Director of Engineering, Machine Learning Platform

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic individual to join our team as a Director of Machine Learning.

In this role, you will be responsible for leading and managing our machine learning teams and projects, with a focus on enhancing and optimizing the recommender systems and distribution channels of Reddit, the world's best place for online communities.

As the Director of Engineering leading our Machine Learning Platform, you will help define the direction of our most critical AI and ML systems, including the main home feed, and will use ML, AI and systems engineering to help millions of people discover communities and content they enjoy.

Responsibilities:

Team Leadership and Management:

• Lead multiple teams of software engineers and cross-functional partners, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to foster their professional growth.
• Set clear goals and expectations for the team, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality work.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that encourages innovation, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Manage team resources effectively, including recruiting, hiring, and retaining top talent in the machine learning field.

Machine Learning Platform Strategy and Roadmap:

• Develop a comprehensive platform strategy aligned with the overall business objectives of Reddit.
• Define and prioritize machine learning platform projects that solve problems for ML customer teams and create the foundations for accelerating ML at Reddit
• Communicate and coordinate with cross-functional ML teams, including product managers and engineers, to understand their needs and communicate a compelling future vision
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in machine learning and recommend innovative approaches to improve Reddit's offerings

Project Management and Execution:

• Oversee the end-to-end execution of platform projects, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.
• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineering teams to ensure the successful integration and deployment of machine learning models and systems.
• Develop and implement robust evaluation metrics and methodologies to measure the performance and impact of machine learning initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate risks and issues that may arise during project execution, and take proactive steps to resolve them.

Research and Development:

• Devise ways to power both mission-critical production ML applications, and high-risk speculative research projects
• Stay informed about the latest research publications and industry advancements, and build paths for their eventual application to Reddit's machine learning platform
• Foster a culture of innovation and encourage the team to experiment with novel approaches and methodologies.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and data science, to align machine learning initiatives with broader company goals.
• Clearly communicate project progress, challenges, and results to executive stakeholders and other relevant teams.
• Act as a subject matter expert on machine learning, providing guidance and insights to stakeholders across the organization.

Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in managing multiple infrastructure or platform teams and projects, preferably in the machine learning space
• Experience leading teams of 20+ software engineers
• Demonstrated experience developing managers at different phases of their career
• Technical experience with machine learning and deep learning systems at scale
• A high degree of personal integrity and a desire to put the needs of customers, users and communities first
• Proficiency in programming languages and frameworks commonly used in machine learning and systems, such as Python and Go
• Solid understanding of software engineering principles and practices, including version control, testing, and deployment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive and execute complex machine learning projects from inception to deployment.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and address technical challenges effectively.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits
• 401k Matching
• Workspace benefits for your home office
• Personal Professional development funds
• Family Planning Support
• Flexible Vacation (please use them!) Reddit Global Wellness Days
• 4+ months paid Parental Leave
• Paid Volunteer time off