Staff Software Engineer, AI/ML Recommendations, Rankings, Predictions, YouTube

YouTube, a global leader in video sharing and content creation, is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join their AI/ML Recommendations team. This role represents a unique opportunity to impact how billions of users discover and interact with content on one of the world's largest platforms.

The position requires a seasoned professional with 8 years of software development experience and deep expertise in recommendation systems, particularly in areas of retrieval, prediction, ranking, and embedding models. You'll be working at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and creative content delivery, helping shape how users experience YouTube's vast content library.

As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll lead the technical direction of high-impact projects, managing complex ML infrastructure and architecting solutions that scale to YouTube's massive user base. Your responsibilities will span from designing and implementing recommendation systems to optimizing ML infrastructure and guiding model architecture development. You'll also play a crucial leadership role, coaching teams and ensuring alignment across multiple stakeholders.

The role offers competitive compensation ranging from $189,000 to $284,000, plus additional benefits including bonus and equity opportunities. You'll be working from the Mountain View, CA headquarters, collaborating with world-class engineers and researchers who are passionate about solving complex problems at scale.

This position is ideal for someone who combines technical excellence with leadership abilities, has a proven track record in machine learning systems, and wants to make a significant impact on how billions of users connect with content. You'll be part of YouTube's mission to give everyone a voice and show people the world, while working with cutting-edge AI/ML technologies.

The role requires not just technical expertise but also the ability to navigate a complex, matrixed organization and lead cross-functional projects. You'll be expected to balance technical depth with strategic thinking, ensuring that YouTube's recommendation systems continue to evolve and improve.

Working at YouTube means being at the forefront of AI/ML applications in content discovery, with the opportunity to solve unique challenges in recommendation systems at unprecedented scale. If you're passionate about machine learning, love technical challenges, and want to shape the future of how people discover and engage with video content, this role offers the perfect platform to make a lasting impact.