Principal Machine Learning Engineer - Search & Intelligence

Atlassian; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 237,000 - 309,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid volunteer days

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Atlassian is seeking a Principal Machine Learning Engineer for the Search & Intelligence organization. The candidate will lead ML algorithm development and advanced models powering AI features across Atlassian products, collaborating with product, engineering, and analytics teams to translate business needs into impactful solutions.

The role requires strong Python and production-language skills, extensive ML experience, and the ability to mentor junior engineers while shaping future AI strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• At least five years of relevant industry experience in machine learning, data science, or a related discipline.
• Strong programming skills in Python and Java, Kotlin, or TypeScript.
• Proficiency in SQL and experience with Spark and cloud-based data environments such as AWS or Databricks.
• Experience building, deploying, and scaling machine learning models for business applications using large, complex datasets.
• Strong communication skills and ability to explain data science concepts to diverse audiences with data-driven storytelling.
• Pragmatic, business-focused approach with the 80/20 rule and value delivery over perfection.
• Agile mindset and continuous iteration and improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and sophisticated models powering AI capabilities across Atlassian’s products and services.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and analytics teams to translate business and customer needs into impactful solutions.
• Design system and model architectures, lead rigorous experimentation and evaluation, and provide technical mentorship to ML engineers.
• Help shape Atlassian’s AI strategy and ensure its transformative potential is realized across the company.

Skills

Python

Java

Kotlin

TypeScript

SQL

Spark

AWS

Databricks

Machine learning

Communication

Agile

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Master's degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Databricks

AWS

Job description

Overview

Atlassian is a global leader in team collaboration and productivity software, empowering teams to unleash their potential and achieve remarkable results. Our suite of tools, including Jira, Confluence, Trello, Bitbucket, and Rovo, is trusted by millions of users worldwide to plan, track, and manage their work effectively. At Atlassian, we are dedicated to building innovative tools and technologies that drive the future of work.

We are looking for a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to join our Search & Intelligence organization. The team builds Atlassian’s flagship AI products, including agentic search and chat, long-horizon agents, and capabilities that enrich Atlassian’s Teamwork Graph. We also develop the frameworks, models, and infrastructure that accelerate AI feature development across the company.

Working at Atlassian

Atlassians can choose where they work – whether in an office, from home, or a combination of the two. That way, Atlassians have more control over supporting their family, personal goals, and other priorities. We can hire people in any country where we have a legal entity.

Responsibilities

What you’ll do

As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you will lead the development and implementation of cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and sophisticated models that power AI capabilities across Atlassian’s products and services. You will collaborate closely with product, engineering, and analytics teams to translate complex business and customer needs into impactful solutions.

Your responsibilities will span designing system and model architectures, leading rigorous experimentation and evaluation, and providing technical mentorship to emerging ML engineers. Beyond these core responsibilities, you will help shape our AI strategy and ensure its transformative potential is realized across Atlassian.

Compensation

At Atlassian, we strive to design equitable, explainable, and competitive compensation programs. We follow consistent hiring practices and account for each candidate's skills, knowledge, and experience when setting base pay within the range.

Please visit go.atlassian.com/payzones for more information on which locations are included in each of our geographic pay zones. However, please confirm the zone for your specific location with your recruiter.

This role may also be eligible for benefits, bonuses, commissions, and equity.

Pay Ranges

In The United States, we have three geographic pay zones. For this role, our current base pay ranges for new hires in each zone are:

Zone A: $236,700 - $309,025

Zone B: $213,030 - $278,123

Zone C: $196,461 - $256,491

Qualifications

On your first day, we’ll expect you to have

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• At least five years of relevant industry experience in machine learning, data science, or a related discipline.

• Strong programming skills in Python and one or more production languages such as Java, Kotlin, or TypeScript.

• Proficiency in SQL and experience with Spark and cloud-based data environments such as AWS or Databricks.

• Experience building, deploying, and scaling machine learning models for business applications using large, complex datasets.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain data science concepts to diverse audiences and tell compelling, data-driven stories.

• A pragmatic, business-focused approach. You hold a high bar for quality while applying the 80/20 principle and recognizing when delivering a valuable solution today is better than pursuing perfection later.

• An agile mindset and an appreciation for continuous iteration, learning, and improvement.

It’s great, but not required, if you have

• Experience fine-tuning, post‑training, and optimizing state‑of‑the‑model training, embedding models, and ranking models.

• Experience developing and evaluating advanced agentic AI systems, including tool-using agents capable of planning, multi‑step reasoning, and autonomous task execution.

• Experience working in consumer or B2C environments, SaaS, or enterprise and B2B products.

• A track record of solving ambiguous and complex problems by navigating uncertainty, breaking challenges into manageable components, and developing innovative, practical solutions.

Benefits & Perks

Atlassian offers a wide range of perks and benefits designed to support you, your family and to help you engage and support your local community. Our offerings include health and wellbeing resources, paid volunteer days, and so much more. To learn more, visit go.atlassian.com/perksandbenefits.

About Atlassian

At Atlassian, we're motivated by a common goal: to unleash the potential of every team. Our software products help teams all over the planet and our solutions are designed for all types of work. Team collaboration through our tools makes what may be impossible alone, possible together.

We believe that the unique contributions of all Atlassians create our success. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we never discriminated based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

To provide you the best experience, we can support with accommodations or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Simply inform our Recruitment team during your conversation with them.

To learn more about our culture and hiring process, visit go.atlassian.com/crh.

In line with local law, identity verification (which may include use of biometric data) is a condition of employment with Atlassian for employment fraud purposes.