms, managing complex ML pipelines, and working with cloud infrastructure (particularly AWS) to ensure robust, scalable solutions. You'll also play a crucial role in setting the technical direction for personalization features and helping drive larger company objectives in content recommendation.

The position offers competitive compensation ranging from $164,500 to $241,600 depending on location and experience, plus additional benefits including bonuses and long-term incentives. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ML engineer looking to make a significant impact at one of the world's leading entertainment companies while working on challenging technical problems at massive scale.

The ideal candidate will bring 7+ years of experience in machine learning product development, strong Python programming skills, and a proven track record of building effective recommendation systems. If you're passionate about combining machine learning expertise with entertainment technology to create personalized experiences for millions of users, this role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of content discovery at Disney.

Last updated 21 days ago

Responsibilities For Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Personalization & Recommendations

  • Develop and prototype state-of-the-art Deep Neural Net algorithms for recommendation systems
  • Deliver conceptual solutions into production-level implementation & operation at scale
  • Learn complex streaming recommendation systems and understand overall framework/architecture
  • Identify opportunities to improve business operations and develop solutions
  • Drive business decisions through data-driven approach
  • Technically guide a team of engineers
  • Work collaboratively with peers to achieve goals with deadline

Requirements For Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Personalization & Recommendations

Python
  • 7+ years of experience in developing highly scalable machine learning products
  • 7+ years writing production-level, scalable Python code
  • Strong proficiency in TensorFlow or PyTorch
  • Experience building and deploying full stack ML pipelines
  • Track record of effective recommendation systems in production
  • Experience with cloud services in production environment (AWS)
  • Understanding of statistical concepts
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field
  • Ability to articulate models and algorithms to technical and non-technical audiences

Benefits For Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Personalization & Recommendations

Medical Insurance
  • Bonus
  • Medical Benefits
  • Long-term Incentives

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