Director, Machine Learning Science
About The Position
The machine learning science team at The Knot Worldwide is at the forefront of building and implementing algorithms that optimize end-to-end customer journey. We focus on building scalable, reusable ML capabilities that maximize engagement, relevance, and business value across key touchpoints like Search, Personalization, and beyond. As Director of Machine Learning Science, you will lead high-impact teams of applied scientists, setting the vision and strategy for ML across the organization. You’ll drive innovation in search, personalization and real-time optimization, working closely with product and engineering to translate customer needs into ML-driven solutions. You’ll also play a key role in shaping the broader scientific community, serving as a trusted leader and expert across the business.
Requirements
- M.S. or Ph.D. (Ph.D. strongly preferred) in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
- 7–10 years of hands-on experience in areas such as personalization, ranking systems, search technologies, natural language processing (NLP), deep learning, and other core machine learning methodologies.
- Deep expertise in semantic search and embedding-based retrieval techniques.
- Strong foundation in statistical modeling, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and optimization.
- Proficient in Python, with experience developing and deploying ML-powered systems in production environments.
- Proven track record of managing science and engineering teams building complex, real-time, distributed AI/ML systems.
- Exceptional technical communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with cloud-native platforms such as Google Cloud Platform (GCP), AWS, and Vertex AI is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Lead and mentor a high-performing Machine Learning Science team focused on delivering impactful ML/AI solutions that drive business outcomes.
- Partner closely with cross-functional engineering and product teams to define, prioritize, and execute high-impact initiatives.
- Drive research and development of machine learning models, including semantic search, personalized and real-time recommendations, and agentic learning approaches.
- Define and execute a mid- and long-term vision for scalable ML architecture across key domains such as personalization, search, and real-time performance optimization.
- Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse team of top-tier scientific talent, elevating the capabilities and influence of The Knot’s Machine Learning Science organization.
- Actively contribute to the broader technical community by sharing insights through internal knowledge-sharing sessions, technical documentation, and external publications or blog posts.
Benefits
- We believe in a wide range of holistic offerings to support our employees so that they can live our values day in and day out. From mental wellbeing, physical health and financial planning, to engaging perks and discounts, we are in the business of celebrating and supporting the Moments that Matter, both in and out of the office.. We offer flexible vacation, generous parental leave, and prioritize initiatives that support the growth, development, and happiness of our people.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
