Machine Learning Engineer II, Fraud

Instacart; Canada; Remote; CAD 153,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading grocery delivery platform is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to develop fraud detection models and lead projects in a high-growth environment. The role involves collaboration across teams to protect customers and ensure security. Candidates with over 2 years of experience in ML modeling and a passion for fraud tech are encouraged to apply. This position offers flexible remote work options and a competitive salary range of $153,000 — $170,000 CAD.

Benefits

Market-competitive compensation

Equity grant eligibility

Flexible work environment

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional experience in software engineering in ML modeling development and leadership.
• Proven ability to design and operate complex ML modeling at scale.
• Demonstrated leadership: ability to mentor and level up peers.
• Strong grasp of security, real-time decisioning, machine learning systems.

Responsibilities

• Design & develop ML models for fraud detection and prevention at scale.
• Architect robust and scalable solutions for real-time fraud systems.
• Collaborate with partners to define strategies for fraud protection.
• Solve ambiguous challenges independently, taking ownership over outcomes.

Skills

Software engineering

Machine learning modeling

Fraud detection

Leadership

Job description

We're transforming the grocery industry

At Instacart, we invite the world to share love through food because we believe everyone should have access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. Where others see a simple need for grocery delivery, we see exciting complexity and endless opportunity to serve the varied needs of our community. We work to deliver an essential service that customers rely on to get their groceries and household goods, while also offering safe and flexible earnings opportunities to Instacart Personal Shoppers.

Instacart has become a lifeline for millions of people, and we’re building the team to help push our shopping cart forward. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life, come join our table.

Instacart is a Flex First team

There’s no one-size fits all approach to how we do our best work. Our employees have the flexibility to choose where they do their best work—whether it’s from home, an office, or your favorite coffee shop—while staying connected and building community through regular in-person events. Learn more about our flexible approach to where we work.

Overview

About the Role -

We’re seeking a machine learning engineer to help shape the vision and technical strategy for leveraging machine learning to detect and prevent abuse across key workflows like identity, payments, and customers. This role involves driving high-impact projects, influencing cross-functional roadmaps, mentoring engineers, and implementing cutting-edge LLM and ML technologies in a fast-paced, high-growth environment to keep Instacart secure.

About the Team -

Instacart's Fraud & Identity team protects every customer, shopper, and retailer on the platform from abuse, shopper fraud, and payment fraud. We build and operate cutting-edge real-time systems, signals pipelines, and internal tools to stop bad actors while keeping good users moving friction-free. As Instacart continues to grow, new attack vectors arise every day—join us to stay ahead of the curve and out-innovate fraudsters.

About the Job

• Design & development ML models that power fraud detection and prevention at scale.
• Use your expertise to architect robust and scalable solutions for real-time fraud decisioning systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners—data scientists, risk managers, and product teams—to define and drive strategies for fraud and identity protection.
• Solve ambiguous technical and business challenges independently, taking full ownership over outcomes.

About You

Minimum Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional experience in software engineering in ML modeling development and leadership.
• Proven ability to design and operate complex ML modeling at scale (both technical scalability and organizational impact).
• Demonstrated leadership: ability to mentor and level up peers, as well as communicate technical trade-offs with stakeholders.
• Passion for fraud and risk tech: a strong grasp of security, real-time decisioning, machine learning systems, or similar domains.

Preferred Qualifications

• LLM modeling and application experience is strongly preferred

Instacart provides highly market-competitive compensation and benefits in each location where our employees work. This role is remote and the base pay range for a successful candidate is dependent on their permanent work location. Please review our Flex First remote work policy. Currently, we are only hiring in the following provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.

Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role. Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants. Please read more about our benefits offerings.

For Canadian based candidates, the base pay ranges for a successful candidate are listed below.

$153,000 — $170,000 CAD