Senior ML Science Leader — Content AI & Multimodal

Expedia; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Expedia Group is looking for a senior leader to manage and grow a diverse team of data scientists and ML engineers across locations. You will set strategic goals, drive end-to-end ML solutions for content generation, moderation, and relevance, and ensure production-ready, scalable models with robust evaluation and minimal hallucination.

The role requires 4-5+ years of leadership in ML teams, a strong CS/ML background, and expertise in Python/Scala/Java and SQL.

Qualifications

• 4-5+ years of people leadership experience managing Machine Learning Scientists, Applied Scientists, Data Scientists, or multidisciplinary AI/ML teams.
• Master’s degree in computer science, machine learning, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical field; or equivalent related professional experience.
• Significant experience in machine learning science, including supervised and unsupervised learning, model evaluation, generalization, robustness, and experimentation.
• Experience delivering end-to-end machine learning solutions, from problem definition and data preparation through feature engineering, modelling, evaluation, and production integration.
• Experience managing and developing data scientists or machine learning engineers, including recruiting, coaching, performance management, and career development.
• Experience with Python, Scala, Java, or another major machine learning language, plus SQL.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management, prioritization, delivery optimization, communication, influencing, and problem-solving skills.
• An engineering mindset, including knowledge of software design principles, modular code, maintainability, and scalability.
• Familiarity with large language models and willingness to learn across content areas and modalities.
• Experience translating business objectives into practical, iterative, and cost-aware technical approaches.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coach, and develop a high-performing, inclusive team of data scientists and machine learning engineers across locations.
• Set team goals, OKRs, technical priorities, and operating rhythms aligned with organizational strategy.
• Lead delivery across the Content AI charter, spanning content generation, content moderation and quality, and content relevance.
• Guide development and adoption of end-to-end machine learning solutions across textual, video, and image content, with potential expansion into speech.
• Develop accurate, relevant, grounded and non-hallucinating content AI capabilities that helps shape traveller and partner value across Expedia Group.
• Apply effective stakeholder management across Product, Engineering, senior leadership, and cross-functional partners.
• Optimize delivery through iterative execution, clear decision-making, effective processes, and a focus on measurable outcomes.
• Bring an engineering mindset to machine learning work by promoting maintainable, modular, scalable, and production-aware solutions.
• Communicate technical concepts, progress, insights, and recommendations clearly to varied audiences.
• Build team practices that support feedback, knowledge sharing, professional development, recruiting, performance management, and career growth.

Skills

Leadership experience

ML/AI domain knowledge

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Engineering mindset

Willingness to learn across modalities

Translating business objectives into 技

Education

Master's degree in CS/ML/Statistics/Math or related field

PhD in a relevant technical field

Tools

Python

Scala

Java

SQL

LLMOps

GenAI

LLM fine-tuning

Embeddings

Job description

Expedia Group is looking for a senior leader to manage and grow a diverse team of data scientists and ML engineers across locations. You will set strategic goals, drive end-to-end ML solutions for content generation, moderation, and relevance, and ensure production-ready, scalable models with robust evaluation and minimal hallucination.

The role requires 4-5+ years of leadership in ML teams, a strong CS/ML background, and expertise in Python/Scala/Java and SQL.