Director, Machine Learning

Equinix • Redwood City, CA

21h

About The Position

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet. A place where tech thinkers and future builders turn bold ideas into breakthrough experiences, we welcome your unique perspective. Help us challenge assumptions, uncover bias, and remove barriers—because progress starts with fresh ideas. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work. Job Summary The Director of Machine Learning is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping, executing, and scaling the organization’s machine learning strategy. This leader oversees the development and deployment of advanced ML models, guides cross-functional teams, and ensures the organization leverages AI technologies to drive innovation, efficiency, and business impact. The ideal candidate has deep technical expertise, proven leadership experience, and the ability to translate complex ML concepts into meaningful business outcomes.

Requirements

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in ML/AI engineering, data science, or applied research
• 5+ years leading technical teams, including people management responsibility
• Expertise in modern ML techniques (deep learning, LLMs, reinforcement learning, generative models, etc.)
• Proficiency with ML frameworks and tools (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Hugging Face)
• Strong understanding of MLOps, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), and scalable data architectures
• Proven track record deploying ML models into production environments

Nice To Haves

• Experience building ML platforms or ML-driven products at scale
• Background working in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, etc.) if relevant
• Demonstrated experience with LLM fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or generative AI
• Strong business acumen and ability to influence senior leaders
• Strategic thinking and vision‑setting
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Technical depth paired with practical delivery
• Leadership, coaching, and talent development
• Innovation mindset with data‑driven decision-making

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership Develop and own the company-wide machine learning strategy aligned with business objectives Identify high-impact opportunities for ML across products, operations, and customer experiences Advocate for ethical, secure, and responsible AI development and usage
• Team & Project Management Lead, mentor, and grow high-performing teams of ML engineers, data scientists, and research scientists Establish best practices in model development, experimentation, deployment, and monitoring Allocate team resources and prioritize projects to balance innovation with ROI
• Technical Leadership Oversee the design, development, and deployment of production-grade machine learning models Partner with engineering leadership to build scalable ML infrastructure, including MLOps, data pipelines, and cloud architecture Review and guide technical work, ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and quality
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work closely with product, engineering, data, and executive teams to align ML initiatives with organizational goals Communicate complex ML concepts—tradeoffs, risks, timelines—to non-technical stakeholders Support product strategy by integrating ML capabilities into roadmaps
• Governance & Performance Implement processes for model governance, bias monitoring, versioning, and auditability Track and report on key ML KPIs, model performance, and business impact Ensure compliance with regulatory standards related to AI/ML as applicable

Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.
• US Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. - Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director