Director, Machine Learning Engineering – Content & User Understanding

Pinterest; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 267,393 - 550,515; Full time

Job summary

jobr.pro is seeking a technical leader to guide their ML strategy and innovation for foundational content and user understanding. The role requires over 12 years of experience, with a strong focus on leading and developing high-performing teams in machine learning.

This position allows for flexibility in work location with in-office collaboration 1-2 times every six months. A comprehensive salary range of $267,393 – $550,515 USD is offered, along with equity eligibility.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional experience as a technical leader.
• 5+ years in people-leadership roles managing managers.
• Proven success leading complex ML organizations.

Responsibilities

• Set multi-year vision and technical strategy for ML.
• Ensure scalability and effectiveness of ML models.
• Manage and develop a high-performing ML team.
• Act as technical spokesperson for executive leadership.

Skills

Technical leadership

Large-scale ML systems

Deep learning expertise

Team management

Collaboration skills

Education

Technical degree in a related field

Job description

What you’ll do

• Lead ML Strategy and Innovation for Foundational Content and User Understanding
  • Set the multi‑year vision, technical strategy, and investment roadmap for content and user understanding ML models and systems.
  • Drive innovation of cutting‑edge AI approaches, including large‑scale sequence modeling, VLM and LLM.
• Lead Execution and Deployment Across Pinterest to Deliver Topline Impact
  • Ensure the foundational content and user understanding models and systems are effective and scalable to power downstream applications across Pinterest surfaces: homefeed, related, search, shopping, growth and ads.
  • Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Data Science leaders in partner teams to translate foundational ML techniques into significant business impact; build strong collaboration across teams and trust.
• Build and Scale a World‑Class ML Organization
  • Manage, hire, and develop a team of high‑performing managers and ML / Backend engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, technical excellence, rigor, and impact.
• Drive ML Influence Across Pinterest
  • Act as the primary technical spokesperson for Content and User Understanding to executive leadership and external partners.
  • Represent the team's needs and priorities in company‑wide planning and resource allocation to ensure long‑term, strategic ML investment.

What we’re looking for

• 12+ years of professional experience as a technical leader, including 5+ years in people‑leadership roles (managing managers and senior ICs).
• Technical degree in a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Deep ML expertise: building and operating large‑scale ML systems in recommendation, ads or search.
• Expertise in large‑scale deep learning, VLM and LLM approaches.
• Track record of setting long‑term technical vision and leading teams to deliver top‑line business impacts.
• Seasoned People Leader: proven success leading complex ML organizations, managing managers, and exceptional communication and influence skills to drive close collaboration with multiple partner teams.

In‑Office Requirement Statement

We let the type of work you do guide the collaboration style. That means we’re not always working in an office, but we continue to gather for key moments of collaboration and connection.

This role will need to be in the office for in‑person collaboration 1–2 times every 6 months and therefore can be situated anywhere in the country.

Relocation Statement

This position is not eligible for relocation assistance. Visit our PinFlex page to learn more about our working model.

Salary

Base salary range: $267,393 – $550,515 USD. The position is also eligible for equity. Final salary is based on a number of factors including location, travel, relevant prior experience, or particular skills and expertise.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Pinterest is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best qualified people in every job.